Learning Across the ELC

Wattle Room: Exploring Emotions 

Children’s emotions play a significant role in their lives from an early age, especially during the toddler years. To nurture their emotional understanding, we have been focusing on how feelings can be expressed through different mediums.

As part of this journey, we have been reading The Colour Monster by Anna Llenas—a beautiful book that helps children understand emotions by associating them with different colours. In the story, the Colour Monster experiences a range of feelings, each represented by a distinct shade. This has sparked many meaningful and insightful discussions during group time, allowing children to connect their own experiences to these emotions through both verbal and non-verbal expressions.

To extend this learning, we introduced a provocation - a painting experience using the Colour Monster. The children engaged with confidence, enthusiasm, imagination, and creativity, expressing their emotions in a vibrant and personal way.

Manasi Kewlani

ELC Team Leader

Learning in Preschool

The Language of Welcome

Preschool has been focusing on building authentic relationships and the Language of Welcome. As part of our inquiry children have been learning about symbols.  We ventured to the Senior School and the children noticed the wonderful banners and mural.  When we were exploring, many of the children expressed that they wanted to make their own preschool gold welcome mural.   We started with a blank canvas and using various mediums and materials.  It soon became a wonderful masterpiece.  We decided to incorporate our own individual symbols on small canvas tiles which will be displayed around our welcome mural. Many children requested they wanted to have gold and blue in their artwork as these were the colours they observed on the banners and mural in the Senior school.

We used various materials to add layers to our wonderful masterpiece. Children loved to reveal the letters taking the masking tape off carefully. As each letter was revealed children had a go at sounding them out. Spelling Welcome! Our welcome mural is located outside the entrance of our preschool room. We have also been busy using small canvas squares to add to our welcome sign.  

Elements of Clay

Preschool Gold is fostering a rich, hands-on learning experience by integrating clay into the natural environment, allowing children to engage with both nature and technology. Through exploring the elements of clay in our shared Junior School space, we are also strengthening our sense of belonging within the school community. Using natural environments as a "third teacher" fosters wonder, curiosity, and a deeper connection to the world. Incorporating clay as a creative medium enhances fine motor skills, hand-eye coordination, and problem-solving abilities.  It was fantastic to give the children the opportunity to document their work using an iPad can also help children develop their observation and reflection skills, as well as introducing them to digital tools and technology.

Preschool Team