Children across all groups at Cashmore Early Years Centre have been immersed in story-based learning this month, exploring books through hands-on activities, creative play and music whilst preparing for an exciting Lunar New Year celebration.
The 2-year-olds in Hippo and Giraffe Groups have been exploring their core book, Handa’s Surprise, discovering the fruit and vegetables featured in the story. The children have been talking about their feelings using words such as happy, sad, and angry, singing “Down in the Jungle” with animal props, and learning counting songs to help them count from 0 to 5. They have also been joining Talking Tunes sessions, using props such as bubbles, hats, babies, and feathers whilst singing to help build attention, choice-making, and turn-taking skills.
The 3-year-olds in Zebra and Tiger Groups have been exploring their core book, Whatever Next, retelling the story with props, drawing on the whiteboard, having picnics and building rockets with blocks and magnets. The children have shown particular interest in transport, making prints with vehicles, building with Mobilo and Lego, creating train tracks and exploring emergency vehicles. They have been singing 5 Little Trains whilst practising counting with 1:1 correspondence up to 5 and predicting what happens when they add one more.
Soon, the Centre will be celebrating Lunar New Year, the Year of the Horse. The children will taste food and learn different ways to express themselves through music and dance, providing an opportunity to explore a different culture and language.