Learning Across the ELC
Sensory-Rich Exploration in the Gumnut Room
This week children engaged with a large piece of soft clay as part of an open-ended, sensory-rich exploration. Guided by curiosity, they developed a meaningful connection with the material, using their hands and bodies to touch, squeeze, poke, and shape the clay while discovering its soft, malleable properties.
As their inquiry deepened, many children began to pull off smaller pieces of clay and place them onto inspiration pictures. This demonstrated their growing ability to connect ideas and materials, exploring how clay could extend, transform and enhance shapes, patterns, and textures. Others formed a more physical connection, using their hands and arms to press, roll and flatten the clay, investigating how their movements could influence its form.
Through this experience, children explored the relationship between their actions and the material, developing an understanding of cause and effect. Their experimentation supported both fine and gross motor development, while also strengthening sensory awareness, creativity and problem-solving skills.
Children remained deeply engaged, showing sustained curiosity, concentration, and a sense of delight. Their interactions reflected a strong connection to the learning process, as well as an emerging confidence in expressing ideas and theories through hands-on exploration.
Manasi Kewlani and the Gumnut Room Team
Learning in Banksia Gold
This term in Banksia Gold has been rich with connection, reflection, and celebration as we explore our inquiry, Coming together cultivates joy. Through this learning, children have been developing a deep understanding of how bringing people together – through culture, shared experiences, and meaningful interactions – cultivates a strong sense of belonging and happiness.
This focus strongly connects to our year of Felicity, a core Loreto value centred on joy and happiness. Throughout the term, children have been engaged in reflective conversations about what happiness looks like, feels like, and how it can be created within a community. Through intentional provocations and guided discussions, they have explored the idea that happiness is not only an individual experience, but something we co-construct through kindness, care, empathy, inclusion, and respectful relationships.
A key area of rich learning has been our exploration of diversity as a source of joy. Children have inquired into their own identities and those of others, sharing family traditions, cultural practices and personal stories. Through literature, music, creative arts, and collaborative group work, they have been developing an appreciation for multiple perspectives and an emerging understanding of global citizenship. These experiences have been thoughtfully designed to foster curiosity, respect and a genuine celebration of difference.
Our work around emotions has further deepened this learning. Children have been building an emotional vocabulary, moving beyond basic feelings to describe more complex emotional states. Through play, storytelling, reflection and yarning circles, they have been exploring how emotions influence behaviour, relationships, and decision-making. Educators have been intentionally scaffolding strategies for emotional regulation, resilience and perspective-taking, empowering children to navigate social situations with confidence and compassion.
More recently, our inquiry has evolved into an in-depth exploration of flags as symbols of identity, culture, and belonging. Children have been engaging in research-based learning experiences, examining the colours, patterns and symbols within different flags and discussing their meanings. This has led to rich dialogue about representation, pride, and how communities express who they are.
Throughout the term, there has been a strong emphasis on collaborative learning. Children have been working together to solve problems, share ideas, and co-construct knowledge. Educators have been intentional in creating an environment that values student voice, inquiry and deep thinking, ensuring that each child feels seen, heard and valued within the group.
It has been inspiring to witness the depth of thinking, empathy and connection emerging within Banksia Gold. The children are not only developing an understanding of culture, emotions, and identity, but are also embodying the Loreto value of Felicity, actively creating joy within their learning community.
We look forward to continuing to nurture this inquiry as the children deepen their understanding and continue to grow as thoughtful, connected and joyful learners.
Emily Kohler and The Banksia Gold Team
