As part of their ‘traditional tales’ topic, our Pioneers have been learning all about the book ‘The Ugly Duckling’. This familiar tale teaches key values through a story about the importance of friendship and understanding, and our children have been enjoying engaging with the book. 

To support their learning, recent related activities have included duck racing! Making the most of the blue skies and sunshine, our Pioneers have been taking part in messy play with water. The duck racing activity sees the children place the colourful ducks down the slide into the water before they are tasked to collect as many as they can in a net. The children are then encouraged to see if they can match the colour of the ducks to the colour circles on the table next to the water tray. 

This stimulating activity uses repetition to teach the children how to correctly identify and match colours whilst also encouraging the development of their fine motor skills by capturing the ducks in the net. Not only that, but it’s also been a fantastic way for the children to spend time outside on a sunny spring day! 

Other outdoor activities have also been popular with our Pioneers as children have had the opportunity to build sandcastles in the sandpit, ride tricycles around the yard, explore our outdoor classroom and enjoy playing imaginative games with their peers. 

The Pioneers’ recent ‘The Ugly Duckling’ themed activities have proven an effective and engaging way for staff members in this room to teach themes of friendship whilst helping children to develop key physical and fine motor skills.