Learning Across the ELC
Learning through Curiosity
During the Easter holidays, a wonderful transformation took place in our preschool classroom when one of our tadpoles grew into a frog. The children named it Goldie and everyone has loved helping to care for Goldie each day. As Goldie continues to grow, the children have been learning more about frogs through daily observations, discussions and drawings. They carefully compared Goldie’s features with Chino’s, noticing similarities and differences while developing their understanding of living things and life cycles. We continued exploring the wonder and curiosity this inspired through a variety of engaging experiences, including a big book filled with fascinating frog facts, an Indigenous animation, and an animated read-aloud of the story Tiddalik. The children compared different versions of the story and shared their observations and ideas. These discussions supported their growing understanding of important values such as sharing, using only what we need, and avoiding waste. The children made meaningful connections to caring for the environment, particularly recognising how precious water is for all living things.
Stories like Tiddalik help children understand important life lessons through relatable and imaginative characters. Tiddalik, the very thirsty frog, showed the children what can happen when someone is greedy or takes more than they need. Reflecting on his actions encouraged the children to think about how their own choices can affect others. The other animals in the story also played an important role, as each one attempted to solve the problem in their own way, demonstrating creativity, persistence and teamwork. Discussing these characters helped the children recognise the value of working together and listening to different ideas. We concluded by reflecting on the story’s message and discussing what Tiddalik could have done differently to act in a more respectful and thoughtful way.
We have also continued bringing our Tiddalik story to life through rich, hands-on experiences. The children explored their creativity by designing and making their own puppets, which they then used to retell and extend the story in imaginative ways. Alongside this, we introduced light to experiment with shadow puppetry, sparking excitement and wonder as the children discovered how their creations could be transformed through light and movement.
A strong sense of curiosity emerged as children investigated light, transparency and colour. They experimented with different materials, observing how light passed through, changed, and projected onto the whiteboards around the room.
Through these wonderful provocations, we closely observed the children’s ideas and theories, supporting them to express their thinking in multiple ways through art, storytelling, and play. Children explored, experimented, and developed inquiry skills while investigating light and shadow. Through this meaningful and engaging exploration, the children are developing a deeper understanding of the world around them while building confidence in their creativity, problem-solving, and communication skills.
The Preschool Team
