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Nursery activities

Nursery staff at Baring Primary School in Lewisham set up an interactive display that supports children's investigation and exploration Planned learning intentions
Nursery staff at Baring Primary School in Lewisham set up an interactive display that supports children's investigation and exploration

Planned learning intentions

To investigate objects and materials by using their senses as appropriate To look closely at similarities and differences To ask questions about why things happen and how things work Resources

* Semi-permanent display set up on top of a storage unit, with a display board behind * key vocabulary, laminated * magnets * magnifiers * mirrors * lenses * an interesting lined wicker basket * an assortment of objects to investigate * templates of the equipment (to stick on to the worktop) Step by step

* Back the worktop and display board with bright coloured paper and include a contrasting border.

* Select key words that will support children's investigation and exploration. Cut these into interesting shapes and laminate them. Leave a small strip of laminate at the top of each word, and staple this strip to the board. This gives an interesting 3D effect, and the words 'bounce' when touched.

* Cut out silhouettes of each tool; attach to the worktop. Stick a small photograph of the object on the silhouette.

* Fill five or six identical bottles with different things: hair gel and marbles; baby oil with food colouring; water, sand and shells; sequins in baby oil. Fix the lids with superglue and then seal with plastic tape.

Ensure the bottles are well sealed and safe.

Activities

* Ask the children open-ended questions about the contents of the bottles, such as, 'What do you think is in the bottle?', 'Why do some things move more slowly than others?', 'Why do some things float and others sink?'

* Encourage the children to bring in things from home to be part of another treasure basket.

Extension activities

* Change the display on a regular basis to include new items in the treasure basket - natural resources, shiny things, smelly things or instruments to bang.

* Include 'speech bubbles' for adults to scribe children's comments about their explorations and investigations, or for children to make their own recordings.