Sun Room Curriculum

What a wonderful first term we have had together. The children have settled in so well and we can see them growing in confidence everyday. Let’s take a look back at what we did in Sun Room.

Big Chefs help Little Chefs (Charlotte)

The children are loving our Big Chefs help Little Chefs program.

This program is a mentoring program with the Kinder children helping our Sun Room children bake delicious goodies that they get to enjoy in the afternoons. 

This gives the children the autonomy to make their own food, building good relationships with the food they eat and also building connections to the other children in the Centre. 

This year so far we have made banana muffins, berry and oat slice as well as lemon and blueberry loaf. 

Once a month we run this program and we endeavour to keep this up until the end of the year.

Our Garden (Nai) 

During term one we focused on our garden here in our Sun Room, creating a green space for the children to play and learn in. In this space we grew plants for an edible garden, this included strawberries, snow peas, celery, lettuce, blueberries and zucchinis. 

Having a garden like this promotes healthy eating and children will often eat what they are growing, whilst connecting with nature.

We also included a sustainable ongoing activity, which has a worm farm. The children learnt to give their leftover fruit to the worms which is a great way to teach the children about waste reduction and life cycles. 

We also included recyclable artwork to hang around our garden and we hung bird feeders to invite our local wildlife over. We planted plants such as rosemary, mint, snapdragons, salvias, daisies and nasturtiums which are also edible. You can eat not only the flower but the leaves, seeds and stems. 

It has been wonderful watching the children play full of curiosity, showing us how brave they are when tasting from our garden and leaning through play as they helped us look after and respect all that is in our garden.  

Our Take Home Sun and Whale program with Winnie and Wally Whale & Sammy and Sunny Sunshine….

Our Take Home Whale and Sun programs have been a meaningful extension of our learning, strengthening the connection between home and Sun Room. As part of our inquiry project, the whales went home with the children, while our suns supported our focus on being SunSmart. 

Each child took on the responsibility of caring for their whale or sun for a week, sharing their experiences with their families and documenting their adventures through photos and stories. 

Upon returning, the children confidently participated in show and tell, proudly sharing their experiences with the group. This process not only fostered a sense of responsibility and belonging, but also encouraged family involvement, supported ongoing learning at home, and built the children’s confidence and communication skills. 

We are so proud of how engaged and capable the children have been throughout this experience. The Whales and Suns will return again in Term 4. 

Favourite songs and stories…

Coming together as a group for shared experiences such as singing our favourite songs, listening to much loved stories, dancing, and going on a fun “bear hunt” adventure provides meaningful opportunities for connection and joy in our learning environment. 

These moments support the development of a strong sense of belonging, as the children feel part of a group while engaging in familiar and enjoyable experiences. 

We value each child’s autonomy, encouraging them to make choices about whether and how they participate, fostering confidence and a sense of agency. Through play based and engaging group experiences, children are learning while having fun, building communication skills, social connections, and a love for shared learning moments.

Some of our favourite songs have been Sleeping Bunnies, We’re going on a bear hunt, 5 little ducks and I know a chicken! 

Some of our most requested stories have been Stickman, Dear Zoo, The very hungry caterpillar and Brown bear, brown bear.

Cultural events…

Our exploration of cultural events this term, including Chinese New Year, St Patrick’s Day, Harmony Week, Persian New Year, Greek Independence Day and Easter, providing opportunities for the children to learn about and celebrate diversity. 

By engaging in songs, storytelling, art and craft experiences, and cooking activities, the children were introduced to a variety of cultural traditions in meaningful and age appropriate ways. 

These experiences supported the development of inclusivity, respect, and an emerging understanding that everyone belongs. By sharing and celebrating different cultures together, we fostered a strong sense of community, connection, and belonging within our learning environment.

Thank you to Maggie and Paris for sharing so much of your culture with us.

What’s Next for Sun Room!

As we look ahead to Term 2, we are excited to continue our journey of learning through play, curiosity, and connection. 

Our next inquiry project will be on Australian Animals and will provide wonderful opportunities for the children to explore the many animals of our country, encouraging a sense of wonder, respect, and belonging to the natural world. 

Our group goal will focus on building understanding of colours and shapes through hands on, engaging experiences that support their learning and development. 

We also look forward to spending more time at the park, connecting with nature, building confidence in outdoor environments, and deepening our appreciation for the world around us. 

We can’t wait for another term filled with fun, discovery, and meaningful learning together. 

Your Sun Room team - 

Ann-Maree, Paris, Nai, Issy, Maggie, Mel, Charlotte and Jane