The Animals Went Into the Ark Two by Two

At last summer has arrived, the April showers have gone bright green leaves, new  buds and beautiful blossom is bursting out on the trees all around us. The birds have been nesting and there is the gentle hum of the various insects being very busy going about their business.  A few weeks ago some rather interesting creatures visited Playgroup.  The wonderful Jenny’s Ark came to Acton and we were not only able to see some amazing animals and reptiles but also handle some of them!  I don’t mind little little bugs and I don’t mind fluffy rabbits but when it comes to sssssssnakes I run a mile – there were some brave people in Playgroup and here are some photographs to show you how brave they were.  It was a great afternoon enjoyed by all the children and parents and not only was it wonderful to be able to look and touch these amazing creatures but we learnt lots of interesting things about them too.

Filed under: What we are up to

This entry was posted on Tuesday, May 21st, 2013 at 9:27 am

Volcano and Lava Lamp Instructions

By huge demand here are the formulas for making your own volcano and lava lamp.

Volcano

Make up a batch of salt dough as follows

3 cups of flour

1 cup of salt

2 tablespoons cooking oil

few drops of food colouring

Mould the salt dough around a small plastic bottle and place on a tray

Add warm water to your bottle so that it is about two thirds full

Add 2 tablespoons of baking powder, a few squirts of washing up liquid, top up with vinegar, and count backwards from 5 ———–whoosh! For a more dramatic and impressive effect add a few drops of food colouring and glitter before adding your vinegar.

Lava Lamps

Select a bottle and half fill with oil topping up with tap water.  Add glitter, decorations, a few drops of food colouring and then allow the mixture to settle.  Break you alka selter tablet into four and add one piece at a time ———-wow!

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This entry was posted on Monday, March 25th, 2013 at 10:38 am

ACTON VOLCANO RESEARCH CENTRE

Last Wednesday Playgroup turned into a Science Laboratory.  There was a buzz of excitement when parents and carers joined the children at the “Acton Volcano Research Centre”. To coincide with Science Week the day was planned around the children’s interest in volcanoes.  Tables turned into work tops, white gowns and goggles were at the ready, emergency exits were reinforced should there be a repeat of Mt Vesuvius and cotton wool was given to the grown-ups  in case the bangs got too loud! Not only did the children make their own volcano using salt dough but they also made lava lamps, made pipe cleaners dance using magnets, investigated wind by making flags and taking them outside to see which direction the wind was coming from, made a tornado in a jar and took a closer look at ice.  The children had a fun afternoon and used their skills for investigating and predicting. Instructions on how to make a volcano (check with the grown-ups first!!!) and lava lamp will follow.

Filed under: What we are up to

This entry was posted on Monday, March 25th, 2013 at 10:26 am