Shapes and Digs

It has been an incredibly busy and exciting time in FS1 as our young learners transformed into sharp-eyed mathematicians and adventurous palaeontologists. Over the past few weeks, the classroom has been alive with discovery, with children exploring everything from the geometry of the world around them to the prehistoric giants of the past through hands-on, immersive play.

Our mathematical adventures began as the children became shape detectives, diving headfirst into the world of dimensions. They experimented with everyday objects found all around the classroom and outdoor play areas to discover the difference between flat 2D shapes and solid 3D structures. They loved holding, stacking, and sorting items, noticing that while a drawing of a circle on paper is flat, a bouncy ball is a solid sphere. This hands-on experimentation allowed them to build a fantastic foundation for spatial awareness, geometry, and real-world problem-solving.

The excitement reached a whole new level when the children stepped into the role of real-life palaeontologists to research the fascinating lives and characteristics of dinosaurs. Armed with brushes and digging tools, our mini-scientists carefully excavated hidden bones from sensory bins, learning exactly how experts uncover secrets from millions of years ago. They also explored the gentler side of these prehistoric giants, discovering how dinosaur parents protected, carried, and cared for their vulnerable babies.

This prehistoric theme beautifully woven its way into every corner of our classroom activities. During water play, the children dove into rescuing dinosaurs frozen in eggs. Meanwhile, our art and craft stations were bustling with fine motor activities where the children created their own dinosaur masterpieces, strengthening those important little hand muscles with every pinch and squeeze.

Through this wonderful blend of maths and imaginative science, our FS1 children are learning how to hypothesize, investigate, and express their creativity, building a lifelong love for discovery that we cannot wait to see continue.