Kindergarten

Our Kindergarten students have settled right into our classroom routine. We are so proud of their efforts already!

Initial Lit

Currently in Initial Lit, we are focusing all on rhyming and syllables. Here are some ideas that you could do at home. These activities combine learning with play and help build early literacy skills while keeping the process fun!

Rhyming Activities

Syllable Activities

Rhyming Songs and Rhymes:

Sing simple nursery rhymes together that have a strong rhyming pattern, like "Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star" or "Row, Row, Row Your Boat." You can also make up your own silly rhymes!

Rhyme Time with Flashcards:

Use flashcards with pictures or words on them. Ask your child to come up with words that rhyme with the word or picture on the card. For example, if you show a picture of a "bat," your child might say "hat" or "mat."

Rhyme the Room:

Pick a word and challenge your child to find things in the room that rhyme with it. For example, if you say "box," they might find "rocks" or "socks."

Rhyming Hopscotch:

Set up a hopscotch board and write rhyming words in the boxes. As your child hops from box to box, they say the words out loud and identify the rhymes.

Clapping Syllables:

Say a word aloud and encourage your child to clap for each syllable they hear. For example, for the word "banana," they would clap three times: ba-na-na. Start with simple words and gradually increase the difficulty as they get the hang of it.

Syllable Sorting:

Write down a variety of words on paper (e.g., "apple," "dog," "elephant," "table"). Have your child sort them into two piles: one for 1-syllable words and one for multi-syllable words. You can also use pictures instead of words.

Syllable Jumping:

Lay out a row of tape or small objects on the floor (like cushions). Say a word aloud, and have your child jump for each syllable as they say it. For example, for "butterfly," they would jump three times: but-ter-fly.

Syllable Counting with Blocks:

Give your child some small blocks or cups. For each syllable they hear in a word, they stack one block. For example, for the word "banana," they would stack three blocks: ba-na-na.

Writing

This term in Kindergarten, we will be writing recounts. Our recounts need to include who was there, what happened, when it took place and where it happened. Here are some of our amazing writers hard at work during our Big Write!

Maths

We have finished off our 2D Shape unit and beginning our new unit all about patterns next week. Here are a few tips that you can focus on at home!

Identifying and discussing patterns in and around your home such as lounge or bed linen material colours or shapes. For example, blue square – yellow circle, blue square – yellow circle, blue square – yellow circle
Gather collections of small items to make patterns (e.g., buttons and coins; spoons of two sizes; crayons and markers).
Take turns arranging the objects in a pattern for the other to describe and tell what comes next. For example: coin, coin, button, ...; big spoon, small spoon, ...; crayon, marker, marker…)
Singing songs, creating dances and readings books with repeating, rhyming or rhythmic numbers, such as There were 10 in the bed
Noticing patterns in nature, for example a beehive, petals on a flower
Point out and talk about patterns around you, or in books. Look at wrapping paper or wall paper options. Discuss decorative patterns on posters and boxes.
Point out repeating patterns in the daily routine: after fruit time there is always a story at school.
Sing songs where there is a pattern, such as the same line or chorus repeated.
Point out patterns in action songs or dances.
Read stories and sing songs where there is a pattern of numbers going up or down.
Make a staircase pattern with lego bricks, dominoes or tiles and ask children to continue it.

Science

On Monday with Mrs Mitchell, Kindergarten were learning all about how rain is formed. They conducted a rain cloud experiment using shaving cream, water and food colouring. Feel free to have a try at home!

Library

Mrs Deb McDouall