Nina Marni preschool children and families. welcome to our weekly blog.
Evidently, children are becoming more comfortable and confident within Holy FamilY Early Years learning environment. They have established strong, respectful relationship with teachers, educators and peers.
Shrove Tuesday Celebration
Shrove Tuesday, also known as Carnevale. Which means ‘goodbye’ to meat. In Preschool, we discussed about:
- Expressing gratitude for the blessings we receive from God, appreciating the goodness in our lives. Being thankful for all the little and big things that bring us joy and fulfillment – The love of family and friends, good health, beauty of nature.
- Strive to be gentle and kind to get closer to God. When we treat others with love and kindness, it creates a positive ripple effect in the world around us.
- Encouraging children to help each other – act of kindness.
Children watched the video – Pancake Day Song | CBeebies; then enjoyed pancake in their afternoon tea. https://youtu.be/CYkgEc1HDwA?si=nUnYd9WaHAmiUhFq
‘Being SunSmart means a balance between sun protection to lower the risk of skin cancer and sun exposer for the production and maintenance of vitamin D.’ – Cancer Council SA
Children have a strong sense of well being. They understand the importance of applying sunscreen and wearing hats. They are learning to be SunSmart by following required steps.
This week, construction was the most loved experience in preschool room. Children were engaged in building, connecting, making different objects with a range of construction materials.
Learning Intention:
To support each child to deepen their emergent literacy skills, aligning with their individual developmental stage, interest, and dispositions.
Why:
- Literacy is the capacity, confidence, and disposition to use language in all its forms.
- Literacy incorporates a range of modes of communication including music, movement, dance, storytelling, visual arts, media, and drama, as well as talking, reading, and writing.
- Early writing, mark-making can develop into creative expression.
- By giving children the opportunity to explore different mediums of mark making, it engages them in sensory play and allows them to discover exciting new materials.
- Sharing ideas and make meaning while reading a book.
ILP’s: All children
Educators read to children regularly, in whole group, small groups and individually. Children were provided with opportunities to engage in literacy through the arts – visual art, media, dance, drama, and music. They loved songs, movement and dance throughout the week. their favourite songs so far are: Sleeping bunnies, Wombat Wobble, Fly like a butterfly and One little finger. They enjoy the action/movement while they sing.
Literacy provocations were set up daily that used different elements of the core text. Open ended resources supported children to express their own ideas with no desired outcome to complement process.
Daily community walks to the vegetable garden, MUDLA , school oval, school sandpit, playground continued as part of the daily routine to support children’s sense of community. These experiences created space and opportunities for unstructured play.
A range of active and restful experiences throughout the day was organised to support children to make appropriate decisions regarding participation.
Inquiry project:
Our World
What we know:
- Bugs are fascinating creatures.
- There is a wonderful world of insects around us – at the yard, vegetable garden, in the grass!
What we want to know:
- What do Living beings need? (Food, water, air, sunlight to survive.)
- Explore different types of bugs.
- Australian bugs
- Bug habitat – Where bugs live and what their habitats look like?
Different types of Bugs – (Pictures of bugs)
Bug Hunt!
Small world play – (Bugs & Insects)
Trajectories:
- Construction experiences with loose parts – STEM provocation.
- Inquiry project – Bug identification. Use picture books, flash cards, bug identification chart. Discuss about different types of bugs and insects, such as ladybugs, butterflies, bees, and ants.
- Continue to support each child to deepen their emergent literacy skills, aligning with their individual developmental stage, interest, and dispositions.