Learning Across the ELC
Community Connections
The Banksia Blue children have shared their emerging interest to learn about community helpers and different occupations since the beginning of this term. The children were introduced to emergency services, with a focus on firefighters. Through stories, non-fiction books, educational videos and songs about firefighters during our group discussions, we explored who firefighters are and how they help keep our community safe.
The children also learnt that firefighters wear special clothing to protect their bodies. They enjoyed looking at pictures of fire trucks and talking about the loud siren and the long hose used by firefighters to put out fires. This investigation enabled the children to share ideas about how community helpers care for others, helping them to feel safe, protected, and supported.
This learning provocation has sparked ongoing discussions about the people who help us in our community, strengthening children’s sense of connection, safety, and wellbeing. Our exploration of community helpers aligns with our year-long inquiry, ‘Relational Responsiveness Fosters Felicity,’ as children learn how people respond to the needs of others in caring and supportive ways.
The Banksia Blue Team
From the Gumnut Room
Chinese New Year
This week we celebrated Chinese New Year with our young learners. Tina set up a special table with red envelopes and money, keeping the experience simple and meaningful for the children.
Tina shared how Chinese New Year is celebrated and explained the significance of the red envelopes. The red envelopes, known as hongbao, are traditionally given to children as a symbol of good luck, happiness, and blessings for the year ahead. The colour red represents joy, prosperity, and protection from bad luck.
The children enjoyed exploring the display and learning about this special cultural tradition. It was a wonderful opportunity to introduce different cultures and celebrations from around the world in a way that was engaging and age-appropriate for our little learners.
Light table exploration
Building on the children’s natural curiosity about block construction and lights, we offered a sensory-rich exploration at the light table. This experience shifted from complex building to the pure joy of cause and effect. As children grasped and stacked translucent blocks, they showed curiosity as the light from below caused the colours to glow and transform.
This hands-on play supported children’s emerging fine motor skills through reaching and grasping, while the soft, steady glow provided a calming environment that helped them focus and stay engaged. Whether they were simply tapping blocks together to hear the sound or watching a caregiver build a tower just to knock it down, the children were busy investigating transparency and light in their own unique way.
Manasi and the Gumnut team
