Early Learning

Community Picnic

Last week we enjoyed a picnic at the Botanic Gardens, with many of our Early Learning families coming along. It was lovely for us as educators to see older siblings who used to come to Kinder, and for children to make some social connections in a different environment. It was also interesting to see them extend on curiosities we had been noticing at Kinder. Earlier in the week, the Possum group had been experimenting with digging out a river in the mud pit, and seeing what would float. At the picnic, we benefited from older siblings inspiring and assisting to make some very impressive boats out of lily pads. Everyone was well fed, including the Ducks. Thank you to our families for making it such a fun occasion.

 

Beth Parker

Head of Early Learning


Jack and the Kinder Beanstalk

I don’t think many people realise that Jack actually went to Kinder at King’s College. His Mum threw the magic beans over the Kinder fence when he couldn’t sell the cow because the saleyards had been shut down, so an old man gave him some magic beans instead.

 

Anyhoo, the beanstalk grew in the yard, and Jack climbed up and down a few times – you know how the story goes! On his last trip down, when the giant chased him down the beanstalk, Mrs Missen chopped the beanstalk down and the giant fell through the ground never to be seen again, and that’s why we have a garden bed now – to cover up the big hole the giant left.

 

Today we explored the raised garden bed and Percy found a huge spoon that the actual giant used to eat his porridge! The children then dug in the sandpit for treasure left over from Jack’s bounty, and were so excited when they found jewels and gems! Audra retrieved quite the stash.

 

“If you want your children to be intelligent, read them fairy tales. If you want them to be more intelligent, read them more fairy tales.”
Albert Einstein

 

Judi Missen

Early Learning Teacher


Possums

The Possum group have been enjoying spending time with some of our senior school students, who came over to help Mr Zeunert with our new Kinder printer, then stayed to read us some stories, chat and play! According to research by Peter Gray (2011), younger and older children both benefit from spending time together. Younger children are provided with models to emulate, additional sources of care and emotional support, and the opportunity to play within their zones of proximal development. Older children can expand their understanding through teaching, develop their capacities to nurture and lead, and have the chance to foster their creativity. We value taking up the opportunities that are provided by being part of a K-12 school, and are enjoying watching the benefits that can bring to all of our students. 

 

Beth Parker

Head of Early Learning


Echidnas

The Echidna Group have been really enjoying the interactive books by Hervé Tullet. Tullet's books invite us to play along and explore colour theory as we join in to mix colours and create changes on each page. The Echidnas have been particularly interested in colour theory experimentation this term. After sharing several of Tullet's books together, we invited the children to try out some of his style in their artwork. Using mixed media of black markers, paints and stickers in primary colours they found that dots and lines can be powerful tools to communicate ideas and stories. The Echidnas have been practicing visual motor planning and fine motor skills, forming lines and basic shapes to invent and communicate their own ideas, with inspiration from a favourite author.

 

Sian Duggan

Early Learning Teacher