Kindergarten News

Dickins Room

We had a great start to the term in both our three and four year old groups.

Our four year olds have started the term by exploring space, we put some items on the mat and asked the children what they knew about them. There were a lot of interesting ideas that came out of that conversation and we followed these up on Friday when we watched a space shuttle launch on the screen. The children have really enjoyed this conceptual learning and have had to engage a lot of prior knowledge to interpret and construct meaning. We created a space tent together also, hanging the frame and then exploring the area through the use of a UV lamp.

Our three year olds had a fantastic start on Tuesday, we used a candle to share what each child had done on the holidays. They each had an opportunity to share and then snuff the candle out. This afforded the children the chance to extend their leadership and identity skills. We celebrated two birthdays and had some busy and engaged times exploring the program and peer play.

We are looking forward to another great week at kinder.

We welcomed our Deakin Masters student, Treesje, to our kinder last week also. Treesje is an intern and will be running the groups for large parts of this term in conjunction with myself. She has settled in seamlessly and is getting to know the children quickly.

Al, Mardi, Jo and Treesje

Moore Room

We have had an amazing start to the term with all the children settled and engaged in the program. It has been a cold start to the term and we have taken the opportunity to have some discussions around winter. The outdoors has been embraced, despite the cold, with many opportunities to negotiate learning spaces and roles in play as the children are  demonstrating awareness of the rights and needs of others.

We have been exploring the idea of ‘mining’ after following several children’s interests from the pebble pit whereby they were digging for gold and using the small trucks and planks to depict this scenario. We talked about the equipment needed and allowed for the children to make the vehicles required – this has allowed for the children to apply thinking strategies and solve problems in new situations.

We have begun to make inquiries into the Aboriginal people and their culture and that they are our first people of Australia. We will continue to discuss this through art and story-telling as well as through dance and videos to further our understanding of our first people.

Engaging in sensory play has been noted as a big area for our first week back and we have provided many opportunities to support this. Painting – with their whole hands to depict scenarios and pattern making which allows for the children to self-regulate their bodies, apply meaning and demonstrate intrinsic value.

Please read your weekly reflections as this will also let you know most of the dates for Term Three.

Have a fantastic week!

Kelly-Anne, Jen, Julie and Mardi