Kindergarten News
Marram:
We are very lucky at our kindergarten to be uniquely positioned within a school. It means we have access to more grounds than just our kindergarten building and yard. This week we took the children on a little excursion in the school. Our destination was the school garden! This is where the school children help to maintain vegetable and herb gardens, fruit trees, and other plants. Our children were given the opportunity to see, smell, hear and touch all the different flora and fauna living in this space. We took photos of the plants and little animals that the children encountered. When we got back into our classroom we displayed some of these photos, and the children took turns to describe to their peers what it was that had captured their attention. The trip was a great success - our children followed the expectations beautifully of how to behave on the school grounds. We will definitely make the trip again! Thank you for another busy, wonderful week of learning!
Theresa and Mardi
Budja:
It was a great week in our Budja class, with a busy week of discussions and learning occurring as the class is exhibiting an incredible amount of curiosity.
In these group discussions, we thrashed out why the leaves were a different colour, the children thought that they were dry, that they may have changed due to the rain washing away the green and that the wind had burnt them. Interestingly, the children never brought up the topic/concept of Autumn. We then took this curiosity out into the school, walking to the oval and then the school garden to see what we could find around the leaves changing.
This was a fantastic learning moment, the children noticed such small details as they engaged in finding so many different leaves, seeds, sap and insects.
It was also a very musical week again, we have had to start a playlist of songs to dance and sing to in the ‘disco rocket’, the children have been making this every day for the past 3-4 weeks. It is incredible to see how it has evolved from individual children building their own space or adding to others, to witnessing how the children come together to map out the space, work together using language, active listening skills and negotiation skills.
Al, Carol and Mardi.
Gawarn:
There has been a continued focus and enjoyment with buildig with the big blocks, little blocks and soft blocks. After measuring ourselves and the bridge that had previously been made, it was wonderful to have the children ask for rulers to measure their new design. They sought out height, length, size and numbers as they detailed their findings through drawing. The symmetry with the soft blocks through colour, shape and size and the challenge and perseverance with the small blocks has been spectacular.
The children have assisted in re-shaping the volume of stones in the trickle stream in some areas. They used the dump trucks, buckets or hands as they explore through trial and error, cause and effect and motion.
The children have loved being able to participate in great group games allowing for some turn taking and silly songs that brings joy and humour. We have been enjoying some Easter small world space themes, decorating an Easter tree as well as some craft.
We hope you all have a wonderful relaxing and restful holidays.
Kelly-Anne, Amelia and Cristina
Wimbi and Dharug:
It has been an awesome term of making connections and feeling secure and confident in the kinder environment. The children are becoming more independent and self-assured, asking for assistance and requesting others to see their work or, for example, look at their latest moves on the trampoline or sandpit creations.
The children are enjoying some beautiful moments in the vets area - demonstrating some beautiful caring and gentleness with the animals - and their peers. Some fabulous cooking in the sandpit has afforded the children to explore volume and capacity as they use the materials to pour, mix and fill.
There has been some great group reading moments where we are able to share thoughts or ponder a storyline as well as some lovely quiet reading moments whereby the children can rest and recharge.
We have been enjoying some Easter exploration – through matching eggs on a tree, small world scenarios, books, songs and some craft. We look forward to another fun filled week.
We hope you all have a wonderful relaxing and restful holidays.
Kelly-Anne, Amelia and Nicole.