A Spooky Week Indeed

Our children often come to school and share their ideas and experiences with their Rachel Keeling family. Earlier this week many children came to school talking about Halloween things they had seen in the shops and streets and "trick or treat".
We talked to children and listened to what children knew and thought about Halloween.  Some children commented "I don't celebrate Halloween", others said "I saw spooky masks in the shop" and "We cut a pumpkin". 
Our shoppers of the week went on a pumpkin hunt and managed to find a medium sized one which they handled, speculated what was inside and scooped out the seeds (to toast and share) and then finally carved the pumpkin for our entrance lobby. 
Spicy pumpkin playdough was made with a group of children to explore and take home. Children added lots of all-spice and cinnamon to the mixture as well as an orange food colourant. All our senses were heightened with the beautiful aromas travelling around the nursery.
Provision also included spooky stories with some playful language and complex, ambitiously, descriptive language to extend children's vocabulary. Children created potions and spells, drawing and writing phonetically plausible words. 
Some children came to school on Wednesday in spooky costumes too! 
We have noticed whilst children are becoming confident to have a go at writing, drawing skills need developing. So some wonderful spider web drawing sessions with an adult gave children confidence and skills in developing their drawings. 
In the garden, various critters were created natural resources and the glue gun and the highlight was Isabel's Thriller dance with some children!
It was certainly a week of more treats than tricks.