Learning Across the ELC

Caring for the Environment in Banksia

During our outdoor exploration, the children noticed that a few pieces of paper and rubbish had blown onto our yard. "It was very windy last night" said Sophia. From this, the children were invited to help clean up our outdoor space and collect anything they thought may have been rubbish, or that it doesn’t appear to belong. The children were offered a glove each and a few bags to share among the group, and they were straight into finding the 'rubbish'. This activity promoted environmental awareness, connection to nature, physical safety, and helping the community stay safe and clean. The children picked up pieces of leaves, paper, pencils, cardboard squares, and pop sticks from our old bird feeder that had been weathered in the rain. "Is that from the birds? Georgia asked.

Light Table Creations in Banksia

Loose parts play is an innovative and versatile educational provocation that encourage open-ended and exploratory play among the children. During the school holidays and transition visit for our new children and families, construction and loose parts play was a common interest. 

Building on children's curiosity, imagination and fine motor skills, a provocation was set up on the light table, where the children were encouraged to manoeuvre pieces to make different designs and patterns. The activity consisted of acrylic and wooden coloured cylinders, with wooden human figurines, trees and coloured material. Many children took this through learning through an imaginative dramatic play pathway, adding family members and creating scenarios as if they would play out at home. 

Poppy - This is my mummy, daddy and me

Georgia - I've got an Aunty Gabby and Nonna

Harvey J - There's trees in my house

Edwina - My family…on a picnic

Ms Gemma Francis

Science Week in Preschool

Our Preschool children celebrated Science Week by hypothesising, predicting and asking questions. Erupting volcanoes were made in the sandpit with different coloured lava by mixing food dye, vinegar and bi-carb soda. Children predicted what colours they thought the lava might be and were excited by their discoveries. The children inquired into the insects found around our community and were "Entomologists" studying, making, and researching the insects we discovered. They really enjoyed learning about the parts of an insect through song and were amazed that insects had six legs, a thorax and abdomen.

Unpacking Sustainable Cities in Preschool

In Week 3 the Children further explored communities through the UN Global Goals. When unpacking #11 Sustainable Cities, we watched a UN video collaboration with Thomas The Tank Engine and analysed a mirrored visual of a healthy vs unhealthy city. The children were very quick to share their ideas about making their own city and discussing what they could see that was good or bad, asking questions and making connections to their own homes and our preschool setting. The children realised some really key elements that link with our rights, having a safe home to live in and a comfy bed, to have parents and people who keep us safe, playing at parks, using public transport, riding bikes, breathing fresh air, drinking clean water, growing/eating food from a garden, going to a hospital if we are sick and the need for emergency services vehicles.

Ms Amanda Martin

ELC Teacher