In Pre-school this week our story is- Sharing a Shell, the children have really enjoyed this story especially learning about rockpools.
The children created their own rockpool in our sand tray, selecting different materials such as rocks, wood,shells,twigs and pinecones. They created a circle shape in the sand and built a wall around their shape using these materials and then I  poured water into their rockpool to see if their wall would hold the water or would the water pour out.
This type of hands-on, imaginative play directly supports several EYFS learning areas:
Understanding the World: Children explore a miniature ecosystem, learning about marine life, natural habitats, and different materials. They might discuss where rockpools are found, what creatures live in them, and the characteristics of various natural elements.
Communication and Language: As children create and interact with their rockpool, they naturally engage in conversations. They might describe what they are doing, ask questions, explain their choices of materials, and even create stories about the creatures living in their rockpool. This enhances their vocabulary, listening skills, and ability to express ideas.
Physical Development (Fine Motor Skills): Manipulating different materials like sand, pebbles, shells, and water helps to develop fine motor skills, hand-eye coordination, and dexterity. Scooping, pouring, arranging, and picking up small objects strengthens the muscles in their hands and fingers.
Expressive Arts and Design: Children are using their imagination and creativity to design and construct their rockpool. They are making choices about materials, textures, and arrangements, essentially creating a miniature world. This also allows for sensory exploration as they touch and feel different elements.
Personal, Social and Emotional Development: If children are working together, they develop social skills like sharing, taking turns, and collaborating. The open-ended nature of the activity also allows for emotional expression and can be a calming, sensory experience.
Mathematics: Children might engage in early mathematical concepts by sorting materials (e.g., by size, type), counting shells or pebbles, or discussing quantities of sand and water.
Problem-Solving Skills: Children might encounter small "problems" to solve, such as how to make the water stay in a certain area or how to arrange the rocks to create a sheltered spot.