Biz -E -Kidz Update

From Libby Hanna, BEK Coordinator

Week-long themes of our Program Plans are deepening children’s explorative play and learning in their areas of interest

A key theme among the Educators’ reflective entries below is children’s creative and curious engagement with their environments. Through imaginary and explorative play, children build social skills, learn about themselves and share their knowledge of the world with eachother. At Biz-E-Kidz we aim to provide a stimulating and inclusive environment in which children can explore their interests and build skills and friendships. Over the last two weeks our Program Plans’ week-long themes have covered sports (week 26-30th Oct) and the great outdoors (bush craft, identifying plants and map-making and survival awareness last week). This week the programs’ theme is about illustration and painting. Next week’s theme is about ancient empires!   

From the Captain’s Log (Educators’ documentation of the educational program):

At our Prep Program

Two children were being comedians in the comedy olympics, trying to do the funniest thing in the world.

Children were enjoying the continent lift-the-flap book, with lots of animal related facts and information.

Children have been spending a lot of time playing chess 

A child invited everyone to her toast restaurant! Everything was toast themed (see photo). 

A child was interested in the craft activity I organised (collaging with patterned tapes). She made a beautiful, very symmetrical, very complete picture. I think connecting with this child through collaging was a genuinely memorable moment. She was so engaged in it and clearly proud of what she’d made.

Outside, children collected and made habitats for bugs; caterpillars, worms and ants, using grass, water and sand. 

Inside, children were playing with lego and magnets. A group made an ‘aeroplane’ out of the toy kitchen and some chairs. 

At our Juniors Program

Children loved the new sports equipment. A child started a series of mini games for educators to do while she had a clipboard to record scores.

A child was originally feeling quite nervous about coming to Biz-E-Kidz and was struggling to find something to do. I suggested we make a chatterbox which we coloured in together. She had a lot of fun and the chatterbox included pictures to spell, helping her learn to spell while having fun.

A child drew a huge poster of lots of different things from sports, including different soccer and AFL players.

The walk between campuses was amazing, the intervention talk from teachers and silent game introduced by the RPICs made it noticeably easier to conduct the walk today. Children were very respectful for the entire walk.

Today five children did a very basic mock trial. It was a really easy, fun way to teach them about the legal system.

A grade 2 child taught me a number guessing game.

A group of friends found a dying moth and made a grave for it and had a wake and a burial ceremony.

At our Seniors Program

Children have enjoyed listening to music and relaxing on the picnic rug. I’ve also noticed the children being more interested in card games recently.Children together made their own paper mail boxes, wrote and sent letters to each other, and created their own stamps using the crimp scissors. A very peaceful way to communicate.Some children were playing helicopter.Children were digging for clay, rocks, sticks etc. and sorting them into types of material.Outside, children were wetting and moulding clay from the earth, digging to see tree roots, a beautiful selection of rocks.