Children across both classes at Rosemary Nursery School have been exploring the natural world and engaging in hands-on learning this month through outdoor discovery, sensory play and mathematical activities.
In Class 1, children have been making the most of the beautiful weather by spending lots of time in the garden. Being outdoors helped to bring the core book, Nature Trail by Benjamin Zephaniah, to life as children explored the natural world around them and followed their own lines of curiosity. Whilst exploring, the children discovered snails, worms and ladybirds, leading to thoughtful conversations about living alongside other creatures and why they are important. The class was also visited by a baby robin who was very inquisitive, prompting many questions and observations from the children and encouraging them to think carefully, ask questions and share ideas with one another. Later in the month, the children planted willows in the garden, helping to dig the holes, fill them back in with soil and water the plants carefully. This hands-on experience supported physical development, teamwork and a sense of responsibility as the children cared for something that will continue to grow over time.
In Class 2, children have been busy exploring a range of hands-on activities that support learning and curiosity. Through sensory play with coloured water and petals, children developed fine motor skills as they poured, scooped and experimented with different movements, building strength and control in their hands and fingers whilst enjoying the calming, creative experience. Children have also been closely observing their green bean seedlings as they continue to grow taller, taking responsibility for caring for the plants and learning that water and sunlight are essential for healthy growth. Alongside this, children have been developing early maths skills by identifying numbers from 1 to 10 and ordering them, building confidence in recognising numerals and understanding number order.
These varied experiences show how Rosemary combines outdoor exploration, sensory learning and mathematical development to create rich learning opportunities that develop curiosity, responsibility and essential skills.