Learning Across the ELC

Preschool Blue

This term our Preschool Blue children have been investigating the languages of colour and light. Our provocations have included light projections on surfaces and at the easels, light table investigations, adding torches to loose parts, window drawings, warm and cool colour mixing for clay rainbows with wire, and shadow puppet theatres. We also connected concepts of colour to our class frog Goldie and the Aboriginal dreaming story of Tiddalik. Through these provocations, children have been investigating density, how colour travels through light, transformation, camouflage and perspective. They have also been using iPads to record their own puppet shows to share with the group and reflect on their documentation.

Zaara: “The light is changing the colours”.

Vanessa: “I can see the building on the wall, I can see the colours wiggle”.

Doris: “I see the lights at the roof, it like a space rocket”.

Aliraza: “We put things in the candle but the colour didn’t change, so we did the white one and it did”.

Olivia: “Some you can see through”.

Lillian: “Rainbow makes different afflections from the sun after it rain”. 

Aliraza: “The frog can do camouflage with sand”.

Edwina: “The light makes the shadow”. 

Aliraza: "It (the light) makes the shadow black".

Mackenzie: "Because it block it (the light)".

Henry: "When you block the sunlight it makes shadows".

Daisy: "I was putting the puppets in the light to make shadows".

Shelley: "I am doing Tiddalik".

Olivia: "Light shine through the hand".

Children were then invited to create a self-portrait on acetate to further explore colour and light through transparency. Self-portraits are a powerful and intimate declaration of identity that develop a sense of self and belonging. Using sunlight and windows as the third teacher, we explained that the portraits would be displayed on our windows, encouraging children to think about the colours and materials they wanted to use with the sunlight. Children engaged in deep observation using mirrors, then with a range of coloured sharpies began drawing their unique features. Glue and cellophane were also offered as another way to represent their self-perception and share their identity.

Henry: "I like the colours around because I know the sun will shine through… that’s my belly button".

James: "I like my mouth because I can try new things".

Jamie: "I like my body because I like the colours".

Raffaele: "I like my eyes green and blue. I make my ears rainbow".

Shelley: "The Loreto Crest is on my dress".

Scout: "It's just me, I like my eyeballs because they're silly".

The Preschool Team

Wattle ELC Focus of the Learning

Exploring  Observational Painting (Natural Artifacts and Seasonal Change)

Children have noticed the change in season and are collecting natural artifacts from the Nature Garden (fallen leaves, changing colors, flowers blooming). Children are naturally curious about nature and how we are connected to the natural environment. Children are using natural artifacts in their spontaneous play experiences and are fascinated by the features of such artifacts.

We have invited children to observe these natural artifacts through the provocation of ‘Observational Painting’. Children are invited to draw the outline and detail of the natural artefact with a black fine art marker, then paint over from a selection of autumnal watercolor paints at our Observational Painting Table.

Child Observation (Sample): 

Max: “Look! Leaf!” Max spends time holding the marker, working carefully on the outline and details of his leaf. He revisits his drawing multiple times and eventually decides to paint over his work using autumnal colours, showing his focus and engagement with observational painting.

Chloe: “I painting leaf!” Chloe enthusiastically selects a leaf and begins painting, expressing her excitement about capturing the colours and shapes she sees in nature.

Millie: holding her painting up to show the teacher, proud of her work. She demonstrates her interest in sharing what she has observed and created during the observational painting experience. 

Jessica McPhail 

Early Childhood Teacher