Wattle Group

As we look back on Term 1, the Wattle children made a wonderful start to kindergarten. It has been a joy to see children settle into routines, build new friendships and grow in confidence as they explore the room and outdoor spaces with increasing independence.

Group experiences have supported a strong sense of belonging as children learn one another’s names, practise turn-taking and contribute ideas. Songs, finger rhymes and games(including name and listening games) have helped children feel connected and confident to participate, while shared mealtimes have provided relaxed opportunities for conversation and developing self-help skills.

Indoors, children have engaged in rich, play-based learning through construction and creative experiences. Building with magnetic tiles, blocks, Lego, Knex and the engineering wall has encouraged early STEM thinking—planning, testing ideas, problem solving and persisting when designs need adjusting. Children have also strengthened fine motor skills through playdough, puzzles, drawing, peg boards, stickers and a range of art materials, using these to represent stories and ideas (from superheroes to underwater worlds).

Outdoor learning has offered many opportunities for collaboration, gross motor development and investigation. Children have enjoyed the sandpit and mud pit, obstacle courses and balance challenges (including stilts), and water play that invites early scientific thinking through tipping, pouring, predicting and observing. Experiences such as colour mixing with water, exploring how the bubbler fountain works, and digging up potatoes in the garden have sparked curiosity about how things change and where our food comes from. 

We have also supported children’s wellbeing, emotional literacy and social confidence through calming rest times, mindfulness and yoga, and stories such as The Colour Monster and The Invisible String. With the help of our puppet Rusty the Robot, children have practised using an assertive voice (for example, “Hello” and “Stop, I don’t like it”), building confidence and respectful communication. Term 1 learning also included sustainability discussions (sorting recycling, compost and rubbish and caring for our worm farm), safety routines (including an emergency evacuation drill), and exploring community celebrations such as Lunar New Year, Ramadan/Eid and Holi.

Thank you for your support throughout Term 1 - we’re proud of the children’s growth and can’t wait to continue learning and discovering together in Term 2.