This week in Willow at The Limes, the children have been inspired by the windy weather and the changing environment in the nursery garden. They have been busy gathering fallen leaves and using them in a variety of creative ways. Children explored sticking leaves onto sticky paper and enjoyed the careful process of leaf rubbing, noticing the different textures, shapes and sizes as they worked. These activities supported children’s curiosity, fine motor skills and early creative expression as they experimented with natural materials.
Alongside this, the children have been sharing Eric Carle’s much loved story The Very Hungry Caterpillar. This has linked beautifully with real life experiences, as the children have been observing their own caterpillars eating, growing and changing. Watching this process has encouraged thoughtful conversations, close observation and early scientific thinking, helping children to make connections between stories, the natural world and their own experiences.
These experiences have supported children’s language development as they talked about what they could see and feel, as well as their understanding of the world through hands-on exploration. Time spent outdoors and with stories continues to provide rich opportunities for learning, curiosity and shared enjoyment in Willow Room.
