Holy Family Preschool – Term 1/Week 8 – Early Learning Blog Site

Niina Marni to our wonderful little learners and their beautiful families.

Learning Intention 1:

To support children’s expression of ideas and identity through mark-making and art experiences (continuation from the previous weeks).

It was wonderful to see the children explore mark-making with such a wide variety of materials this week. They used cut-up vegetables like capsicums and potatoes, cookie cutters, and even cars with paint, which sparked their creativity and encouraged them to experiment with textures and shapes. These hands-on experiences allowed them to engage in meaningful exploration while enhancing their fine motor skills. By providing numerous opportunities to draw, paint, and color, the children were able to express themselves in their own unique ways. It was a fantastic way to nurture their creativity and love for art.

Learning Intention 2:

To enhance children’s dispositions for learning by 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

We had a great discussion with the children about what they already know about bees. They shared a wealth of ideas and information, offering valuable insights into their understanding of these fascinating creatures. It was wonderful to see their curiosity and the range of questions they had about bees. Many of them expressed interest in learning more, and we will be building on their existing knowledge and experiences as we explore the most common questions they have asked. This will be a fun and educational journey as we dive deeper into the world of bees together.

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.

This week, we focused on learning about St. Joseph, Jesus’ earthly father, as we celebrated His feast day on the 19th of March. We identified the members of the holy family and the role of St. Joseph in Jesus’ life. The children were engaged and interested in learning about St. Joseph, and it was heartwarming to see them embrace the significance of the celebration. Their growing confidence in singing the prayer song and engaging in meaningful discussions truly reflect their deepening connection to the Catholic values we are exploring together.

Harmony Week

This week, we celebrated Harmony Week by reading the book ‘We Are Australian Too’ with the children. It sparked a wonderful discussion about how many people have come from different countries to live in Australia, and the importance of living in peace and harmony with each other. The children were engaged in the conversation, and we took the opportunity to stretch out our hands and reflect on the message that, no matter what color our skin is or where we come from, we all belong in the Holy Family community. It was a beautiful moment to celebrate diversity and unity, reinforcing the values of inclusivity and respect for all. We also learned to say ‘Hello’ in a few different languages – we learned to say ‘Namaste’ like people in India and ‘Ayubowan’ like Sri Lankans. We will continue to explore other languages throughout the term too.