Knowledge & Understanding of the World

Through exploring and asking questions children can acquire the skills and understanding they need to help them make sense of the world around them.  This area of learning gives children the opportunity to investigate using all their senses, and encourages discussion and decision making.  Children learn about the past and their local environment.  They become aware of different cultures and beliefs.  They construct with different materials and find out how things work, and they become familiar with ICT technology.  Knowledge and Understanding of the World forms the basis of science, history, geography, ICT, and design technology.

Learning about different materials, natural and man made..

Finding out about other cultures.

Developing observational skills and talking about objects, materials and events.

Becoming aware of their environment and investigating living things.

What does it mean?

Becoming familiar with computers and other everyday technology.

Using construction materials to a purpose and with increasing competence.

Becoming aware of the past.

What does it mean?

Undertaking scientific investigations and using all their senses.

Learning to use a variety of tools.

Asking questions.

How do we achieve this in the nursery?

The staff provide a wide range of practical experiences both inside and outside and outside, that are designed to enable the children to explore and investigate the world around them.

Staff engage the children in verbal interaction that encourages the children to formulate their own explanations and investigate further

Staff provide a wealth of resources and materials for the children to work with and support them in their use of the tools they need to explore

Here are just some of the ways

Staff provide natural and man-made materials for the children to investigate, e.g. wood, clay, paper, paint, bubbles and flour.

Staff provide activities that increase the children's awareness of their senses, e.g. cooking, listening to musical instruments, tasting different foods.

The staff encourage the children to experiment in model making using many different types of construction equipment, e.g. blocks, bricks, recycled materials.

The children grow different things.  They help to look after the garden and talk about the growth of their plants and vegetables.

Some More Ways

The children have free access to the computers and the interactive touchboard together with a variety of software.

Staff provide play opportunities, resources and role-play situations that encourage the children to become familiar with everyday technology, e.g. telephones, tape recorders and tills.

The children observe the process of change from tadpoles into frogs.  The staff support them in their observations.

Visitors come to the nursery and talk to the children, e.g. fireman, musician and nurse.

Staff provide activities designed to increase the children's awareness of other cultures, e.g. painting Henna patterns on hands and sampling ethnic foods.

Some More Ways

Staff encourage the children to talk about their recent past experiences.

Staff show the children artifacts from the past.

Staff set up science experiments e.g. dissolving, freezing, melting, floating and sinking.

The children are encouraged to use scientific equipment e.g. magnets, mirrors, pulleys, and components to make an electrical circuit.

Some More Ways

Staff give the children experience of different environments by taking them on a variety of outings, e.g. the shops, the farm and the park.

Staff set up different environments for the children to play in e.g. the seaside, the jungle.

Staff use small world environments for imaginative play, e.g. the zoo, space, gardens and hospitals.

The children are encouraged to experience the weather, and the changing of the seasons, e.g. playing in the snow, observing a wind sock, looking at shadows, taking part in the Autumn walk.

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