Learning Across the ELC
Connections with Numeracy
To help support the children’s numeracy development, this fortnight we introduced numeracy and colours as a component for our ‘connections’ inquiry. Numeracy is one of the key learning areas in the Early Years Learning Framework (EYLF), and it emphasizes the development of mathematical concepts and skills through play-based learning.
Key learning outcomes that we focused on in numeracy were:
- Children developing a strong sense of number numeration: referring to the children’s ability to count and recognise numbers.
- Developing an understanding in mathematical concepts such as weight, size, and overall measurement.
- Children developing problem solving strategies.
Through colour activities, we’re encouraging children to express themselves through art, and to understand the concept of shapes, patterns and comparing quantities (more/less and big/small). We incorporated this into the program by providing children opportunities to explore, experiment and discover mathematical concepts through their own experience and interests.
OUTCOME 4: CHILDREN ARE CONFIDENT AND INVOLVED LEARNERS: Children develop a range of skills and processes such as problem solving, inquiry, experimentation, hypothesising, researching and investigating.
OUTCOME 5: CHILDREN ARE EFFECTIVE COMMUNICATORS: Children engage with a range of texts and gain meaning from these texts
Shape Exploration Mathematical concepts such as shape identification, matching, sorting, fostering investigation and cognitive development through problem solving skills were introduced during this activity. The children navigated their way through various shapes of different sizes, mixing and matching until they found the perfect fit. Discoveries were made when the children realised they could join three squares together to create a rectangle. Communication and curiosity was encouraged to promote social and cognitive development.
Sorting Coloured Bears
During this activity, we encouraged the children to recognise and identify the coloured bears. We not only looked at the colour of the bears, but the concept of size and quantity was introduced. "Are they big or small, how heavy do you think they are, can you count the blue bears?" were just a few of the questions the children were asked while they were investigating. This provocation gave the children multiple resources to make observations, predictions and explore the grouping of the bears, whether that be in colour, or size. While some children enjoyed placing the bears on the coloured mat with tweezers, others enjoyed using their hands to group them into the bowls, colour coordinating , rather than size.
Children's Voices:
Charlotte - "I've got two bears"
Oliver - "You can have a red bear"
Esmae - "I found three. I'm three, not Catia"
Bassy- "I found a number….uhhh 4"
Eliza - "I'm 3"
Ms Gemma Francis
ELC Educator
Morning Circle in Banksia Gold
Every day during our Morning Circle In Banksia Gold, we talk about our connection with Kaurna Yerta. In weeks 9 and 10 we unpacked this further with the children, asking them “What land are we on?” and to share what they believe is special about Kaurna Yerta. The children shared their understandings of our Daily Acknowledgement and we delved into the symbolism of our three flags. We substituted Kaurna numbers into the ‘One little finger’ song and did a performance for Bankisa Blue. We also learned some Kamilaroi numbers to help one of our children connect with their own mob, we even watched a Kamilaroi story time, listening to their language. Our play provocations included Kaurna language cards and symbols. The children really engaged with the dreaming stories, drawing representations of ‘Warnayarra the rainbow snake’ and the birds from ‘How the birds got their colours. We explored Torres Strait Island culture through the “Taba Naba’ song and traditional headdress. We unpacked the language of our daily ‘Naa Marni Pudni’ song to better support children’s understanding and connection to Kaurna Yerta and Kaurna language. Naa marni (hello, how are you - plural for the whole group), Pudni (welcome), Kaurna Yerta (Kaurna Land).
What land are we on?
Elle: “Aboriginal land.”
Charlie: “Kaurna Yerta.”
Allegra: “It’s Kaurna Yerta.”
Audrey: “Kaurna Yerta.”
Max: “Because the Kaurna people land.”
Harvey: “Kaurna people.”
Millie: “They share the land so we can play and learn.”
Charlie: “We grow on Kaurna Yerta.”
Jono: “Kaurna people were here first.”
Chloe: “They sharing the land.”
Sophie: “Kaurna people share the land.”
Madeline: “So we can grow.”
Jayden: “We can learn.”
Chloe: “We can grow.”
Rose: “We get bigger.”
Charlie: “And our brains get big.”
Hannah: “We play.”
Christina: “We play on Kaurna Yerta.”
Lottie D: “We get strong.”
Lucy: “Play.”
Harry: “We play and get big and big.”
Michael: “Get strong, I very strong.”
Molly: “We play and play.”
Amelia: “I play too.”
Eevee: “We have to say thank you.”
Lottie K: “Thank you.”
Hannah: “Because they share with us.”
All: “Ngaityalya “(Kaurna thank you with AusLan Sign)
Ms Ollie Lauder
ELC Teacher
Preschool Excursion to the Adelaide Botanic Gardens
On Tuesday of Week 10, the Preschool children embarked on a very exciting excursion to the Adelaide Botanic Gardens.
We travelled there by the Loreto Bus and participated in the 'Aboriginal Plant Use Trail' by Trent Hill. Trent is an Indigenous storyteller, educator and guide who led the children on an engaging walk through the Gardens. He talked with them about some of the traditional uses of trees and plants by Aboriginal people, and even provided an exciting demonstration on how to start a small fire using only sticks! The children were able to have an up-close look at some the plants, trees and objects, and could ask Trent any questions that they had as we went along. We then enjoyed a lovely picnic lunch on the grass and returned back to Preschool in the afternoon. What a day!
Upon our return, we had a chat about some of the things we saw on the excursion…
Alyssa – I liked sitting on the grass.
Elliot – The beautiful trees.
Jordan – I was touching tree flowers.
Enoch – I liked sitting on the bus, the bus was so funny!
Rebecca Settecasi
ELC Teacher
