As the cold snap arrives, we continue to embrace the garden at Rachel Keeling. 
We support children to find ways to keep warm, we observe the changes in the environment and we think about how we can help the wildlife in our garden.
A few weeks ago children harvested potatoes, counting, estimating, tallying and studying them. Last week, children were supported in building a fire together.
They prepared the newspaper, kindling and made sure there was sand and water ready to douse the flames if we needed it. 
We always use a flint to light the fire as a safety precaution.
The children sang and chatted happily as the fires took hold. The awe and wonder supported lots of talk and children used vocabulary such as, crackle, smoke, flames, fizz, pop, hiss.
We wrapped the par-boiled potatoes in foil and an adult placed them into the flames to cook. Meanwhile some parsley butter was made using parsley from our garden.
They were shared and enjoyed the potatoes in a little butter. 
Later that day children were recounting the fire to some afternoon children: staff will ensure the afternoon children get to experience a campfire in the next week. 

In Sunflower base children are fortunate enough to have continuous provision to support expressive art and design. This includes a woodwork area, colour mixing with powder paint and a workshop space to make and create.
Over the past two weeks children have been introduced to sculpting with clay: first they learned to knock it down (this is the process before you use it to get any air bubbles out of it). Then they cut it into smaller pieces and explored it using hands: rolling, pinching, kneading, prodding. Adding water changes the texture again and allows children to create a 'slip' which then can be used to join two pieces of clay. 
Some children explored the clay freely using their hands.
Some children were supported to create sculptures: a "friendly snake", an "enchanted forest", some pencils, a Danish Flag, a light and a castle have been created so far. With children sustaining interest in them and returning to enhance their sculptures. 
There is plenty more time to explore and work on mini-projects over the next week and a half.

Our new garden has supported lots of sustained learning this week. 
Children helped to fill the bird feeders on Monday morning: this resulted in us attracting some new friends. Birds visited and the usual squirrels and then a cheeky mouse appeared to help itself to some food. The children were very interested to observe our new friend!
Then two amphibians arrived (we are not sure whether they are frogs or toads so if you know, do help us!)
Meanwhile the children were supported to harvest some potatoes and apples. 
Children helped to pick the apples and dig out the potatoes, having much fun using the wheelbarrow. Then some children estimated the amount they had harvested. Next they counted and tallied them.
Next week we plan to enjoy the harvest: maybe with some baked potatoes around the open fire.