At Monkey Puzzle Marleigh, our day nursery in Jubilee Square, Cambridge, no two days are quite the same. On Wednesday our preschoolers were lucky enough to experience something truly out of the ordinary: a solar eclipse.

In preparation, the children worked together to make a camera of their own from a cardboard box, with cellotape as the lens. They practised using scissors to cut it into shape, then took turns peeping through to look out at the world around them. Building it themselves meant they were taking part in the eclipse rather than simply being told about it.

The eclipse sparked plenty of conversation about what it involves and why it happens. Together, our preschoolers learnt that a solar eclipse takes place when the Moon moves directly between the Sun and the Earth. Once one child asks a question like that, the rest usually follow, and the discussion carries on long after the sky has brightened again.

An afternoon like this does far more than pass the time. Building the camera together develops teamwork, planning, and communication. Cutting and taping strengthens the fine motor control that later supports holding a pencil and learning to write. Asking why the sky changes builds the curiosity and early scientific thinking at the heart of the Understanding the World area of the Early Years Foundation Stage. For your child, that means an early years setting that spots the moments worth stopping for and turns them into real learning, so they leave us confident, curious, and ready for school.

Curious about life at Monkey Puzzle Marleigh? Book a visit today and see our preschool room and everyday learning in action. Call us on 01223 344419 or enquire at enquiries@monkeypuzzlecambridge.co.uk to arrange your tour.