This week in the Den was all about pancakes 🥞 The children were building confidence, teamwork and connection. Working together to measure, mix and cook creates space for chat, laughter and trust. Sharing food brings everyone to the table — strengthening social skills and a sense of belonging.

This week the Nurture groups made pancakes🥞They’re also building confidence, teamwork and connection. Working together to measure, mix and cook creates space for chat, laughter and trust. Sharing food brings everyone to the table, strengthening social skills and a sense of belonging #DunipaceNurture

After learning all about electrical circuits these boys had the fantastic idea to make houses with real working light switches. Real transferring of skills in a new context and it was all their own idea! 💡#SuccessfulLearners #DunipaceSTEM

The Nurture groups had the best time building electric cars from cardboard! 🚗⚡ They wired real circuits with a motor and used an elastic band to spin the wheels—seeing them zoom across the floor was the coolest part! Who knew cardboard + creativity + a little engineering could be this much fun? 🔧✨

This week's STEM challenge for the Nurture groups was to create an electrical circuit. Once they managed to get the light bulb to turn on, the next challenge was adding a switch. The joy on their faces when it worked is clear to see! #DunipaceSTEM #FutureScientists @dunipaceprimary.bsky.social

These boys have been doing really well with their daily morning routine. Each day, they change the date on the calendar, check their now and next board, set a timer for their activity and successfully complete their morning tasks. #SuccessfulLearners

Playing with sand builds creativity, problem-solving, and fine-motor skills while supporting wellbeing and relationships. Sand play encourages curiosity, teamwork, and nurturing environments where children feel safe to explore, learn, and grow. #DunipaceNurture

These learners were using the sand to create walls and buildings. They had the idea of mixing water and sand to create cement. They used their mixture to lay the bricks just like a bricklayer. Later the cement was used to create a bridge and road #DunipaceSTEM #ChildLedLearning

These learners had to carefully cut the wire, then wrap the wire with string to make their bubble wand. Who made the biggest bubble? 🫧 #DunipaceSTEM

More STEM learning in the Den! These learners made bubble wands from wire and bubble socks using plastic bottles. They even made their own bubble mixture using washing up liquid, soap and sugar. Science is so much fun! 🫧

These learners investigated which detergent works best at low temperatures to remove an oily stain from cotton. The children made predictions, measured carefully and compared results, developing early scientific thinking and problem-solving skills 🧪 #DunipaceSTEM

@dunipacenursery.bsky.social @mrsdowds.bsky.social @missmckechnie.bsky.social @mrssigurdssondps.bsky.social @mrscrerar.bsky.social @missnicoldps.bsky.social @mrmcwilton-dps.bsky.social @mrsbartley.bsky.social @mrsadonnelly.bsky.social @dunipaceprimary.bsky.social @mrsguidori.bsky.social

After all the preparation throughout the week, the children finally got to enjoy the experience of a Burns Supper. Some chose to taste the different foods and drinks while others just enjoyed the company. #DunipaceNurture

When preparing for the Burns Supper these children learned how to peel, cook and mash the 'neeps' 🫜 'tatties' 🥔 to go along with the haggis. They had to use the peeler carefully and safely and had to take care of the hot water and pot when draining and mashing. #DunipaceNurture

This week in the Den the children learned how to make traditional Scottish shortbread. They were surprised that it only contained 3 ingredients. Once cooked we wrapped it up and saved it for our Burns Supper. #DunipaceNurture

To celebrate Robert Burns these children used mixed media to create Scotland flags to decorate the classroom for our Burns Supper we planned to hold on Friday. #DunipaceArt

The marble run has been very popular in the Den this week. They have enjoyed experimenting with heights, angles, and layouts to keep the marble moving. When it fails, they tweak it and try again—classic trial and error. #DunipaceSTEM

Completing jigsaws is more than a puzzle 🧩 It builds focus, problem-solving, patience, teamwork, and emotional regulation—supporting wellbeing while learning grows. #DunipaceNurture

In Nurture groups this week we've been practising turn-taking, communication, teamwork, patience, and handling wins & losses. These moments grow confidence, friendships, and social intelligence in school. Who doesn't love a game of Jenga or Uno! #DunipaceNurture

Today these children took some time to tell me more about what interests them. We can use their likes and interests when planning activities to make learning more engaging and meaningful. Plus it's always nice to chat and get to know them better. #DunipaceNurture

These children explored their creativity by making paintings inspired by their own interests and famous artists 🎨✨ From Van Gogh flowers to personal passions, each artwork was a unique mix of imagination and art history. #DunipaceArt

We tested conductors vs insulators by wrapping an ice cube in different materials and timing how fast it melted 🧊🔥 The slowest melt = best insulator! Wool and plastic beat metal, which conducted heat and melted the ice fastest. #DunipaceSTEM

Last week these boys looked through the Christmas baking book and chose a recipe they wanted to use to bake this week. They chose Christmas cupcakes with colourful icing. They went down a treat!

🎄🧁 Today the children enjoyed making and decorating their own Christmas cupcakes! They had lots of fun mixing, icing, and adding festive decorations. A great hands-on activity full of creativity and smiles! ✨

This week, these learners took part in a festive craft activity where they made and painted salt dough Christmas decorations 🎄 The children loved being creative and took great care when decorating their designs.

☃️✨ Winter crafting fun! The learners in the Den mixed some shaving foam with PVA glue to make some puffy paint. Our puffy paint snowmen are popping with texture and creativity.❄️🎨

These learners had to use their fine motor skills to colour, cut and glue to make Santa advent calendars. Every day they will trim a section from Santa's beard, helping to count down the days till Christmas. 🎅

The learners in The Den helped paint and decorate the Pop a Cup board and fill the cups with secret prizes ready for the Dunipace Christmas Fayre last week. The stall was very popular with lots of children coming along to see if they could win a prize and find the star cups.

Making chocolate–marshmallow skewers today brought fun, teamwork, and tasty learning! 🍫✨ Children explored creativity, fine-motor skills, and health & wellbeing links through the CfE — preparing food safely, sharing ideas, and enjoying their creations together.

When children cook together, they’re not just learning a skill — they’re learning each other. They practice patience, cooperation, responsibility, and the joy of contributing to a community. Making food with their own hands gives them confidence; sharing it with friends gives them connection.

Activities like this build independence, fine-motor skills, teamwork and curiosity — and of course, the best part is cooking and tasting the finished pasta! 😄👏 Watch this space for part two! #LearningThroughPlay

This activity links beautifully to the Curriculum for Excellence, supporting learning across multiple areas: ✨ HWB 0-30a / 1-30a – learning about preparing and handling food safely ✨ HWB 0-32a – developing skills for healthy eating and understanding what goes into the food they make.

These learners rolled up their sleeves and made their very own fresh pasta using a pasta machine! From mixing the dough to turning the handle and watching the pasta ribbons appear, the children were fully engaged in a hands-on, sensory cooking experience.

Today our young learners turned our play space into a busy petrol station and car garage! From filling up cars to carrying out “repairs,” checking tyres and taking payments, the children were fully immersed in imaginative, purposeful play. #DunipacePlay

Outdoor learning helps build confidence, curiosity, independence and respect for nature. These learners were involved in: 🔹 Learning about fire safety and responsible behaviour 🔹 Understanding how fire is made and what it needs to burn 🔹 Working together to follow safety rules and routines 🔥

Our learners enjoyed a magical outdoor experience as we safely built a small fire together and toasted marshmallows. Moments like this aren’t just exciting — they’re rich learning opportunities connected to the Curriculum for Excellence. #DunipaceOutdoorLearning

From navigating climbing frames to testing upper-body strength while hanging, and experiencing speed and momentum on the slide, these learners are strengthening motor skills, building resilience, and discovering what their bodies can do. 💪 Play is powerful 🌟 #DunipaceHWB #LearningThroughPlay

We’re honestly blown away with everyone’s generosity with donations yesterday- thanks so much! We’re looking forward to the fayre even more now 🤩 Book your tickets in advance here to save queuing for so long at the door www.zeffy.com/en-GB/ticket... Please can everyone share 🙏 🙌

These learners decided to use natural rainwater mixed with paint to create temporary artwork. They observed what happens when water mixes with colour, discussed textures and patterns, and expressed their ideas. They even role played being painters and decorators. #DunipacePlay

These learners were challenged to make a simple rocket which would travel as far as possible. They began to understand that forces such as push/pull and air pressure change motion. They investigated how changing variables like the balloon size and the angle of the string affect how far it travelled.

This learner was working on numbers before and after and managed to successfully put five 3 digit numbers in the correct order. #SuccessfulLearners #DunipaceMaths @mrscrerar.bsky.social

This group love baking and after successfully baking cookies last time asked to try cupcakes this time. They requested red velvet with cream cheese frosting so searched for a suitable recipe and used the iPad timer to remind them when to take the cakes out of the oven. 🕐🧁🥄

These learners followed a recipe and carefully weighed out the ingredients to make some tasty red velvet cupcakes and then iced them to look like ghosts 👻 #DunipaceSkills @mrscupplesdps.bsky.social @mrscrerar.bsky.social

These learners had to be very careful when using the carving tool to create their pumpkin faces. They took their time and asked for help when it was needed. The finished pumpkins looked amazing! #DunipaceSkills @missnicoldps.bsky.social @mrscupplesdps.bsky.social @mrscrerar.bsky.social

Some P1 learners have enjoyed building dens with the den building kit. Look at these brilliant creations #DunipaceSkills @missmckechnie.bsky.social @misscraig01.bsky.social

These P1 pupils visited The Den this week and worked with a partner to carve a pumpkin. It was tricky to scrape out the insides and some of the children thought it was very gooey and sticky! #DunipaceSkills @missmckechnie.bsky.social @misscraig01.bsky.social

This learner spent some time this week persevering with a tricky Lego build and was delighted to finish on Thursday 👍 #DunipaceSkills

This week in The Den, these learners enjoyed some Halloween themed tasks and activities. 🎃 They used cutting skills and creativity to design their own pumpkin face.

This week in The Den these learners worked together to follow a recipe to make their own playdough. They had to read and measure carefully and then they chose which colour they wanted to add. #DunipaceDen @mrscrerar.bsky.social @mrscupplesdps.bsky.social

Our P1 learners have been consolidating their SATPIN sounds through a fun and creative colouring activity. Fantastic to see growing confidence in identifying and using their new sounds! 🎨🔤