Learning Across the ELC

Preschool

We have really enjoyed welcoming our new mid-year students into Preschool, and our 'Community Connections' inquiry has been the best way to achieve that. Not only have the children been learning about and building a sense of belonging to our Preschool community, they have been setting off on adventures to explore our wider Loreto College community. This has been a fabulous way for our teaching team to view the college through the eyes and thoughts of the children. We have been discovering what fascinates them and what they want to learn more about. Thus far they have been curious and excited about the fish in our pond, the creek with the ducks in it, the wood pillars in our indigenous garden, the labyrinth of coloured artworks, the 'big girls' and the three flag poles where they recognised the flags from our daily Acknowledgement of Country. We are looking forward to watching this inquiry unfold, and co-researching with the children as their interests and ideas unfold.

The Preschool Team 

Banksia 

Literacy and Numeracy: The Three Little Pigs

In week 1, the Banksia friends engaged in learning the story of 'The 3 Little Pigs.' Using puppets to tell a story offers many benefits to young children. Firstly, puppetry provides a visual and interactive experience that captures children's attention and stimulates their imagination, helping to bring the story to life. This visual engagement not only makes the storytelling more enjoyable, but also enhances understanding and the ability to remember the narrative. Additionally, puppets encourage children to participate and engage in the storytelling process, which can significantly boost their language skills. 

"It's the big bad wolf" - Franka

"The house got blowed down" - Ivy

As children listen and respond to the story, they practice vocabulary, sentence structure, and expressive language. Puppetry also allows for creative expression, as children can explore different voices, emotions, and actions through the characters, fostering both creativity and empathy. Incorporating puppets into storytelling can also benefit numeracy and counting skills in preschool children. As the story of "The Three Little Pigs" is told, teachers can integrate counting activities, such as counting the number of pigs, houses, or attempts made by the wolf to blow the houses down. Puppets can visually represent these elements, helping children to associate numbers with physical objects and actions. 

A story table was set up with puppets and props for "The Three Little Pigs" to encourage children to retell the story in a hands-on, interactive way, promoting cooperative play and social skills. This approach allowed children to engage physically with the narrative by manipulating the puppets and props, reinforcing their understanding of the story's sequence and details. As children worked together to retell the story, they practiced communication, turn-taking, and teamwork, which are essential social skills. The collaborative nature of this activity fostered a supportive learning environment where children could express their creativity, share ideas, and build confidence in their storytelling abilities. By creating a space for imaginative play and cooperative learning, the story table served as a dynamic educational tool that enriched both cognitive and social development.

Ms Alicia Carr

Early Childhood Teacher