Early Learning
Spotlight Excursion
On the last day of Term 1, the Possum and Echidna 4-year-old groups played bus tag as we embarked on an excursion to a place normally frequented by Parents sans Children, and Women sans Husbands!
It was always going to be a herculean task – a group of 22, then 33 children along with educators, Mums (who were secretly hoping to do a bit of shopping while they were there), a brave Dad (thanks Glen!) and Grandparents, including two who had come all the way from China to ride the bus with us! Mr Haworth had the age-appropriate music loaded in the bus, the anticipation from the children was palpable, and off we went to explore Spotlight – the land of crafters and decorators’ dreams!
Our main goal was to search out the beautiful ‘New Life’ eggs that the children had made from recycled and unwanted donations to the Kinder, including the cardboard pallets normally thrown away by Spotlight. Manager Barb and Mrs Missen had hung them all around the store for customers to admire and for Kinder families to find their child’s marvellous makings! I am tipping that it also was an excellent reason for a bit of shopping after their eggs were spotted!
Before the egg hunt, we sang songs for the staff and customers, we went on a search and rescue mission for two bunnies that had escaped their crate and were hiding in store, and we enjoyed the jokes that the staff had ready to read for us at every craft station.
The children learned how to blow up balloons with helium and watched as they floated to the ceiling. Mrs Missen asked if she would float up if she hung onto a helium balloon, so we tested that theory. Mrs Missen grasped the balloon strings and oh my giddy aunt – off she went! Luckily some quick-thinking children and parents had thought to grab her legs ‘just in case’, so there was no actual lift off attained. Ms Parker definitely did not cover that aspect of the excursion in her risk assessment!
Each child found their beautiful egg down the aisles (or racetrack, as it is called), and while Manager Barb was finding a treat bag for the children to take back to Kinder, Mrs Missen sneakily led everyone to the secret door that leads to Spotlight Land – a place where grown-ups can try any craft they like, and no children are allowed! Unfortunately, the code had been changed so Mrs Missen couldn’t access the land. They must have known she was coming.
The children lined up at the checkout and pretended they were customers as they received their treat bag and thanked Manager Barb for having us. Many thanks to Spotlight – especially Manager Barb, for offering up this recycled partnership with the King’s College Kinder – there is another project in the works for Christmas, so watch this space!
Outcome 2: Children are Connecected with and Contribute to their World - Children develop a sense of belonging to groups and communities and an understanding of the reciprocal rights and responsibilities necessary for active community participation.
Outcome 4: Children are Confident and Involved Learners - Children develop dispositions for learning such as curiosity, cooperation, confidence, creativity, commitment, enthusiasm, persistence, and imagination.
Judi Missen
Early Learning Educator