Ponds

This week, we have followed the Exploring Nature with Children’s suggestion and we have been all about ponds.

We went to Coombes Valley Nature Reserve and did some pond dipping. Despite it being autumn, there was an abundance of wildlife in the pond. We found numerous pond snails, pond skaters, damselfly nymphs and a leech. There were lots of tiny creatures in the water too that we could see moving but were too small to identify. And, much to the children’s excitement, we caught a frog! I made a sheet of things that we might find in a pond and Betty looked through them and identified the ones that we had found to cut out and stick in her nature journal.

 

 

At home, we made our own little ‘pond’ for some small plastic frogs which inspired some imaginative, small-world play. We also used the frogs as props when singing ‘Five Little Speckled Frogs,’ practising our counting skills. I read Beatrix Potter’s The Tale of Jeremy Fisher to the children, whilst we were on the subject of frogs.

Whilst looking for books about ponds at the library, I found James Mayhew’s Katie and the Water-lily Pond. This inspired an afternoon of art work. We had a go at copying Monet’s famous Water-Lily Pond painting and experimented with the way that adding lots of water made our painting go all fuzzy.

Finally, we went to the pond in the park to feed the ducks. This prompted more counting songs – Five Little Ducks! We read a story called ‘The Lost Little Duckling’ and, because we had seen lots of people walking their dogs near the pond, we read Smelly Louie, which is all about a dog who jumps in a smelly pond.

EYFS: Reading stories and singing songs supports language and literacy development. Whilst at the nature reserve, we listened to the sounds and tried to identify familiar sounds to develop listening skills. Pond dipping and playing at the park aids physical development and encourages children to risk assess. Counting songs support mathematics. Painting and learning about famous art work aids children’s creativity. Being outside and visiting different environments helps the children to understand the world; this is further developed by creating small world replicas for the children to play with.