Our Week at Preschool – Exploring Pumpkins
Hello everyone,
We hope you all had a lovely half-term break with family and friends. What beautiful autumn weather we’ve had!
This week, our learning has been all about pumpkins. The children have been busy exploring, investigating, tasting, and creating through a variety of fun, hands-on experiences.
Group Time
We shared the stories Pumpkin Soup by Helen Cooper and It’s Pumpkin Time! by Zoe Hall.
Pumpkin Soup is all about a group of animals making pumpkin soup together and learning how to share and take turns with different roles. It’s Pumpkin Time! shows us how pumpkins grow and how we can use them for Halloween.
Monday
On Monday, we used the Chromebooks and the Purple Mash Paint program to colour our own pumpkins. We practised using the touchpad to move the mouse, select colours, and learn how to change them.
Two groups of children also went swimming in the preschool pool. They had lots of fun and showed great confidence in the water. We had a lovely time — and the children were amazing at getting undressed and dressed for swimming!
In the afternoon, we explored cutting open a pumpkin to see what was inside. We then baked the seeds in the oven and tried them for snack — delicious and crunchy!
Tuesday
In the morning, we did some pumpkin threading using a needle and wool to thread pieces of pumpkin onto string. This helped us practise our pincer grip and fine motor skills.
In the afternoon, we went on an exciting adventure to the Pumpkin Patch at Derwen Farm!
We explored pumpkins of all different colours, shapes, and sizes and learned that a pumpkin is actually a fruit because it has seeds. We also looked at some squash, saw sheep and chickens, fed the pigs old cucumbers, and even met some baby piglets. Of course, we couldn’t resist splashing in the puddles — it was a fabulous trip!
Wednesday
On Wednesday morning, one group of children visited the care home to share songs, a story, and some homemade apple pies. The children sang songs with lots of movement, and it was such a heartwarming visit — the residents were so pleased to see them!
Meanwhile, the other group had PE in the main school hall, where we created an obstacle course and practised our balancing, climbing, and jumping skills.
In the afternoon, we carried out a pumpkin science experiment using a carved pumpkin, food colouring, vinegar, and bicarbonate of soda. The children made predictions about what might happen, then watched in amazement as the “pumpkin volcano” erupted when we poured in the vinegar!
Thursday
On Thursday morning, we made pumpkin soup! We chopped pumpkins, onions, and potatoes, practising our cutting skills and learning how to use a knife safely.
In the afternoon, two groups of children went swimming in the preschool pool. They had lots of fun and were confident in the water. We had a lovely time — and once again, they were amazing at getting undressed and dressed for swimming! Another group of children had a great time playing in soft play, developing their balance and coordination.
Friday
On Friday morning, a group of children went swimming in the preschool pool. They had lots of fun and showed fantastic confidence in the water. We had a lovely time, and they did brilliantly with their independence getting changed.
Play and Learning Throughout the Week
Alongside our special activities, the children have continued to learn through play in the classroom:
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On the whiteboards, we’ve been mark making — some of us drew pumpkins and happy faces!
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We’ve enjoyed imaginative play in the small world autumn forest scene with forest animals, conkers, and leaves, as well as in the role-play home corner, using our real-life experiences in play.
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At the finger frenzy table, we used hammers to tap golf tees into pumpkins — great for hand-eye coordination and tool control.
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The construction area has been busy with Mobilo, Duplo animals, and waffle blocks.
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In the number area, we explored locks and keys, finding the matching number lock for each key — brilliant problem-solving and counting practice!
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In the messy tray, we had a variety of pump
kins to explore using spoons and magnifying glasses — perfect for developing observation and exploration skills.
We also enjoyed orange playdough with a variety of pumpkin cutters, creating pumpkins!
kins to explore using spoons and magnifying glasses — perfect for developing observation and exploration skills.
We also enjoyed orange playdough with a variety of pumpkin cutters, creating pumpkins!
It’s been such a wonderful week of curiosity, creativity, and discovery. The children have shown amazing teamwork, imagination, and enthusiasm in everything they’ve done. We can’t wait to see what learning adventures await us next week!
📸 Some photos from the week...
Next Week at Preschool
Next week, we’ll be exploring Autumn and the changes that take place all around us. We have lots of exciting adventures planned, including a bonfire snack, conker rolling, leaf printing, leaf hunts, and lots more!
Home Learning
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🍂 Can you bring in some photos of your half-term holidays to share at group time?
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👕 Can you practise putting on and taking off a jumper all by yourself?
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📚 Can you share your favourite book with an adult and tell them the story using the pictures?
You can apply for a reception place from 1 September 2025.
The closing date for applications is 15 January 2026.
https://www.dorsetcouncil.gov.uk/w/starting-school-for-the-first-time
