River room curriculum

Welcome to term 3

Can you believe we are already at the end of term 3, this term has been a busy one. This term our inquiry focus has been A journey through Australia, with the children learning all about Australian landmarks and places, Australian animals and participating in a variety of learning experiences to foster their learning and knowledge about Australia. 

We have been supporting the children's learning and interests through child's voice and parent input, and setting up activities and experiences in accordance to the children's interests. We have celebrated Father's Day with a yummy afternoon tea, thank you to everyone that joined us for a lovely afternoon. It was lovely to see all the costumes to celebrate book week, ranging from super hereo's, to the wiggles, we even had Old Macdonald and the very hungry caterpillar. This term we have been exploring alot of sensory play with rice, sand, shredded paper, and play dough, as we are getting into the nicer weather we will be able to enjoy more water play activities as well.

A Journey through Australia

This term our inquiry focus has been a A journey through Australia, where the children have been learning about Australian animals, landmarks and places, some of the children bringing in photos to display on our map of Australia. The children have participated and engaged in a wide variety of experiences including sensory tubs with rice, sand and shredded paper, a play dough experience where they made their own echidna's, helping make the play dough then rolling it out and adding paddle pop sticks to represent to spikes, painting experiences, making koalas out of paper plates, reading stories, singing songs, Australian animals matching game, pictures of places and animals around the room and exploring Australia through our daily group times. Our group times have consisted of a range of stories and songs from all over Australia and we have been adding where they have originated from to our map, some of the songs and books have included, we are Australian, the book of Australian nursery rhymes, the Australian book of row, row, row your boat and singing give me a home amongst the gumtrees.

Group time with Forest

This term we have introduced group time with the forest room, each week some of the forest room join us for our daily group time of tapping sticks, songs, books, puppets and flash cards. This has been happening each week alternating the days to ensure all children have the opportunity to participate and be involved. The children have been lucky enough to join their siblings and friends for an interactive and fun group time. We have been giving the children the opportunity to voice what songs or books they would like to read or sings and giving the children to have more say and choice in the group times. We have seen some popular books including Nee New and Where is the green sheep and not to forget the big yellow digger, some popular songs have included the tapping sticks song, wheels on the bus and the ABC Phonics song which we use with flash cards.

Sand play

The sand pit has been very popular, especially this term with the children really building their imagination, creativity, role play and social skills each day. From trucks and diggers to tea parties, coffee shops, baking and our most recent the river room cafe. The children have been building their friendships and becoming more social, using more words and extending their language and communication skills as they work with their peers and join in imaginative play with them. I have seen children baking cakes, making cups of coffee, building sand castles and using the trucks and diggers to make holes in the ground. The children have been demonstrating great fine motor skills as they scoop up the sand and pour it out and exploring the texture of the sand as they use their hands.

Sand play is such an open ended learning experience for children that enhances physical, cognitive and social emotional growth. It develops fine motor skills and allows the children to explore, learn and play however they want to, giving them the choice and opportunity to use their imagination and creativity skills, and provides endless opportunities for the children to build and strengthen skills through a rich and sensory based experience.

Walk/ Park

We have managed to go on a few walks this term, which has been lovely. Putting on our vests and getting into the prams, ready for our adventures. We have walked around the block exploring and seeing what is around our local community including animals, nature, transport and people. We have picked flowers, enjoyed the fresh and even spotted the postman on the occasion. The children have enjoyed getting out of the prams at the park and having a run around, running around after each other, picking flowers and appreciating nature.

What to expect from term 4 

Term 4 inquiry focus: TRANSPORT and EMOTIONS 

Transport- The children will be learning and exploring all different ways of getting around, from bikes to trains, boats and planes, to walking or being in a pram. The children will have the opportunity to participate in a range of art, craft, sensory play, set ups around the room, songs, books and visuals around the room and continuing our walks around the local community, even walking down to the fire station and the shops at Wellington Village.

Emotions- Term 4 we will be focusing more on emotions and how we are feeling. As children grow and develop, their emotions do too, and learning about these feelings helps them manage and navigate these changes. We will be exploring emotions by using flash cards, singing feeling songs, books, visuals around the room, mirror activities, where they can see their faces and reflections, games and set us around the room. 

Our daily group times will also have transport and emotions embedded into it each day through an assortment of books, songs and interactive activities.

Play time with Forest room-  We will be continuing our group times with Forest, and as some of the older children have been asking why they cant play in the river room, we have decided that we are going to start having play times together. This will involved each week some of the forest room coming into our room for a short play and engaging with the river room children.

Show and share book program- This term we are going to once again start our show and share book program. Each week we will have a schedule that we will send out with the children for the week and everyone will have the opportunity so if you don't see your child's name please be patient, we will get to them. When it is your child's turn please bring in an age a appropriate book for them to share with everyone at group time. If you have any questions or concerns please see me

Open gate play with Sun room- This term we are introducing  open gate play with the sun room. We will be opening the outdoor gate to let the children freely explore the yard, sun room, and interact and engage with different educators. This is a fantastic way for the children- especially those who are moving up next year to get used to the sun room space ahead of time.

Self help and independence-  We will continue to support the children with their self help and independence skills, this will include encouraging the children to scrape their bowls after meals, taking their shoes off for sleep, feeding themselves during meals, taking off their jackets and assisting with the pack up and tidying of the room.

 Christmas celebrations- As December arrives our Christmas celebrations will begin. This will include decorations around the room, windows painted in Christmas themes, activities and set ups, lots of art and craft and sensory play and of course our very own river room Christmas tree. Christmas brings a beautiful warmth, wrapping up up the year in a fun, memorable and festive way, with lots of fun and joy we look forward to seeing what it may bring.

Thank you to everyone for your ongoing support, 

from all of us in the River room Danni, Kayleigh, Chethi, Nicole