The Enormous Watermelon of Bethnal Green

As part of developing the children's understanding of weight and capacity, staff worked with children around the theme of juicy watermelons. Children listened to the story The Gigantic Watermelon: they listened attentively and joined in with suggestions, comments and questions. They decided to go shopping. Bailey thought they should bring a shovel with their trolley to lift the watermelon up. Despite visiting many local shops they found no watermelons and had to make do with a much smaller honeydew melon. Maria sourced one from north London overnight and brought it to school the following day. Children explored its exterior: patting, stroking, feeling and rubbing it. They explored its size, reaching around its girth and lifting it carefully. Children then handled it and predicted whether they were heavier or lighter than the watermelon. Vito said it was "gigantic!" Children weighed themselves using the electronic scales and noted their weights on a huge piece of paper. They also weighed the colossal watermelon. Children cut the now slightly damaged watermelon to explore inside: it skin, flesh and seeds. It was incredibly juicy.  Over the following few days, watermelon was shared and enjoyed, keeping us cool in the sunshine and children used pastels to draw after close observation. 
Finally this morning, children created their own poems about watermelons: with an adult scribing their ideas. Photographs of the beautiful pastel drawings and wonderful poetry will be added above.