It is commonly believed that children learn more effectively when they are relaxed and when they don’t realise they are learning. At Hiba Nursery, this is the case every day for children as they engage in learning through play. The children learn gently about the world through play, exploration and interaction with the people around them and their environment.
EY3 & EY4 children embark on several learning adventure during the course of the year. This approach to learning allows the children to activate their own natural desire to learn. The learning adventures begin with a big question, or a dilemma something to hook the children in; to capture their attention, allowing them to lead the learning, each class taking a slightly different route throughout the adventure. The learning adventure provides a perfect platform for the children to arouse interest in the different areas of learning. The process behind the model has a focus on high quality interactions within the learning environment, planning for provocation and challenge for all children, allowing the children to lead the learning and continuously monitoring and assessing their success. So far this year EY3 began on earth and allowed their learning adventure to skyrocket to space exploring planets, imagining what it would be like if we could visit. They made rockets, became astronauts and transformed their learning environment into a cosmic wonderland. 
Meanwhile EY4 have stayed firmly on the ground, exploring the world around us, and towns and cities both near and far. EY4 even designed and built their own mini town and had 'Mayor' Vanessa to visit. They worked out financial budgets to buy what was required for the successful planning and running of the town. Following a visit from the fantastic Mr Hywell Roberts, the EY4 children then became explorers, packing their bags and heading further off on their adventures. And then, suddenly, our adventure took a new, unplanned, unprepared route. A learning adventure where the route led to home.
Many zoos and wildlife parks have opened their virtual doors and are allowing virtual tours of their areas. Put on your jungle hat, pack your explorer bags and go on safari. Choose one of the animals you meet on your adventure and research it in more detail. Can you find any interesting facts? https://www.dublinzoo.ie/ https://www.georgiaaquarium.org/webcam/beluga-whale-webcam/ https://www.nps.gov/yell/learn/photosmultimedia/virtualtours.htm
Perhaps you have never had as much time to read. Reading is an easy and accessible way to transport yourself from everyday life to a place far away, a place that just perhaps exists in an imaginary world. Read together as a family. Imagine alternative endings. Think about the characters and their story. Draw what they might look like. Explore their surroundings. There are lots of online platforms available to explore a range of books.?https://www.worldbookonline.com/wb/Login?ed=wb&tu=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.worldbookonline.com%2Fwb%2Fproducts%3Fed%3Dall%26gr%3DWelcome%2521
Is there an art museum that you have always wanted to visit? Or a particular field you are interested in. Explore museums and galleries virtually.? https://www.louvre.fr/en/visites-en-ligne
2. The gift of time You could simply just take the time to do the things that you usually never have time to do. Set up a restaurant in your home. Who is the chef, who is the waiter, who will the diner be? √ Learn how to bake something new. Explore the origin of the ingredients. √ Develop your domestic skills. Learn what must be done in the home every day. √ Learn to tie your shoelaces. √ Enjoy your time together as a family. √ Design your own board games. The situation is ever changing but we do look forward to going on another adventure with our nursery children very soon. Take care and keep safe.
