Cardboard Ship

Have you got a few boxes you would like to recycle? Here is a pretty simple idea that you could get your whole class involved in making, decorating and of course playing in.

I used two TV boxes, some scrap boxes and some cable ties.

We assembled it inside the classroom to make a very exciting writing and drawing area. We added drawing materials in buckets, towels to lie on and assorted paper and card.

We painted flags for the class ship.

After a few weeks I think the ship will sail to another area of the classroom. I will let the children decide where it sails to and then as a class we will add new materials. It could be fun to be the 'block ship' or the 'puzzle ship'.

I'm sure it will probably end up outside eventually.

Until next time..

Niccola

Frozen Sea Creatures

All children love playing with, watching and experimenting with ice. We have had such hot weather lately, so I thought I would combine a painting activity with a sensory ice experience and.......

They loved it!!!

I froze small fish, sharks and whales in blue and green edicole dye.

 I used icy pole containers and put one, two or three sea creatures in each until the fins were sticking out the top. These were our handles.

The children painted with the dye and then washed the remaining ice in a giant fish bowl.

It was very messy and children even went home with blue and green toes as the dye was everywhere!!

It was a lot of fun and the children all wanted to play with the ice all at once. If you want a fun sensory activity then this is for you.

Have fun

Niccola

Shell Memory Game

Here is a lovely natural version of a memory game. Instead of using cards, I have written on shells which adds a tactile element.

This fits in well with what we are doing because at the moment we are looking at the beach and Summer and looking at numbers.

Firstly you will need to collect your shells.

Write your numbers on the shells with a permanent marker.

Lay your shells down in a sand tray.

Turn the shells over so the children can't see the numbers.

Get the children to turn over two shells. If they match they take them and put them aside.

Get the children to name the numbers as they turn each shell over.

Continue turning over the shells until they have found all of the pairs.

The beauty of these shells is that you can use them in the water trolley, on the wonder table, in the block area to reinforce numbers.

Have a go at making your own memory game.

Niccola

DIY Outdoor Car Track

School started this week after about 8 weeks of Summer holidays. Our playground was a big mess because we have had builders driving through the yard with work trucks all holidays. It took us a while to rake and clean the yard but then we managed to create some lovely new little play spaces.

I saw a similar idea once and thought it would be perfect for a little nook in our outdoor area. This little car track is perfect for your garden or playground, it is inexpensive to make and fun for all to play with.

Choose the bricks you want to use. I chose grey to resemble real roads.

Measure the middle of the bricks and mark the centre lines with a pencil.

Paint the lines on the bricks with white outdoor paint to resemble the white lines on the road.

( It would be a good idea to plan your road map before painting. I didn't do this and the lines don't flow as well as they could!!)

Sink the bricks into the sand and add pebbles, plants, cars, people, wooden blocks.....anything you can think of.

Let me know what you think.

Niccola