Observations of Children

Theo came to look at the special book on the carpet. I had found an atlas and Theo was keen to have a look through it. He enjoyed turning the pages and looking at all the different things on the pages, he pointed to mountains, animals and monuments talking about the things he saw. "That's a big tower so big and that's a lion they are in zoos," I asked Theo to choose something to draw and he said he wanted to draw the orange tree. We talked about where oranges grow and I explained that they need lots of sunshine so they grow in warm countries. Theo wrote his own name and with support heard different sounds in the word orange.

Leo came to look at our special books on the carpet. He told me, “It’s a map. I have one at home.” I explained to Leo it was an atlas and he turned the pages looking at the different pictures. Leo talked about all the animals he could see and some of the different buildings. "That's London Bridge, I haven't been there but my dad used to go to London and saw the bridge." He turned the page again and said, "I can see Africa, it big and warm and there that's Egypt with the Pyramids." I asked Leo how he knew about the pyramids and he said, "I watched a programme called Go Jetters on Cbeebies." I asked Leo what he wanted to draw and he said, "That mountain there. It's cold there not like Africa." Leo drew his picture and then used his excellent segmenting skills to write 'mountain' and 'cloud." Wow Leo I loved spending some time with you this morning and you amazed me with your general knowledge and your excellent phonic skills.

"We are reading this book," Judd explained. "Yeah mine is a story book and Judd has that book with facts in like you showed us like the Under the sea book," added Leo. I asked what they boys have found in their books. "That's a panther and he is dark like a shadow and can creep up and jump on other animals cos I learned that," Leo explained. "I can see lots of penguins on the ice and it cold," Judd continued. I asked the boys if there was a difference between the jungle and the arctic where the penguins lived. "Yeah it's cold where the penguins live and hot in the jungle," explained Leo. "And it is rainy and they are lots of trees where animals live," added Judd.

This afternoon Affan and Rudy chose to explore the Investigation Area together. The task this week is to sort the animals in to the correct habitat. Affan and Rudy worked well together chattering away and talking to each other. “That’s a bat and it lives in the forest and the jungle too,” Rudy explained to Affan. “That’s a octopus and it lives under the sea and changes colour and hides from sharks.” 

Kara chose to sit and look at the atlas with me this morning. I explained that an atlas tells us all about the world and has maps in it. Kara was very keen to have a look and sat down and looked closely at each page. “I just love animals and maps,” she said giddily. Kara carefully looked at each map and talked about the different animals that she saw. “That’s a cheetah, they’re my favourite. They live in Africa,” she said. I asked Kara what she knew about cheetahs. “They have spots and run fast and it is hot where they live,” she replied. Kara then drew an amazing picture of a cheetah and a leopard before telling me the sound that they start with. “Ch for cheetah and l for leopard,.” 

It was lovely to spend some time with Leo this morning looking at the atlases. Leo came and joined me on the carpet and was eager to have a look. I told Leo that an atlas had a map of the world in it and all of the different countries and animals were in it too. Leo was very pleased to have a look and told me all about the animals he knew about. "That's a lion and he lives in Africa and it eats meat," Leo explained. Leo then turned the page and pointed to an animal. "What's that?" he asked. I told Leo that it was a bison. "It looks like a bull because it had horns like that. Does it fight with its horns?" he asked. I then went on to my iPad and showed Leo some photos and videos of bison and explained that they fight to see who will be the boss. Leo then asked where they lived. I told them that some like in America but in the snowy areas so they need thick fur to keep warm. "Like when I have a coat on," Leo added. Leo then chose to draw a picture of a bison on his paper and even wrote 'b' for bison on his work and his name after. Leo focused on this activity for such a long time and I thoroughly enjoyed reading and listening to him tell me all about the animals.

Theo came to look at the special book on the carpet. I had found an atlas and Theo was keen to have a look through it. He enjoyed turning the pages and looking at all the different things on the pages, he pointed to mountains, animals and monuments talking about the things he saw. "That's a big tower so big and that's a lion they are in zoos," I asked Theo to choose something to draw and he said he wanted to draw the orange tree. We talked about where oranges grow and I explained that they need lots of sunshine so they grow in warm countries. 

Leo came to look at our special books on the carpet. He told me, “It’s a map. I have one at home.” I explained to Leo it was an atlas and he turned the pages looking at the different pictures. Leo talked about all the animals he could see and some of the different buildings. "That's London Bridge, I haven't been there but my dad used to go to London and saw the bridge." He turned the page again and said, "I can see Africa, it big and warm and there that's Egypt with the Pyramids." I asked Leo how he knew about the pyramids and he said, "I watched a programme called Go Jetters on Cbeebies." I asked Leo what he wanted to draw and he said, "That mountain there. It's cold there not like Africa." 

This morning Judd and Leo were happily playing together in the Reading Area. They both had different books and kept switching between the two and another two books on the table. I approached them and asked what they were doing. "We are reading this book," Judd explained. "Yeah mine is a story book and Judd has that book with facts in like you showed us like the Under the sea book," added Leo. I asked what they boys have found in their books. "That's a panther and he is dark like a shadow and can creep up and jump on other animals cos I learned that," Leo explained. "I can see lots of penguins on the ice and it cold," Judd continued. I asked the boys if there was a difference between the jungle and the arctic where the penguins lived. "Yeah it's cold where the penguins live and hot in the jungle," explained Leo. "And it is rainy and they are lots of trees where animals live," added Judd. What amazing reading boys and what great knowledge of the different habitats. 

This afternoon Affan and Rudy chose to explore the Investigation Area together. The task this week is to sort the animals in to the correct habitat. Affan and Rudy worked well together chattering away and talking to each other. “That’s a bat and it lives in the forest and the jungle too,” Rudy explained to Affan. “That’s a octopus and it lives under the sea and changes colour and hides from sharks.”