Possums

Lately in the Possum group we have been blessed by some of our parents coming in to share their knowledge and experience.

Mace's Dad, Jack, came to teach us about some of the native edible plants that he cooks with at Proudfoots by the River. It was amazing to hear about plants that grow locally to us, and that some of them can be found and picked near the beach or rivers!

Children were able to smell and touch lemon myrtle, anise myrtle, Warrigal greens, strawberry gum, river mint, saltbush, Geraldton wax and paperbark. Jack also brought in some delicious jam drop biscuits, so we were able to taste the strawberry gum in the jam, and lemon myrtle in the biscuit.

Children asked lots of questions and were particularly interested in how these plants could be used in different dishes. Afterward, some children went exploring in our yard to find some of our edible plants. We will be cooking with some of these soon.

Outcome 2: Children become aware of the impact of the local environment on their lives. They learn ways to care for the environment and contribute to a sustainable future.

Then God said, “Let the land produce vegetation: seed-bearing plants and trees on the land that bear fruit with seed in it, according to their various kinds.” And it was so. The land produced vegetation: plants bearing seed according to their kinds and trees bearing fruit with seed in it according to their kinds. And God saw that it was good.
Genesis 1:11-12

Gen and Megan (Sylvia and Joey's Mums) from South West Health Care came to teach us about child safety. We thought about ways our bodies can tell us if we’re feeling worried, happy, safe or unsafe, and looked at some pictures that show signs we feel safe, and signs we feel unsafe.

We decorated some hands for a display at their work, for National Child Protection Week. We also made a hand picture where we thought of five people who we feel safe around. We learned that when we feel unsafe there are three things we can do: say no, go (run), and tell somebody.

Standard 3 of the Victorian Child Safe Standards describes children and young people being empowered about their rights, participating in decisions affecting them, and being taken seriously. We take children and their rights very seriously and we were very grateful to be able to provide this empowering session with the help of some of our parents.

But Jesus said, “Let the children come to me. Don’t stop them! For the Kingdom of Heaven belongs to those who are like these children.”

Matthew 19:14

Beth Parker

Head of Early Learning

Wombats

In our recent Kinder cooking experience, the three-year-olds embarked on an exciting journey to make (and eat!) Herb and Cheese bread rolls. The children eagerly mixed bakers’ flour, water, yeast, sugar and salt, our Subway knockoff herbs and cheese, carefully following the steps with great anticipation and care - they loved using the knives!

However, in an unfortunate twist of events, the dough didn't rise as expected because the salt accidentally touched the yeast in the bread pan, effectively killing the yeast. Despite this minor setback, the children embraced the process with curiosity and enthusiasm, understanding that the fun of cooking lies in trying new things and learning from every experience, whether successful or not.

Through this hands-on activity, they discovered that sometimes things don't go as planned, and that's perfectly okay! This cooking activity wasn't just about creating a perfect batch of bread rolls, but also about the invaluable lessons learned through the process itself. The children learned to problem-solve, observe changes in their ingredients, and, most importantly, that failure is just another step towards success.

This experience beautifully aligns with Outcome 4 of the Early Years Learning Framework, which encourages children to become confident and involved learners. By exploring, experimenting, and expressing themselves in a supportive environment, the children demonstrated resilience and creativity, celebrating the joy of discovery regardless of the final product. We’ll try again next week…

Judi Missen

Early Learning Educator

Echidnas

At the ages of 4 and 5, children are beginning to develop a sense of identity, and one of the most significant milestones in this journey is recognizing and writing their own name. In the Echidna group, we try to provide engaging, hands-on activities to support children in learning name recognition and sequencing the letters in their names.

Two such activities that have proven to be both educational and fun are making bead bracelets with the letters of their names, and using washi tape to create name art. These activities not only foster a sense of accomplishment and creativity but also align with the Early Years Learning Framework outcomes, particularly in the areas of identity and literacy.

By engaging in these activities, children are not only learning to recognize and sequence the letters in their names, but also developing a range of skills that will support their future learning. They are building their confidence as learners, developing fine motor skills, and beginning to understand the relationship between spoken sounds and written letters. These experiences lay the groundwork for early literacy and contribute to children's overall cognitive and social development.

Oh, and did I mention that they just love taking home a glittery jewellery item, and a Picasso worthy painting? We are living the ‘learning whilst creating’ dream in the Echidna room! God has uniquely crafted each of us with purpose and love. These activities also reflect the creativity of our Creator, echoing Genesis 1:27, where we learn that we are made in the image of God, who is the ultimate artist and designer of our lives:

So God created mankind in his own image, in the image of God he created them; male and female he created them.

Judi Missen

Early Learning Educator

Library

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