Designer Jeans
Children at Little Angels Nursery in Brighton spent a week decorating anoversize pair of jeans to mark Jeans for Genes Day on 7 October.
Soaring sunflower
Green-fingered children from Beech House Day Nursery in Huyton,Liverpool, have been enjoying growing plants and vegetables in thenursery's garden. The children were particularly pleased to find outthat they are in the running for a prize for growing the biggestsunflower in Huyton - a staggering 9ft 7in tall.
Shiver me timbers
Busy Bees Nurseries across the country celebrated national Talk Like aPirate day on 19 September. Children and staff from Busy Bees inWalsgrave Hospital in Coventry and in Oldbrook, Milton Keynes, dressedin costume and made treasure maps, pirate biscuits and eye patchesbefore going on a hunt for buried treasure.
All about the island
A project learning about the Caribbean island of Montserrat wasinitiated by the pre-school room leader at Highams Park Pre-school inLondon and some of the children who were born on the island. Childrenlearned about the villages of Montserrat, drew the national flag andpainted pictures of the island. A member of staff also modelled thetraditional national dress, and a parent came in with a replica volcanoto show the children what happens when one erupts.
RESOURCES
Green and yellow
Nurseries, pre-schools and primary schools are invited to take part inthe Yellow Woods Challenge, an eco-educational initiative run by Yell.Those who register will receive curriculum-linked teaching resourcesincluding videos, lesson plans and interactive whiteboard materials, andcan take part in the Kirk's Recycling competition, where schools whorecycle old Yellow Pages directories can win up to 500 in cash oreducational Woodland Trust prizes. For details visitwww.yellow-woods.org.uk.
Online directory
The Daycare Trust has launched an online directory for parents withinformation about their local family services. The Family InformationDirectory, produced in conjunction with the Department for Education,has an easy-to-use search facility that enables parents to find localchildcare and family services. Visit www.daycaretrust.org.uk/fid.
Hygienic heroes
Early years practitioners can download a free Hygiene4Health resourcepack about the importance of hygiene for UK Global Handwashing Day. Theteaching packs include educational posters, stickers and games, andfeature six Hand Hygiene Heroes. Visit www.hygiene4health.com.
COMPETITION
Design a pet
Children are invited to draw a pet for childcare insurer Morton Michel'sDesign a Pet competition, in association with Blue Cross. Winners in thethree categories - under fives, five to seven years and eight to 11years - and their settings will receive a selection of resources.Everyone who takes part will get a set of Morton Michel colouringpencils. Entries must be no larger than A4 size and drawn/designed bychildren. The deadline is 15 November, with the winners announced on 23November. Visit www.mortonmichel.com.
PHOTO OF THE WEEK
Three-year-old Sophie Watt from Bizzy Bees Pre-school in Wootton,Bedford, takes in the view from the setting's beach hut, part of a newinteractive beach garden. Thanks to funding from Bedford's Every Child aTalker project, the pre-school has transformed the garden at the VillageMemorial Hall, where they are based, into an seaside destination with abeach hut, sand dunes and a sandpit.
- Do you have a story to tell? Share it with us atnews.nw@haymarket.com.
The best photo of the week will win 30 worth of children'sbooks.
