Early Learning

Possums

Several children in the Possum group have been investigating beading. We thought about what we already knew:

"You have to be careful. You can do love hearts" - Alice G

 

"You put beads on, and then you iron them. You keep them on until it’s cooled down. You choose a shape and there’s a big circle and a big horse" - Sorcha

 

"You can choose which shape you want" - Miriam

 

"You have to put them on" - Lucas

 

"They can be small and big and sometimes they can be animals too" - Mila

We thought about what we wanted to know:

"Can you get a triangle shape?" - Miriam (Sorcha suggested using a square to make a triangle)

 

"How do they make the beads?" - Phoebe

 

"Is the plastic from the tip?" - Alice M

 

"Do they find plastic and put it in food dye?" - Sorcha

Then we thought about what we have learned:

"The beads like to melt together" - Alice M

 

"Miriam taught me that the beads we can melt, with the iron" - Sorcha

 

"You can do lines of colours and if you’ve mixed the colours up into the wrong spot, you can just pick it up and put it in the right spot again" - Miriam

 

"I can do them very quickly. It has to be ironed so it can stick together. They cool down and the warm bits make it stick together like a cake" - Harriet

 

"Ash learned how to iron them. Once she burned the frame, the second time, she didn’t" - Sorcha

 

"You can make the Japan flag" - Miriam

 

"They make beads at a factory, like Fletcher Jones" - Jimmy

I have been surprised at all the different learning I have observed during this simple activity. Children are developing learning dispositions of persistence, resilience and creativity. They are exercising generosity - sharing beads, helping friends, and giving their creations to loved ones. Children are exploring mathematical concepts of shapes, patterns, and counting, as well as considering the science of physical change, as they observe the change that occurs when their beads melt and stick together.

Sitting around the table and chatting while beading has provided some rich language opportunities. Children are problem-solving, and exercising their fine motor skills with a pincer grip. Children are also thinking about sustainability, as they wonder where the plastic comes from and think of ways it could be recycled.

Talking to children about what they know, want to know, and what they have learned encourages them to develop a learning disposition of curiosity. Children are learning to view themselves as learners, with the agency, skill and capability to find out what they want to know.

We know from the Bible that God wants us to keep learning, about Him, the wonderful world he created, and everything in it! Intelligent people are always ready to learn. Their ears are open for knowledge. Proverbs 18:15.

Beth Parker

Head of Early Learning

Koalas

Children in the Koala group have been interested in the sewing machine! Many children made themselves a little bag, or made one to give to a loved one. Children learned how to lift the presser foot up and down and how to use the pedal. They enjoyed choosing fabric and ribbon to make their bag. Outside, the bags were useful for collecting treasures. Thank you to the Boyd family for the donation of beautiful fabric!

Beth Parker

Head of Early Learning