Wattle Group

Wattle Group Term 2 Newsletter

What a busy and exciting term we’ve had in the Wattle Group. Through experiences including science, cooking, storytelling, and more, the children have been developing a range of important skills including problem-solving, communication, creativity, and fine motor control, all while building confidence and strong connections with their peers.

Science has been a particularly exciting focus for the Wattle Group this term, and it’s something we will continue to explore throughout the year. Engaging in science experiments allows children to develop essential thinking skills such as observing, predicting, questioning, and making sense of the world around them. These experiences nurture curiosity and foster a lifelong love of learning by encouraging children to explore cause and effect, notice changes, and reflect on what they observe.

Some of the experiments we’ve conducted together include tea bag rockets, bicarb and vinegar volcanoes, sinking and floating investigations, pollination activities, and density experiments. Each of these experiments offered the children opportunities to see reactions and outcomes which appeared to have truly captivated the group.

To support and extend the children’s learning, we have incorporated literacy experiences that connect with our science concepts. Some of the books we have shared include Who Sank the Boat? Alexander’s Outing, The Tiny Seed, and Little Blue and Little Yellow. These stories help children link their hands-on discoveries to language, comprehension, and broader ideas about the world.

Cooking has continued to be a much-loved part of our program, providing so many opportunities for learning in a fun, meaningful way. Beyond being a valuable life skill, cooking supports the development of early Maths and science concepts of measuring, sequencing, observing changes in states, fine motor skills of stirring, pouring, cutting, and social skills such as turn-taking, cooperation, and communication.

Cooking experiences also encourage children to try new foods and develop positive relationships with healthy eating. This term, the children have taken an active role in suggesting what they'd like to cook, giving them a voice in the learning process and strengthening their sense of agency and belonging.

We’ve also seen a lovely sense of community grow through these experiences, with many families kindly donating ingredients. Thank you for your ongoing support, it makes a big difference. We look forward to exploring more delicious and nutritious recipes next term.

A major area of growth this term has been the children’s social development. As children move through kindergarten we see significant changes in how they relate to their peers. At this age, children are beginning to engage in more cooperative play, often playing alongside one or two peers with a shared goal.

In larger group play (4 or more children), games tend to become more structured and often revolve around clear, shared goals such as playing "chasy" or "hide and seek." At the same time, at this age we see children move between different stages of play, including solitary play (playing alone) and parallel play (playing beside another child without direct interaction).

As the year progresses, many children begin to engage in the early stages of collaborative play, this involves shared decision-making, negotiation, and more complex role play where children work together to build ideas. With this new stage of play also comes increased opportunities for conflict. Conflict resolution is a key focus in our program, and we support children to develop skills like using words to express feelings, listening to others’ perspectives, and finding peaceful solutions together.

Developing fine motor strength and coordination is an important step in preparing children for writing. Throughout our program, we provide a wide range of activities that support the development of these foundational pre-writing skills in fun, play-based ways.

Children have enjoyed exploring materials like playdough, which helps to strengthen the small muscles in their hands. Activities using tools such as tongs, tweezers, tap-tap boards, elastic boards, and threading all help to refine hand-eye coordination and finger dexterity. We also sing finger-play songs and use rhymes with hand actions to build control and rhythm, important elements for writing later on. These experiences not only support physical development but also help children focus, persist, and take pride in their efforts, all essential dispositions for learning.

It’s been a joy to watch the Wattle Group grow and learn together this term. Thank you for your continued support and involvement. We’re looking forward to another wonderful term ahead, full of new discoveries and shared experiences.

Warm regards,

Emma