Play and Learning with Preschool

The Preschool Feelings Program

Throughout Term 2 the Preschool children will be exploring the way they feel. They will identify and discuss how their body looks and reacts with how they are feeling. The children’s knowledge and vocabulary of key word sign will be extended as they use their hands and voices to communicate how they feel.

Trace Moroney’s Feelings series is a set of simple text especially designed to help children better understand their feelings and how to identify, manage and express those feelings in an appropriate and acceptable way both to themselves and others. These books are an invaluable tool to help build confidence, self esteem and contribute to a healthy emotional foundation upon which children can thrive.

They will explore one text each week, including discussion, stories, key word sign and building communication skills in relation to each feeling. The feeling for each week will be displayed in the preschool foyer. Please check each week and engage with your child at home about what we have spoken about at preschool. 

The first feeling the children are exploring is ‘happy’. They are currently discussing what their body does to show they are happy and the things that make them feel happy. 

Our body smiles when we are happy.

Sometimes when we are happy, we laugh, which makes our tummy wobble.

Using our voice and hands, we already know how to ask, ‘how are you?’ and to reply, ‘happy’ in key word sign.

These are some things that make us feel happy….

Embedding Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander perspectives throughout the preschool curriculum supports our philosophy of providing a safe, inclusive environment for all children. By teaching about a variety of cultural backgrounds the children develop an awareness and respect for all people and pride in their own culture. In Term 1 the preschool children explored Aboriginal art, looking at a variety of artists and their work. This is being extended through Term 2 as they learn about the Australian, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander flags and what each colour and part of their design represents. 

A few years ago, the preschool children at St Johns Park Public School worked with representatives of the local Aboriginal community to write an Acknowledgement of Country for our preschool. Each year the preschool children learn this and it is said together as part of our daily routine and at special ceremonies and events. 

Name Recognition

Preschool is an exciting time when the literary world becomes alive. The children recognise that shapes and symbols have meaning and begin learning foundation skills such letter and numeral recognition and the art of forming these on paper, in the dirt or simply in the air. 

This term the preschool children have become very responsible and sign themselves in each morning by finding their name card on the table and placing it on the board as they arrive, building name recognition, self identity and a sense of responsibility.