skippy Posted December 18, 2013 Share Posted December 18, 2013 Hi I am looking to set up a permanent discovery area. I wondered if you could share some ideas ? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
klc106 Posted December 18, 2013 Share Posted December 18, 2013 Watching with interest as I was going to post the same question! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
green hippo Posted December 18, 2013 Share Posted December 18, 2013 Hi, I set up an Exploration station last year as a permanent feature and it is still going strong! I have 3 magnifying glass, 1 magnifying bug-catcher thingy, 2 long magnets, 2 normal small mirrors, 1 concave/convex mirror, 1 set of colour viewers out on the table top with templates drawn around so the children know where to place them back! Then I have 2 sets of small plastics drawers (4 drawers in each) with shells, interesting coloured/shaped stones, interesting buttons, natural gem sections (amethyst etc). I want to add some locks and keys soon. I then add other interesting bits including plants/caterpillars/fish/pine cones/dried fruit pieces etc that I can find that might interest the children. Sometimes I struggle to think up new ideas but there's always something to look at. The children (of course) use the instruments to explore around the room as well! We have similar instruments for outdoor use as well. Have fun, Green hippo x P.S. it is only a half-hexagonal table that I use but it seems to do the job! 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
flowlow Posted December 19, 2013 Share Posted December 19, 2013 love this idea green hippo. storage boxes with drawers sound good do you remember where you got them??? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
finleysmaid Posted December 19, 2013 Share Posted December 19, 2013 (edited) cant remember where i saw it this week but liked the idea of small padlocks and keys.....the keys had numbers on them and the padlocks had dots ...so they had to be matched up to find their pair! we also have wind up toys and spinning tops...also currently some pop up toys that were 30p from the left over stock at Halloween! a box of shark teeth! some pieces of slate/ pine comes and natural materials/ a set of planets! in other words all sorts! anything to start conversation and discovery!. Lots of discovery bottles with rice or water and oil and small toys too. Edited December 19, 2013 by finleysmaid Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sunnyday Posted December 19, 2013 Share Posted December 19, 2013 cant remember where i saw it this week but liked the idea of small padlocks and keys.....the keys had numbers on them and the padlocks had dots ...so they had to be matched up to find their pair! Ooooh - I like that idea! :1b Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
finleysmaid Posted December 19, 2013 Share Posted December 19, 2013 (edited) Ooooh - I like that idea! :1b just found it...scroll down this post from ABC http://abcdoes.typepad.com/abc-does-a-blog/2013/11/challenge-in-continuous-provision.html Edited December 19, 2013 by finleysmaid 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sunnyday Posted December 19, 2013 Share Posted December 19, 2013 just found it...scroll down this post from ABC http://abcdoes.typepad.com/abc-does-a-blog/2013/11/challenge-in-continuous-provision.html Thanks - I am definitely going to give this a go! :1b Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
green hippo Posted December 19, 2013 Share Posted December 19, 2013 I think I ordered them off amazon. They are not very wide so fit on the table well. I was going to go to ikea and get a set of the wooden drawers (6 little drawers) - I have one at home that I keep my make-up in - but these are slightly deeper so opted for the clear plastic drawers. Liking the padlocks and numbered keys idea xx Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
flowlow Posted December 19, 2013 Share Posted December 19, 2013 loving the padlock and key with dots and numbers!!! been toy cleaning and sorting today now have an new and improved discovery area all ready for January Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fimbo Posted December 19, 2013 Share Posted December 19, 2013 This sounds a lovely idea- we have a 'natural things' table- but is its getting a bit stale now, so jazzing it up and turning it into a discovery area is a great idea ! Has anyone got a photo they could share of their area/ table ? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
finleysmaid Posted December 19, 2013 Share Posted December 19, 2013 really must try and get the photos organised...these were the only two i could find the first one was discovery bottles and textures the other was under the sea...it had shells/creatures/telescopes etc which you cant see in the pic! 5 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sunnyday Posted December 19, 2013 Share Posted December 19, 2013 Lovely photos Fm :1b 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
skippy Posted December 22, 2013 Author Share Posted December 22, 2013 Fantastic ideas thank you x Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fimbo Posted December 22, 2013 Share Posted December 22, 2013 lovely photos FM - i have some of those small jars somewhere ( ikea ones ?) kept them as i knew they would come useful ! I have plans to make a light box too - just need to find the right box 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lashes2508 Posted December 30, 2013 Share Posted December 30, 2013 Some lovely ideas thanks for sharing , Finleysmaid was that an upturned table you used for the under the sea theme ? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
finleysmaid Posted December 30, 2013 Share Posted December 30, 2013 Some lovely ideas thanks for sharing , Finleysmaid was that an upturned table you used for the under the sea theme ? in this instance it was bits of our home corner,,,,but a table would work just as well i'm sure! 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
finleysmaid Posted December 31, 2013 Share Posted December 31, 2013 ah i had forgotten this blog post...might give you some ideas! http://theimaginationtree.com/2013/08/15-discovery-box-activities-for-preschoolers.html 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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