Learning Through Play at Preschool

Yarning Circles at Preschool

At preschool, the children regularly participate in a yarning circle. This is an opportunity for the children to come together and discuss a topic or have the opportunity to share their thoughts, ideas and experiences. Speaking in front of others and engaging in discussion which requires talking and listening, are skills that set the foundation of communication in preschool children.

Recently we have been discussing what a yarning circle is and what we can yarn/talk about during this time. 

We researched yarning circles on the internet and looked at different designs in other preschools, schools and community places. From this experience, the children had the opportunity to design their own yarning circle - some very clever ideas were created. 

We also used  symbols to draw the journey between 2 of our yarning circles at preschool; the preschool blue mat and the library. The rectangular shape represents our preschool yarning circle with footsteps on our journey to the library and the semi circle is where we sit at the library to share stories. We discussed how many years ago, before there was paper and pencils or computers, people would communicate in pictures or symbols drawn on rocks, trees and in caves and that now we also have words we can write to help tell these stories. 

Linking with our knowledge of using key word sign to communicate, we  have learnt 2 new signs about communication;

Do you think we should design and create a yarning circle which represents the Aboriginal culture within our preschool or school?

National Simultaneous Storytime

At 11am on Wednesday 24th May, the preschool children joined the nation (over 2 million children, parents/carers and teachers) to read together 'The Speedy Sloth' by Rebecca Young and Heath McKenzie. We linked into the National Simultaneous Storytime book reading by the book's author and illustrator direct from the zoo. 

As we know so many artists and illustrators of books, we were excited to watch the illustrator draw a picture of the 'The Speedy Sloth' at the end of the story reading.