4-Year-Old Kindergarten (Field Room)
Welcome to our Field Room classroom!
The Field room children have added so much to their toolboxes with all the learning they unpacked this Term. Let's take a look at what our Kinders got up to across Term 1!
PALS Social Skills Program:
This term we focused heavily on Social Skills through a program called PALS. This program was developed by Early Childhood Teachers and Psychologists to help build and develop children’s social skills. The PALS program supported us in developing a range of social behaviours that will support us in our daily interactions including: greeting others, listening, speaking up, sharing, turn taking, managing our big feelings, and problem solving strategies. Transferring our knowledge learnt in these group times into our learning environment interactions, with the help of our friendly puppets Teacher Kate, and kinders, Anna and Jack.
The learning intentions around this program is to allow children to use their voice within their learning environment and engage with their peers all whilst having the foundations to do so. Building on the children’s foundations then allowed them to adapt what they had learnt and transfer it to another situation.
Big Chefs Help Little Chefs Program:
In the kindergarten room we participate in a cooking program called: Big Chefs help Little Chefs. The program is all about the kinder children (Big Chefs) helping the Sun room children (Little Chefs) cook up something delicious with a focus on a different country/theme/Haven event or following a child's interest. It is always such a treat travelling down to the Sun room, Charlotte and the Sun room team welcome us at the door, and we gather around the table ready to cook up something yummy!
This program has so many benefits for all the children involved. We often observe the children taking in turns as well as assisting the younger children in helping them with stirring, mixing slowly and guiding them in their actions. During this program we witness such beautiful moments between the different aged children and more so the siblings. We look forward to watching all the tasty food our big chefs and little chefs create over the year!
The Creative Arts Program:
Due to the love this group of children have shown towards drawing, engaging in crafts and being creative. Our afternoon group times turned into a creative arts class run by Ellie and Isabelle. Where we will delved into the world of creativity!
Creative Arts has been a huge interest amongst the kindergarten children, which led to growth, and development around the many benefits of art: fine motor skills, creativity, imagination, hand-eye coordination and social skills. The children have certainly been leaders in their learning through this program
and have gained so much learning and skills through this program.
Sun smart:
With a new environment and with the very hot days summer gave us, as teachers we thought this would be the perfect opportunity to re-introduce the importance of sun protection and being sun smart at home and at kinder.
We discussed the importance of sun safety through an interactive story called, 'George the Sun Safe SUPERSTAR!' Using our fancy interactive whiteboard the children were engaged in the story of a boy who became, known by a very, very special name. As he spread a message, near and far about being a Sun Safe Superstar. George explained that there are 5 things we need to consider before heading outside. Hat, sunscreen, shade, a t-shirt and sunglasses. Each day they are able to identify if the UV is above 3, if so then they need sun screen. Through this learning we have noticed all children looking out for each other and making sure we all have sunscreen, hats and our shoulders covered. Looks like we have a group of Sun Safe Superstars!
Kind & Friendly is our #1 rule at Kinder:
Being kind and friendly is a big theme in the kindergarten room and our number one rule. We focused on this almost ALL of term one, and will continue this topic throughout the Kinder year. As the children entered a new learning environment, they learnt about their new routine and our kinder expectations.
We focused on our group time and kinder rules: being kind and friendly to teachers, yourself and peers, kinder legs, listening ears on, empty hands, eyes on the teachers and putting our hand up to speak, voice levels and people stations, walking feet inside. It has been wonderful seeing our kind and friendly members of Field room reminding each other of the kinder rules throughout their day.
Celebrating our differences:
During Harmony Week we acknowledged how everyone is different in our world, and the theme of everyone belongs. As a group we dived into the importance of inclusiveness, respect, and being kind & friendly to everyone no matter how different because everyone belongs.
Across Term 1 we continued our focus and learning around being different, looking through a range of stories, educational videos and discussions as a group. We identified that all people are different through: looks, languages, celebrate different holidays, interests, and cultures. The biggest take away was that everyone is different and that is okay, however we all have a heart and a smile and it is important to be kind & friendly to everyone no matter how different. We are all special in our own way, at kinder we celebrate our differences just like Elmer the Elephant.
Field Room incursions so far:
- CFA Fire truck incursion
- Swimland Watersafety incursion
- Journey to Africa Drumming incursion
- Responsible Pet Education incursion
- Healthy Harold Big feelings incursion
We cant wait to see what our Field Room will achieve next... Bring on Term 2!