NURSERY

Welcome to the new session 2021/2022

We hope everyone had a lovely weekend

This week we are looking at Sunflowers and how they grow

Logan would like to share his sunflower he put on his french toast.

What a brilliant idea!It looks delicious

Polly has been growing sunflowers but they keep getting eaten by slugs and the inside ones are growing more slowly.

Lori has been growing some sunflowers and we've just separated them out together. We just need to get some sticks to hold them up

Athena is growing her sunflower. We did quite early so we didn’t capture the all process. Athena is also helping her daddy to look after our allotment where she is growing up dills, radish, spring onions, peas and other spices.

Look at Max's Sunflowers! One is nearly up to his shoulder! He also made his own fantastic sunflower by glueing and sticking the different parts on.

Well Done Max

Here are Lennox and Callum showing us their sunflowers! They are brilliant boys.

Well Done x

Here is a video of the life cycle of a sunflower. Look how tiny they are to begin with. Can you name the parts of the sunflower?

Maybe some of you are growing some at home or want to draw or use creative ways to design one. If you do send them to nicola.sweeney@charlestonacademy.org.uk

It's Caterpillar time

Every year the children learn all about the life cycle of a butterfly

We watch and observe the caterpillars grow and change

This year Mrs Strathearn has taken delivery of the caterpillars at home and will be keeping us all updated on their progress.

Click on the link to watch

Life Cycle of a Butterfly

https://youtu.be/O1S8WzwLPlM?t=7

Maybe your child would like to make a picture of a caterpillar, they could draw, paint, collage or even use some natural items found outside. Any photo's of them and their picture can be sent to aileen.maciver@charlestonacademy.gov.uk

The caterpillars have had their first overnight stay at

Mrs Strathearns

Monday 1st June

Day 1

Look how quick they are growing.

Day 2

Lets see what happened to The hungry Caterpillar

Mrs Hendry will read you the story just click on the link below :

https://youtu.be/Zsto2eajHKw

The caterpillars are moving very slowly towards the lid. This is where they will make their cocoons.

Day 6

They are growing bigger and bigger and are nearly all at the top. We won’t be able to touch them now until they are ready to go into the net.

Day 10

All the caterpillars have safely made it to the top of the cup and attached themselves to the lid.

They will hang in a J shape and harden into their Chrysalis. We will leave them for 3 days to harden.

Day 12

The chrysalis are ready to be moved onto the Box station and placed into the butterfly hatching net.

Day 15

The butterfly hatching net is ready for the chrysalis station to be carefully placed into.

Day 15

Now there all settled into the net we will wait and see what happens next.

Day 15

There is no change in the chrysalises, they are still attached to the station in their net.

Butterflies can stay in their Chrysalis for between 5 and 21 days.

We are on day 8 of this process.

Day 21

Butterflies can hatch from their chrysalis very suddenly and if your not watching at the time you could miss the metamorphosis process where the butterfly will emerge from the chrysalis .

Can you think what the butterflies will want to eat when they arrive ?

Keep watching Mrs Strathearn

Day 26 WE HAVE 5 BUTTERFLIES

The butterflies are happy munching on leaves and oranges in their net.

They also like eating juicy soft fruit that is beginning to rot like strawberries, mango, watermelon and bananas

Our butterflies were in their chrysalis for 13 days.

Mrs Strathearn went to work on Friday and when she returned home their were 5 Painted Lady butterflies in the net.

Orange

strawberry

Mango

Watermelon

Banana

Mrs Maciver's dad found a butterfly in his kitchen. It was very settled sitting on his fingers.

He took it outside and placed it in the garden before it flew away.

Due to the bad weather this weekend Mrs Strathearn is not going release our butterflies from their net. We will keep them safe till the rain stops x

Day 29

Its Monday and the weather is dry and the sun is out.

Mrs Strathearn has placed the net in her garden and opened the lid for their release , camera at the ready to see if we can catch a picture of them.

The butterflies have all safely left the net and now exploring the outdoors.

Keep an eye out you might see one of our painted lady butterflies in your garden

While we are waiting for our butterflies to form, see how many other mini beasts you can spot when you are outdoors.

You could also try and copy the Makaton signs for some of the mini beast

https://youtu.be/jIb_gbpcaGk

Lets see what the Wiggly Wild Show found in their garden

https://youtu.be/xzr2au_WRQs

Logan wanted to show all of his friends at Nursery his mini beast hunt! He found an ant and woodlouse. Well Done x

Thank you for a great craft idea Iona and Isla. xx

Abbie made a lovely bird feeder at home.

Well done Abbie

Arran wanted to send in this pic of the hungry caterpillar.

Well Done Arran it's brilliant

Lovely picture Neve

Well done

Macy is having a lot of fun doing the mini beast hunt. She found a worm, a millipede and a snail while out on her walks.

Well done Macy xx

What lovely pictures. Thank you Polly xx

Polly and I had a lovely afternoon searching for beasties along the Secret Road. We didn't find them all but will keep looking out.

Melanie

Lennox is really enjoying the mini beast hunt. This is something he does regularly on our daily walks and while playing in the garden. Lennox has a bee hotel in the garden that he would like to show you with some other pictures of some of the mini beasts he has found so far. He has found most of the mini beasts on the list!

Thanks

Lesley-Anne MacKinnon

Well done Lennox your pictures are great and what a fantastic bee hotel xx

Mini beast hunt

Isla found a

worm

Digging for beasties

Well done girls. What great worksheets xx

Finished butterfly cakes

Isla baking cakes

Iona's cake baking

You have been busy girls . Great work xx

NURSERY SPORTS

We hope everyone had a lovely weekend. On Wednesday this week we should have been having fun at out Nursery Sports Day. So instead, your nursery teachers have been busy making up sports day challenges. Everyday there will an activity for you to try at home. If you would like to send any pictures to share on our website of your challenges send them to: nicola.sweeney@charlestonacademy.org.uk

Robyn loved doing her obstacle course today in granny's garden. You did brilliant and were so fast too! I love all of the balloons in Granny's garden too!Well

Arran and his dad took part in the obstacle course. It looks so much fun, I love the paddling pool obstacle! Fantastic effort! Well Done

Fridays Challenge

Miss Sweeney and her niece Chloe have set you the final challenge of our Nursery Sports Week! Its the Obstacle Race. Chloe set up lots of obstacles right down the garden to see who would be the winner! She was faster than Miss Sweeney! Good Luck Everybody

We hope you have all enjoyed the Sports Week and have a lovely weekend in the sun 😎

Macy and her dad enjoyed the beanbag race! Well done both of you and great balancing!

Ellie's mum said Today was too hot for normal races so we improvised! This looks like so much fun!

Thursdays Challenge

Todays challenge is from Miss Macrae. Its the beanbag race! Miss Macrae and her daughter Katie have raced with beanbags balanced on their heads! Do you think you could try? Good luck everyone!

Here is Macy doing her football dribbling race too!!

Macy had lots of fun doing the 3 legged race with her daddy . Great job both of you!

Meredith with her sisters and dad taking part in the egg and spoon race! Wel Done everybody

Here are Arran and his dad doing the 3 legged race in the garden!Looks like great fun

A great photo of Arran and his dad before their football dribbling race!Arran has really loved taking part and seeing the photos of the other kids

Polly “winning” Wednesday sports day with mummy

Polly enjoyed racing daddy for the first two challenges.

Here is Polly and her mummy doing the 3 legged race. Well done to you both!!

Well Done to Kyle and Scott for their 3 legged race!It looked tricky!Well done boys

Kyle and his brother Scott had a great laugh doing this

Kyle also wanted to share this video. Look how strong he is!very impressive Kyle!Well Done!

Here’s Hunter’s egg and spoon race, he had great fun practising! Well done Hunter, you went so fast at the end!!

Robyn had a lot of fun dribbling the football and doing the three legged race with her carebear.

Well Done Robyn you have done so well in your races! Great Job!

Lennox would also like to share a video of him and his daddy doing the football dribbling race.

Lennox would like to share a video of him and his brother Callum doing the potato and spoon race

Wednesday's Mid Week Double Challenge

Today we have 2 challenges for you!!

Mrs MacIver and her daughter Leanne have challenged you to a football dribbling race! They kicked the ball the whole way. I think Leanne was the winner here, what do you think boys and girls?

Mrs Henry also challenges you today, to the 3 legged race (or friendship race). She had her friend Ted to run with and even had a finishing line! Good luck everyone.

Here are Max and his sister Holli about to start their egg and spoon race. Well done to the both of you!!

Good balancing Max. You look like you are having loads of fun doing the egg and spoon race!

Here is Arran, he did a potato and spoon obstacle race with his dad. A big well done to the both of you. What a great picture Arran!

They ran round the garden, up to the playhouse and down the slide (I suspect some cheating may had gone on lol) but lots of fun Leigh x

Ellie has regularly been walking for more than 7km a day (often up at 9km or 10km each day) and has even made it up to the mast! Super proud of her so far!

Nikki

Here are Ellie and her sister Megan doing the egg and spoon race! Well done girls!! looks like lots of fun

And it looks like Ellie's dad joined in as well!!Great job everyone!!

Even Abbey joined in - with a head start and no potato but she did hold the spoon!

Tuesdays Challenge

The sun is coming out and Mrs Strathearn has challenged you to the egg and spoon race! Do you think she will drop it? You don't have to use an egg, what about a potato or a small ball. Good Luck everyone!

Macy used a tennis ball to do the egg and spoon race. Good job Macy!

Lori and her sister Eva doing the sack Race. They had great fun!

Well Done Girls!

Macy enjoyed doing the sack race using a pillow case. She jumped round her brother Blake

Meredith with her sister and dad having great fun doing the sack race!

Mondays Challenge

Mrs Macrae and her boys have challenged you to the sack the race! They didn't have proper sports day sacks, so used bed sheets instead! Who do you think will win?

We are missing seeing all the girls and boys in Nursery and i'm sure you all are too.

Lets see how many of your friends names you can remember, shout them out when you see them in the video.

You might even see the teachers pop up in the video.

We are missing seeing all the girls and boys in Nursery and i'm sure you all are too.

Lets see how many of your friends names you can remember, shout them out when you see them in the video.

You might even see the teachers pop up in the video.

Click on the link to access the video clips :

https://youtu.be/QsZm7m7Jsqg

Our favourite Nursery song - HAPPY (minions)

If your child has any photo's they would like to share on the website for the teachers and their friends to see please E-mail them to aileen.maciver@charlestonacademy.org.uk

Well done Isla x

Well done Iona x

What a great job you have done with making you name collage pictures.

That must of taken you a long time to do.

Friday 15th May

Muirtown school is taking part in #SchoolUniformDay (a play on a dress down day). This is to remind our children they still belong to our school/nursery community. If your child/children would like to wear their school/nursery clothes and share a picture with us please send to aileen.maciver@charlestonacademy.org.uk

Miss Sweeney and Mrs Maciver are wearing their uniforms working at home today

Meredith and her sisters in their uniform today.

Meredith practising her Phonics.

Edward

You look so grown up in your uniform Amber xx

Macy is so happy to be in her nursery uniform. She is making a heart with her hands for all her friends and teachers to let them know she is missing them.

Lisa

You are looking very smart Neve xx

Isla was doing her colour hunt in her uniform today. She was helped by her camera shy sister Iona. Well done girls xx

Lori and her big sister Eva. Poor Lori is confused and asking if she can start nursery now . Haha

Ann

Kacey is missing everyone xx

Robert

Lana was very excited to wear her uniform again, It was the first thing she mentioned when she got up this morning. Shes missing everyone lots xxx

Helen

Elle and Megan looking all grown up in their school colours today xx

Reuben has been so helpful at home playing and looking after his baby brother.

Sarah

Finn was very happy to get his school jumper on, he misses everyone xx

Chele

Polly just squeezed back into her nursery clothes today.

Melanie

If you would like to share this book with your family just click on the book image and it will redirect you to the audible version or if you prefer to read without sound select the 2nd link

story read aloud - click on the above book

https://27d69637-7884-4b07-a860-4e86d8406e85.filesusr.com/ugd/22785a_a56c7f1d5cb443b2b6a9362c5078376b.pdf?

WEEK COMMENCING MONDAY 11TH MAY

Colour Hunt

Pick a colour and see how many thing you can find that are :

Red green blue or yellow

This is what I found in my house that was red in colour.

If you would like to share your findings send your pictures to aileen.maciver@charlestonacademy.org.uk

Mrs Strathearn has been busy hunting for yellow objects

Look what Mrs Macrae has found

Well done Lori

Wow look at all the colourful items Neve and Emelia found in their house.

You have been busy , well done Robyn.

Hunter great job, well done.

Well done Isla and Iona. Great job x

Well done Reuben x

Polly enjoyed doing her colour hunt in the sunshine. We added a wee challenge to each colour too

Red - 8 things ordered smallest to largest

Yellow - 4 inside things, 4 outside things

Green - things starting with the letters of your name

Blue - sort into shapes

She did a great job and we all enjoyed it as a family

Melanie

WEEK COMMENCING MONDAY 27TH APRIL

I hope you've been enjoying the lovely weather. Now that spring is here lets see if you can find some or even all of the answers in the Springtime Hunt. Would love to know how you get on, why not send me a picture whilst your doing your hunt 😁💐

Email them to :

aileen.maciver@charlestonacademy.org.uk

Today me and my daughter had a lot of fun with the spring hunt. Please send any photos you would like to share.

Thank you

Meredith had great fun doing the hunt with her family. All items were found.

Regards

Edward

Meredith

Today Robyn went out on her springtime hunt with her dog Bailey and managed to tick everything off from her list. Here is a picture of Robyn with some yellow flowers. Can you see Polly in the background.

Lorraine & Robyn xx

Lana had fun on her springtime hunt. It certainly kept her focused on our walk with Jake :)

Helen

Hello

Polly enjoyed her springtime hunt this afternoon.

She misses everyone x

Melanie

week commencing 20th April 2020

We all hope that you are enjoying the lovely sunny days, many of you have been making beautiful pictures of rainbows, which have been wonderful. Perhaps you could make a picture about staying safe, saying thank you, I am sure you will all have some great ideas. Could you put them in your windows or even send us an email so we can share your creations with your friends. My email is babs.henry@charlestonacademy.org.uk.

Another good idea is TheDadLab it has super activities you can do at home with things you have around the house already.

We are all missing you. Stay Safe, see you soon.

This is a useful website to visit during these difficult times. It contains lots of information and will keep you up to date with developments.

www.parentclub.scot/ELC

Makaton

Last term the children and staff were learning makaton signs.

We had lots of fun Signing nursery rhymes, reading stories and using the signs we had been learning.

Here are some links to youtube that they might enjoy.

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCVR4-zug_Upe9pWcz1jRaIw

https://www.youtube.com/user/SingingHandsUK

We hope everyone is having a good Wednesday, keeping active and having fun

Education City

Here is the link to Education City https://go.educationcity.com/

The username and password should have been emailed to you all, but if anybody still requires it just email nicola.sweeney@charlestonacademy.org.uk

See if you can find some shapes or recognise some new ones too! Who can remember what a square, rectangle, circle and triangle look like? Maybe you could try drawing some of your own

If you have any fun Easter photos you would like to share with us please send them to aileen.maciver@charlestonacademy.org.uk

Thank you Neve and Finn hope you had a lovely Easter

Thank you Polly for sharing your Easter pictures. Hope you had a great day and had fun decorating your eggs. They look great

Sunday 12th April

The nursery staff would like to wish you all a Happy Easter

Saturday 11th April

Can you copy any of our Easter Egg designs

Well done Meredith on copying our egg designs. Great job 👍😁

Wednesday 25th March

https://www.bbcgoodfood.com/howto/guide/playdough-recipe

On this wet Wednesday, why not try to make some play-dough 😁 You could show your family how good we make it in nursery.

Have fun kids

Hello, welcome to our website. We will post on here regularly and hope you will pop in and join us. We hope you are well and keeping safe.

Can you make a picture of a rainbow and display it in your window, children who are out walking in the local area, find as many rainbows as you can? Big fluffy virtual hugs from the nursery ladies

LiteracyAtHome is a government site suggesting lots of lovely activities for younger children. The Scottish Book Trust has a list of books for 3-5 age group. Most of these can be found on You Tube.

I found some lovely stories to help your child think about starting school.

Hope you find this useful.

K McCabe

Hello from Mrs McCabe.

I am missing seeing you all.

I have some spring pictures to share with you.

Can you name them?

Have you seen any of these signs of spring yet?

Monday 23rd March 2020

Good Afternoon,

As we all begin to adjust to new ways of living and learning together it’s important to be kind to ourselves.

Take these first days to work out what suits yourself and your child best and have fun together! 😊

Highland Council have a range of resources which you may find helpful as we all set off on this new adventure…

1. Go to the Highland Digital School Hub

https://sites.google.com/millburnacademy.org.uk/highlanddigitalschoolshub/home

2. Click on RESOURCES AND LINKS PAGE

3. Click on ELC (NURSERY) to find advice and guidance for early learning at home through play and having fun.

4. At the bottom of that page you will find a range of links to sites you may find helpful as you and your child begin to adjust to being at home for more of the week.

5. You can also sign up to follow www.bumps2bairns.com which will have other daily tips and ideas for home learning from this Wednesday 25.3.20.

Remember to

“Take things one day at a time and be kind to yourself and your family.

No one is expecting you to be a teacher – you’re already doing the most important job of all, loving your child. “

https://www.parentclub.scot/articles/how-do-i-deal-with-early-learning-and-childcare-settings-and-schools-closing