Pilots, to a large degree, are like salesmen. They have to be confident to be good at their jobs. They have to practice relentlessly and plan out all the scenarios of the things that could happen when they're out there. Nothing is more important than preparation. - Simon Sinek

Pre-school saw many pilots during the air transport week.  They certainly demonstrated their confidence whilst creating an array of air themed crafts and were all very good at their jobs of learning through play in the small world and role play areas.  The children practised relentlessly in creating models with the various construction materials both inside and on a larger scale outside to create a large cardboard box airplane.  All the skills the children have learnt and practised this week is certainly preparing for reception next year!

The air transport crafts this week were cutting shape rockets, sticking craft stick airplanes, sponge print helicopters, colouring the rhymes and books of the week and making paper plate helicopters including a photo of the child inside the balloon!

Miss Sallie used an idea from Pinterest to create the night time airport.  It was put under a table to enable the lights to show up more effectively and it was also placed there to allow children to access play in a different body position.  The children enjoyed laying down on their tummy's or on their sides to play either side of the tray and equally were happy to play sitting on their knees at the foot of the tray.  Over the week it was wonderful to hear and see the children  engaging with the new way of offering small world, so much so, the children have asked to keep the mat and have more activities under the table!

EYFS Links
Small world play has lots of benefits across all seven areas of the foundation stage and encourages unique story telling, imaginative play and creative thinking. Small world play allows children to:
Act out past experiences - people in the wooden house
Reflect on past experiences - trains and train track or cars and garage as well
Think about new ideas - flying in an airplane or going in a rocket.
This type of play is important for encouraging children t to reflect on feelings as well as share ideas and encourage communication.

“Imagination is more important than knowledge” Albert Einstein 

“Imaginative play is the key to children drawing on all their abilities in order to enhance their learning” David Whitebread, Teaching and Learning 

“The perceptions children have of life are bound up very closely within a world where fantasy and reality constantly go hand-in-hand. Research has shown that the children who indulge freely in good quality fantasy and pretend play, the children who are considered to be ‘high fantasizers’ and spend a good deal of time in imaginative thinking (Singer and Singer, 1977; Pulaski, 1981; Reiss 1981;), have greater tendencies towards being creative with materials and situations. Such studies have also found that these creative, internal thinkers have better concentration, are less aggressive generally, can tell more creative stories with greater originality and more complex characters and situations, and are more inclined to enjoy what they do than children who are ‘low fantisizers”. Janet Moyles, Just Playing

The pilots have enjoyed their far away adventures, they have turned off the engines, gone through the airport to collect their luggage and are now on their car journey home.  The weather is getting colder and I'm sure there's snow in the air, but that's OK as the Brambles staff are all prepared for the winter celebrations next week!