The children at Leahurst Road Preschool wasted no time in getting stuck into some planting upon their return after the Easter break. The “Looking After Our Planet Earth” theme was also in prominence from the start. The Cress Heads, with suck on eyes and painted mouths were made by using recycled Actimel pots before being sent home to look after.
It was lovely to see how much they all enjoyed being involved in the activities, whether it be digging, filling pots, sowing seeds and most of all watering! Favourite story of the week was about the cycle of a ‘Sycamore Seed’ which the children were able to fully appreciate, as the helicopter motion that the seed takes when it falls to the ground after being thrown in the air was demonstrated. The ‘Happy Tree’ story also provided much stimulation for vocal interaction, signing and counting. The plants will need close attention throughout the term but rest assured the staff will never be short of volunteers for watering!
The following week, the activities took on a recycling theme. After some initial stories about recycling and conversations about looking after our planet earth, the children set about making their own upcycled toys. They then took it in turns to sort various recyclable items into the different coloured bins they had painted. Would it be blue, black/grey, green or brown? The staff also took pleasure in hearing about the children’s own experiences of recycling before having a go at making their own sock puppets and papier-mâché shakers. The process of papier-mâché never fails to deliver, as the children got a lot of pleasure in tearing the newspaper, dipping them into the glue mixture and pasting them onto their balloons. They looked curiously as the balloons were popped once the paper was dry, resulting in a hollow ball ready for them to fill with the various bottle tops, split peas, and individually decorate with the various natural materials on offer. A handle was attached as the final touch before they were all ready to play and make some music with!
It was very satisfying to witness that the activities had nurtured their understanding about taking care of the environment. After all, “bees, butterflies and ladybirds need the flowers and trees to live, buying too much is a waste and we must recycle!” they said.
On the 2nd July, the preschool will be celebrating it’s 50th Birthday. A summer fayre and party will mark the occasion at the Preschool’s usual venue at St Luke’s Church. It’ll be a lovely opportunity for families both past and present to come together and share their many fond memories of the preschool.