Early Learning

Possums

This week the Possum children were very excited to fly on Possum Airlines again. This time we had booked an early morning flight to Fiji! Our flight attendant, Mrs Perry, helped us to stay safe on the aeroplane.

We were so lucky to have Mrs Tuisuva (Isoa's mum!) come in to teach us about Fiji. The children explored traditional Fijian jewellery, and clothing including sulus (a wrap around skirt for men and women), sulu vaka togas (formal wraps worn for special occasions), sulu jabas (two-piece dresses for women), and bula shirts (brightly coloured tropical print shirts).

We watched a special video from Isoa's dad, Joe, teaching us how to count in Fijian, and sang Heads, Shoulders, Knees and Toes in Fijian together. We also watched a video of how coconuts are traditionally husked - with a spear! Unfortunately we don't have spears at kinder, so we used a hammer instead. After plenty of teamwork and perseverance, we were successful in cracking through the coconut! We got to taste some of the coconut flesh and drink coconut water.

Some other highlights for the children were making Fijian flags, painting maps of Fiji with watercolours, and creating coconut tree paintings at the easel. Mrs Tuisuva pointed out the many uses for coconuts, and how amazing God is to design things like coconuts. This thinking stuck with the children, as later during our prayer time children shared some praise points:

"Thank you God for making the whole world. And the planets. And the universe. Thank you for giving us food on trees so we can stay alive". 

Thank you to Isoa's family for sharing your time, culture and knowledge with us. We are looking forward to continuing to learn about Fiji, as well as exploring more of our world together. 

Beth Bennett

Head of Early Learning

Koalas

This fortnight in the Koala Group we have focused on People! We have been drawing and painting people, making dough people, and making dolly peg people. Some of the parents even shared the dolly pegs they had made when they were children!

As our visual motor skills increase, some of the Koalas have been writing or forming their names in different ways. Using little whiteboards and letter tiles allow us to try with confidence; making mistakes and practising is important for learning new skills.

We have also learnt how to draw some indigenous symbols, like men, women, waterholes, goannas and honey ants. The Koala Group are effective communicators, using symbols of different cultures to make meaning.

Sian Duggan

Early Learning Educator