Niina Marni to our wonderful little learners and their wonderful families. Welcome to our weekly blog.
Learning Intention 1:
To support children’s expression of ideas and identity through mark-making and art experiences (continuation from the previous week).
Why?
Mark making simply refers to the creation of different patterns, lines, textures, and shapes.
Mark-making is not just about early writing; it is a sensory and physical experience which can be enjoyed by all ages and abilities.
As well as early writing, mark-making can develop into mathematical representation and creative expression.
Making marks enables children to develop their hand eye co-ordination and fine motor skills through practicing to hold a tool, deciding what grip suits them best, which hand feels most natural and through making small, controlled movements using the tool.
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.
Over the course of the week, children have been exploring different ways of making marks using paint, cotton wool, crayons and open-ended materials. The children used cotton wool attached to wooden pegs for painting, which helps them practice using their index finger and thumb, promoting the development of the proper pencil grip required for early writing skills. The open-ended, loose parts materials were used to trace over various patterns that help enhance not only their mathematical skills but also their hand eye co-ordination and fine motor skills
Learning Intention 2:
To enhance children’s dispositions for learning through providing materials and experiences that provoke inquiry.
Why?
Inquiry-based approaches aim to encourage deep learning
Supports children to be active and involved
Develops confidence, creates a supportive learning environment, and facilitates the development of independent problem-solving abilities
Allows children to investigate, design, imagine and explore, therefore developing curiosity, resilience, and optimism
To provide opportunities for involvement in experiences that support the investigation of ideas, complex concepts and thinking, reasoning, and hypothesising
This week, children went on a community walk with their magnifying glasses to find things in the environment that interests them. Children looked at tree barks, under logs, in the grass and the surrounds to see if they could find any insects. Some children found a bee in our outdoor space and were very intrigued by it – some were worried they might get stung while others were curious to find out where the bee might go and what it might do.
Innayat – “it’s going under the sand”
Calvin – “it has feathers (wings)”
Bentley – “we can put this over him” (pointing to a plastic tub)
Child – “we need to squash it”
At the moment, we talked about how the bee might want to be freely roaming about, and what it might feel if we try to contain or harm it. We hope to open more discussion about the importance of bees, understanding its anatomy and how to be safe around bees without harming them.
Learning Intention 3:
Sacred symbols are special and important.
Why?
Doctrinal Insights from the Catholic Tradition that support this Enduring Understanding include:
Sacred symbols remind us that God is close to us, and with us.
The Sign of the Cross is a prayer to God.
Doctrinal Insights from the Catholic Tradition that support this Enduring Understanding include:
The Sign of the Cross is a prayer with actions and words.
The words remind us that God is called Father, Son and Holy Spirit.
The actions represent the symbol of the Cross, and that prayer involves our head, heart and body.
The children are becoming more and more confident when singing the prayer song and repeating the little prayer after their teacher. Children understand that the cross is a sacred symbol and hold it with respect during our prayer time.
Community walks
Celebrating Holi
Holi, known as the Festival of Colours, is a joyful Hindu celebration marking the arrival of spring and the victory of good over evil. Originating in India, Holi has now spread across the globe. Celebrated with vibrant colours, music, dancing, and delicious foods, it brings people together in unity and fun. Families often come together to throw coloured powders at one another, symbolizing equality and connection.
We too celebrated Holi, by using colours in our sensory table to draw patterns and by putting a bit of washable paint on each others’ faces.
Specs of Gold‘
Learning Trajectories
Continue our community walks
Continue to provide mark-making opportunities
To build on children’s observations and experiences to start an inquiry project together with them