For our farm project we thought it would be a good idea to take the children on a farm visit. But we found it wouldn't be possible because at the time there were still health and safety restrictions on visiting farms following the foot and mouth epidemic. One staff member suggested bringing some animals into the nursery, but we were told it was still difficult to move animals around without a licence. So we decided to make our own farm in the nursery.
We covered the nursery floor with hay, made cardboard cut-out animals, played farm sounds in the background and got the children and staff to dress up as farmers. We even had a farm shop stocked with eggs, cheese and milk.
The children were very excited when they arrived on the day, dressed in checked shirts, dungarees, Wellington boots and neck scarves. Some parents commented that the nursery even smelled like a real farm!
The 16 children had been learning about the farm, the animals and the daily routines of farmers. But what they didn't expect to find on the day was a huge tractor sitting outside the nursery. One of the parents works on a farm and kindly let us borrow it for the morning!
We took pictures of each child sitting in it and displayed them for the parents to see. The children weren't upset by the size of the tractor, only by the fact that they couldn't sit in it all day.
We organised a lot of activities around the room with a farm theme. Water play became milk play using water mixed with white powder. Sand play became dirt play. We hid toy animals in a baby bath full of soil. The children were a bit wary of this activity to begin with because it is not every day that they get to play with mud.
The farm day was a really enjoyable learning experience for the children. I think they got a better understanding through practical play. Many children had never been to a farm at all, so this was a realistic opportunity for them in familiar surroundings. They absolutely loved it and we hope to use the themed day again.
Heidi Gray spoke to Mahrukh Choughtai