Early Learning Centre
3-Year-Old Kinder
Planting Trees
Mr Mason and some senior secondary students brought some gardening tools into the ELC to plant some tree saplings with the ELC children. Mr Mason showed the children how to dig a hole using the gardening tools, how to squeeze the pot to help the sapling to come out, and how to break up the roots before planting. Mr Mason taught the children how the roots help the trees to obtain nutrients just like people use their mouths to eat and drink. The children then worked in groups to dig holes, plant their trees and water them. Mr Mason talked to the children about how they needed to water the trees to look after them, and about being careful not to step on the saplings. We look forward to watching them grow!
ELC Garden
Our garden produced lots of cauliflower, celery, parsley and bok choy planted by the children earlier in March. The children noticed the purple cabbages that are still growing, and found a cauliflower head that is growing bigger. Now that two of the garden beds have been cleared and prepared, the children planted some seed balls that they created during our environmental incursion with Mornington Peninsula Shire. The seeds should produce flowers over the next weeks and months.
Going on a Bear Hunt
The children enjoyed going on a bear hunt in the ELC after reading the picture story book "We're Going on a Bear Hunt" by Michael Rosen and Helen Oxenbury. We swished through the wavy grass, sloshed through the river, squelched through the mud, stumbled through the forest and the snow storm to find our cave with a bear in it. We raced back home to hide under the covers! We're not going on a bear hunt again!!
4-Year-Old Kinder
North and South America
This fortnight has been productive in learning two new continents: North America and South America. North America was filled with winter activities, alligators, horse ranches and again learning the flags in this part of the world.
South America was exciting with rainforest discussions, making instruments such as a pan flute and exploring outfits that South American cultures wear during everyday life and celebrations.
South Campus
As part of Expoloring God's World, we embraced the sunshine and went on a walk to the oval on South Campus. On the way we dropped off Library books that needed returning and then visited the oval. Instructions were given for safety such as the boundaries and then the children ran as far as they could around the oval running track. Football and soccer drills were fun ways to move, developing their hand eye coordination and proprioceptive skills. The walk back to kindergarten was very quiet as they were exhausted from nearly 2km of running fun!
Another opportunity was presented with the sun shining so the next adventure was to the oval, however as the secondary students were there enjoying their lesson, the trip was not wasted as the basketball courts were an easy replacement. The children utilised the targets and extended numeracy skills as they attempted to count their results.
Prep Transition Session
An exciting day finally arrived with the class leaving the kindergarten and walking into a Primary School classroom for their first transition session. They were met by Mrs Martin and Mrs Bolden who welcomed them eagerly. Once settled they were able to listen to the rules in this new space and then explore a range of different resources and Materials that the current Prep children use. It was a fantastic experience and we are all looking forward to the next visit in a fortnight's time.
Gardening
Teachers had observed that the older dying produce was needing to be removed and this encouraged a spontaneous moment of learning as the children were asked to take the lead on deciding what was produce that needed harvesting and what was a weed.
They responded to the caretaking activity with joy and curiosity. They found worms, white grubs, butterflies and tiny flying insects. This welcomed conversations on how many animals help plants to grow and how some, if not caught early, can destroy a vegetable garden. The children harvested celery, parsley, bok choy and cauliflower. With parsley and cauliflower already being sent home, it was decided that more people in the school might like some. This resulted in two bags of produce going to the staffroom for the college staff to enjoy, on top of the full baskets that were left for the kinder families to take home.
Later in the Term
More ELC -Prep visits with their Kindergarten teachers each fortnight. Visits without their kindergarten teachers will commence in Term 4.
Book Week: Wednesday 30th August. Come dressed as a favourite book character. Please no super heros.
Father's Night: Wednesday 30th August. 5.00-6.30pm. Elc child and their Dad are invited to come to kinder and play games. Please eat dinner at home.
End of Term: Wednesday 13th September. Normal 3.00pm finish.