Glen Education Murrumbeena
Cultural Responsiveness
By Sally Vega
It’s hard to believe that we are almost halfway through the year. We are delighted to see how the children are progressing in their learning and will continue to provide a curriculum that is both engaging and builds upon what they already know.
Focusing on Cultural Responsiveness
This term’s newsletter highlights our focus on Cultural Responsiveness. The learning experiences children participated in celebrated the diversity among Murrumbeena Kindergarten families and the wider community. These experiences also introduced them to cultural practices they may not have encountered before.
Educators recognise that diversity contributes to the richness of our society. They make curriculum decisions that support all children’s rights to have their cultures, identities, abilities, and strengths acknowledged and valued.
“When considering cultural responsiveness in relation to Australian society, it’s important to include Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander culture, in addition to non-Indigenous culture. This is because we have different ways of living even though we share the same land.”– Belonging, Being & Becoming: The Early Years Learning Framework for Australia
Reconciliation Week
This term, we celebrated Reconciliation Week, an important time to learn about Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures. Reflections of our learning experiences during this week were documented and shared with families.
ANZAC Day
Children learned about ANZAC Day and its significance in both Indigenous and non-Indigenous Australian culture. They explored the meaning behind poppies, created wreaths from painted cupcake pans and foliage, and baked ANZAC biscuits - learning why these were ideal for soldiers during war.
Special Person’s Day
Celebrating important people in children’s lives, this event encouraged children to express gratitude and practice communication through handmade cards. Children also cooked treats, enhancing their numeracy and motor skills through measuring, mixing, and serving.
Languages and Communication
Spanish Lessons
Children have enjoyed learning Spanish greetings, colours, and stories entirely in Spanish. Educators supported learning by integrating Spanish into everyday activities and building children's confidence through repeated exposure and positive encouragement.
Painting with Spices
This sensory-rich experience introduced children to spices commonly used in Indian and Spanish cuisines. Using cinnamon, turmeric, cumin, fennel, and cardamom, children explored colours, smells, and textures, enhancing language and cultural understanding. Educators collaborated to incorporate multi-language vocabulary throughout the activity.
"Exposure to multiple languages strengthens overall communication skills and builds a lifelong love for language learning." - VEYLDF Outcome 5: Children are effective communicators
Exploring the World: Galapagos Islands
Linking children’s interests in animals to culture, we learned about the Galapagos Islands, located off the coast of Ecuador - a Spanish-speaking country. Children were introduced to the region’s unique wildlife, including the giant tortoise, marine iguana, and Galapagos penguin, combining science, geography, and language in a meaningful way.
We love welcoming families into our kindergarten to share their skills, stories, and cultures.
- A parent recently introduced healthy eating concepts, helping children explore food and nutrition.
- Another parent led a cooking activity, making lemon slice - a hands-on experience that promoted sensory engagement and fine motor development.
- A family shared aspects of Turkish culture, showing children their home country on a globe, teaching them how to count to ten in Turkish, and performing a puppet show featuring a Turkish child and a kangaroo named Marshmallow.
Children also learned to sing “Head, Shoulders, Knees and Toes” in Turkish and proudly created Turkish flags using fine motor skills to cut and glue traditional shapes and colours.
These experiences support children's learning and wellbeing and strengthen our home-kindergarten partnerships.
National Quality Standards Connection
Quality Area 6: Collaborative Partnerships with Families and Communities
- Element 6.2.2 – Access and Participation: Effective partnerships support children’s access, inclusion, and participation in the program.
We will continue to communicate with Glen Kindergarten families and deeply value your partnership in children’s learning. Your involvement enriches our curriculum and fosters a sense of belonging for every child.
Warm regards, Sally Vega