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Case study: hunting for bears

Aaron is a three-year-old attending Cottingley Primary School nursery in West Yorkshire. He explores the indoor and outdoor areas of the setting with confidence, often encouraging other children to follow him on 'bear hunts' around the nursery. He is able to give simple directions using 'landmarks' as clues, for example, 'You go and look for the bear behind the trees and I'll look for him near the shed.' Nursery staff have drawn plans of the outdoor area with Aaron and together they have marked the spot where the 'bear' was found. Aaron has been urged to look out for features on a picture list on his way home from nursery, ticking off lampposts, post boxes and so on, as he spots them. He tries to describe the location of his house by referring to local landmarks.

Nursery staff have drawn plans of the outdoor area with Aaron and together they have marked the spot where the 'bear' was found. Aaron has been urged to look out for features on a picture list on his way home from nursery, ticking off lampposts, post boxes and so on, as he spots them. He tries to describe the location of his house by referring to local landmarks.

Aaron sometimes accompanies his Dad on journeys in his van. He shows an interest in his Dad's road maps, wanting to navigate and asking questions such as 'Where are we going? Which way are we going?' Back at nursery, Aaron has used a road atlas in imaginative play. After constructing a bus using large wooden blocks, he 'followed' the route to the White Rose shopping centre and dropped off friends at a number of stops en route. Staff have encouraged Aaron to make his own maps and have compiled a nursery atlas of children's work.

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