Blog Archives

Science Through Cooking

28/11/2017

Cooking is an experience we plan almost daily at Rachel Keeling. As part of our focus on deeper learning and science, some children were targeted to make meringues. Children worked collaboratively to gather resources and read the recipe. Children observed the effects of change during the process. As the heat was added some of the ingredients changed state from liquid to solid whilst others changed from solid to liquid. Children learnt first hand about aeration whilst using the electric whisk to whisk air into the sugar and eggs. Specific vocabulary was introduced, such as 'stiff peaks'. The children enjoyed testing the meringue mixture was stiff enough by holding the bowl over their heads with Judy! Children also prepared the berry jus: heating over the hob and noticing change. Throughout the process children were encouraged to predict what would happen and hypothesise why they thought it happened afterwards.
To top it all, delicious meringues were shared and enjoyed in the afternoon.

Male Role Model Day

24/11/2017

Thank you so much for families who came today to play and learn with the children. We had dads, granddads, brothers, uncles and cousins. It is so important that the whole family is involved in the wonderful learning journey the children at Rachel Keeling are on.
More photographs will be uploaded on Monday so look out if your one is not appearing yet!

Dissecting a Female Frog

10/11/2017

Never ones to pass up an opportunity for learning, when the children discovered a dead frog at the back of our compost area, staff supported the children in investigating further! This prompted much discussion and questioning about frogs and their features. Children were supported to use books to discover facts about amphibians. Once it was ascertained the frog was dead (and not hibernating) we carefully put it aside. At our daily evaluation we carefully thought what would be the next steps of learning for our children to challenge them and use this rich opportunity to develop their knowledge and understanding about the fauna in our garden. We decided to dissect it with children to explore the wonderful workings of such a creature.
Overnight the frog was frozen to halt further decomposition. The following morning, once staff had researched the process and thought about the safety issues, resources were gathered. Dissection trays, pins, scalpel, paper towels, protective goggles, hot water and information books were assembled. An adult supported children to carefully look at the preserved frog. Some children noticed its powerful hind legs for jumping. Children observed that the frog’s skin was coloured and spotted to help camouflage. Some children predicted what we might find inside the frog. An adult used a scalpel to make incisions and cut through the skin and muscle underneath. Children looked into the body cavity and discovered some of the organs. The awe and wonder of the children was evident. We also found tiny black eggs that filled the body cavity, that we discovered meant it was a female frog.
Afterwards we carefully buried the frog's body and the children were further supported to understand the cycle of life and death.
Children involved took information home to share with their families about the learning they were involved in and staff fully reflected on the learning and any issues it may have thrown up.