This week in Nursery we have been learning about different celebrations, with a wonderful focus on Chinese New Year. The children enjoyed cooking their own vegetable stir fry and noodles, counting how many pieces of vegetables had been chopped and using mathematical language such as “smaller,” “bigger,” “more,” and “fewer” as they prepared the dish. They also had great fun trying to eat the noodles and stir fry using chopsticks, which encouraged fine motor control and some laughter. The home corner was transformed into a Chinese New Year–themed area filled with red decorations, lanterns and cultural objects, giving the children opportunities for rich imaginative play. They made their own lucky red envelopes, carefully cutting out paper coins to go inside and talking about how these envelopes are used to share good wishes. At the painting area, the children experimented with black paint to create Chinese symbols and explore early mark making, and they made red play dough as red is a lucky colour in China. The children worked together to complete Chinese New Year–themed jigsaws on both the computer and the interactive whiteboard, developing problem‑solving skills and teamwork. One of the highlights of the week was performing a lively dragon dance, using musical instruments and movement to bring the celebration to life.
We also enjoyed marking Shrove Tuesday by making pancakes and reading Mr Wolf’s Pancakes and The Enormous Pancake. The children helped to mix the ingredients, watched how the batter changed when cooked and, of course, enjoyed tasting them with their chosen toppings.
Article 1: Everyone, under 18, has the rights of the UN Convention.
Article 2: All children have rights. No child should be treated unfairly.
Article 24: You have the right to the best health care possible, safe water to drink, nutritious food, a clean and safe environment, and information to help you stay well.
Article 27: You have the right to food, clothing, a safe place to live and to have your basic needs met. You should not be disadvantaged so that you can’t do many of the things other kids can do.
Article 28: You have the right to a good quality education. You should be encouraged to go to school to the highest level you can.
