We are learning about changes in our environment.  Through this we are exploring hibernation, nocturnal animals, changes that happen during Autumn, and what we already know about all these things and what new things we can learn about them.

The children made their own tortoises to take home and keep over the winter for them to hibernate, they will bring them back in the spring time when they wake up.

We were very lucky to have Mavis-a real live tortoise visit the nursery this week.  The children were able to watch Mavis slowly wander around and touch her shell and skin.

This gives the children fist hand experiences of what we are talking about and enables them to make sense of it all.   This encouraged lots of descriptive language from the children.

We were able to ask lots of questions about Mavis and find out lots more about tortoises.  

Here we have one of the children with her tortoise next to Mavis.

Thanks to KerryAnne, Allan and Ellie-Mae for bringing Mavis in to see us.