Nina Marni beautiful little learners and their amazing families. Welcome to our weekly blog.
We recognise children as capable and competent learners from birth and provide opportunities for them to develop endless possibilities and opportunities for development and growth based on their interest and emerging skills. We provide an all weather program where children have opportunities to engage with all seasons. We provide children with opportunities to explore with all their senses and believe in messy play opportunities. (Our Philosophy)
Celebrating Culture Through Learning: The Aboriginal Learning Table.
Here at early learning , we are proud to introduce the Indigenous Learning Table—a dedicated space created to honour and share the knowledge, stories, and traditions of Australia’s First Nations peoples with our youngest learners. This learning table offers children the opportunity to explore the symbols, markings, and cultural practices of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities in a respectful and engaging way. Through hands-on activities, storytelling, natural materials, and traditional art, children begin to connect with the world’s oldest continuous culture in ways that are meaningful and age-appropriate.
The Aboriginal Learning Table is more than just a learning resource—it is a place for reflection, connection, and curiosity. It encourages children to ask open – ended questions, share ideas, and build an early understanding of Aboriginal culture, identity, and connection to Country.
| Learning Intention 1: To challenge and extend each child’s existing knowledge of colours and shapes through engaging, inquiry-based, and developmentally appropriate learning experiences. Why? challenging each child’s knowledge of colours and shapes ensures they are thinking deeply, developing key skills, and progressing from basic recognition to meaningful understanding. Deepens Cognitive DevelopmentEarly numeracy and literacy foundations: Understanding shapes and colours is fundamental to concepts like sorting, categorising, comparing, and pattern recognition, which are early numerical and logical thinking skills. (N, S, D, H, B, K, G) Promotes critical thinking: Asking children to go beyond naming colours and shapes encourages them to reason, analyse, and problem-solve (e.g., “What makes this a triangle?” or “How can you create a new colour?”). (B, K, S) Builds Language and Communication SkillsExpanding colour and shape vocabulary (e.g., from “red” to “burgundy,” or from “circle” to “oval”) supports expressive language development.Helps children articulate ideas, choices, and engage in meaningful conversations with peers and Teachers. (N, B, K, D, H, S, A, G, S) Encourages Creativity and ExpressionColours and shapes are tools for creative exploration in art, design, and imaginative play. |
Challenging their knowledge allows children to make more complex representations, such as designing detailed drawings or constructing intricate structures.
By weaving colour exploration into shape recognition, we’re supporting each child to extend their existing knowledge through play-based, inquiry-driven learning. Whether they’re sorting or colouring red circles, painting with yellow triangles, or building with multi-coloured blocks, children are making connections across multiple concepts at once—deepening their understanding in a fun and memorable way.
Sensory Play with Coloured Pom Poms and Water: A Fun and Educational Exploration
Sensory play offers children the opportunity to explore the world around them through touch, sight, and sound—supporting the development of fine motor skills, cognitive growth, and language acquisition. One simple yet engaging setup involves coloured pom poms, water, and a variety of household materials. This activity combines sorting, pouring, squeezing, and transferring in a rich sensory experience that supports multiple areas of early learning.
Creating, Crafting, and Connecting: Learning Colours and Shapes Through Art
We believe that creativity is a powerful pathway to learning. Recently, our children have been engaging in a joyful combination of painting and crafting, using coloured shapes to support their understanding of both colour and shape recognition in meaningful, hands-on ways.
Through these open-ended art experiences, children are not only expressing themselves creatively but are also beginning to name and identify colours, while learning to associate each colour with a corresponding shape. For example, a red circle, a blue square, or a yellow triangle becomes more than just part of an artwork—it becomes a learning moment embedded in a play based learning.
Hands-On Learning: Exploring Shapes and Colours with Play Dough
We’re always looking for creative ways to make learning both engaging and meaningful. One of the most effective tools in the early years is something simple, familiar, and much loved—play dough. Recently, our children have been exploring shapes and colours through a series of hands-on activities using play dough. These sensory-rich experiences support learning across multiple developmental areas, all while encouraging creativity, fine motor development, and critical thinking.
Illuminating Learning: Exploring Colours on the Light Table
Sparking curiosity through sensory-rich experiences. One of the children’s favourite spaces is the light table, where we’ve been exploring colours using a variety of sensory materials. Using translucent coloured items such as coloured rice ,magnetic tiles, and wooden shaped colour blocks ,children have been discovering how light transforms and enhances colour.
Crafting with Purpose: Exploring Letters and Shapes
This week children have been engaging in a creative activity that combines early literacy and shape recognition through hands-on art. Using multi-coloured paper shapes, each child selected the first letter of their name and carefully decorated it by crafting within the lines of the alphabet letter.
This experience supported children in:
- Recognising and naming letters, beginning with the most meaningful one—their own
- Identifying and placing coloured shapes with care and intention
- Developing fine motor skills, spatial awareness, and creativity
- Building a sense of identity and pride in their work
| Learning Intention 2: Children will begin to understand that Jesus is always with us and that we can talk to Him through prayer. They will be introduced to sacred symbols of our faith—the candle, the cross, and the Sign of the Cross—and develop a sense of reverence and belonging through storytelling, prayer, and song.Children engage respectfully in a shared prayer time. Children are introduced to and can begin to make the Sign of the Cross with support. Children show an emerging understanding that Jesus lived in a family and is present in their own lives. Children participate in simple prayer, storytelling, and song with quiet attentiveness. Sacred Gathering Children sit in a circle in the prayer space with soft music.Fosters calm, readiness, and community.(Come and join the circle) Candle LightingBattery-operated candle is lit with reverent language.Symbolizes Jesus as the Light of the World.Sign of the CrossLeader models the Sign of the Cross with slow, clear gestures and encourages participation.Introduces children to a sacred gesture of prayer.Story telling (e.g., Jesus with His family, Jesus with children). Felt board or picture books used.Supports understanding of Jesus’ life, family, and closeness to children.Symbol: The CrossWooden cross shown and explained simply.Encourages recognition of an important sacred symbol and its meaning.Prayer song response prayer followed by a familiar worship song with actions.Builds rhythm and routine in prayer life; encourages joy and expression.Blessing and ClosureFinal Sign of the Cross and quiet blessing from the teacher.Ends with a peaceful affirmation of Jesus’ presence and love. |
Cultivating Spiritual Growth Through Daily Prayer
Here at Holy Family Early Learning we are dedicated to nurturing the spiritual development of each child through meaningful and age-appropriate practices. This week, our children actively participated in our daily prayer ritual—a moment of reflection, gratitude, and connection.
The prayer time begins with the Sign of the Cross, grounding the children in a sacred tradition. They then light the battery-operated candle, symbolising the presence of Christ’s light in their day. Together, they sing the Five Finger Prayer Song, expressing praise and worship in a joyful and engaging way.
Central to this ritual is the use of a wooden cross, which serves as a sacred symbol and focal point. Children are encouraged to share their “special moments from their day they wish to offer in prayer to Jesus. This practice fosters mindfulness, gratitude, and a personal connection to faith.
By embedding these reflective moments into our daily routine, we support children in developing a strong spiritual foundation, helping them cultivate empathy, thankfulness, and a deeper understanding of their faith journey.
The child’s voice was captured within a group context :
The teacher held up the wooden cross and asked the children what it symbolises.
Hazel : prayer, Ari: prayer, Ada : Prayer, Kaia : Prayer, Saanjh : Prayer, Bhavish : Prayer, I like playing with Ari, he is very kind, he is my friend.
Special specks of gold of the day were shared amongst the children as well as their Teacher’s.
Exploring Shared Spaces: Community Walks and Big Movement Adventures
Here at Early Learning, we believe that learning extends beyond the classroom. This week, children engaged in a series of community walks through our shared spaces, immersing themselves in a rich variety of environments that promote both physical development and enquiry-based learning.
Building Balance Through Big Movement Play
The playground came alive with energy as children explored its many features—each offering unique physical challenges. From the monkey bars that required upper-body strength and coordination, to the wobbly bridge that tested their sense of balance and risk-taking, children navigated these structures with focus and determination. The slippery dip slide was not just a fun ride down—it was a chance for children to build core strength and spatial awareness as they climbed and descended.
These experiences support gross motor development, body awareness, and confidence in movement. Through repeated play, children learn how their bodies move, adjust to different surfaces, and gain resilience when trying new challenges.
Curious Minds in Curious Spaces
Beyond the playground, our walks took us to some of the school’s most intriguing learning environments. The MUDLA provided opportunities for hands-on exploration, sparking children’s natural curiosity. Whether examining nature’s living beings, or engaging with inquiry provocations, children were encouraged to ask questions, and mark make their discovery.
Similarly, the fresh produce garden became a hub of sensory and scientific learning. Children observed the growth cycle of plants, explored textures and scents, and discussed sustainability and healthy eating. These real-world experiences are vital for enquiry-based learning, helping children connect classroom concepts with the world around them.
A Holistic Approach to Learning
By incorporating community walks and time in shared outdoor spaces into our curriculum, we aim to nurture the whole child—physically, intellectually, socially, and emotionally. These experiences allow children to develop a sense of place, deepen their understanding of the world, and strengthen their physical capabilities—all while fostering collaboration and curiosity.
Specks of Gold: Highlights from Our Week
This week has been filled with joyful moments and meaningful connections as children continued to build on existing friendships and formed new ones through play and collaboration. Our outdoor learning spaces offered endless opportunities for exploration and discovery. Children engaged in construction play using blocks and cylinders, demonstrating creativity, problem-solving, and teamwork as they built structures both big and small.
The wet weather added an extra layer of excitement to our days. With gumboots on and smiles wide, children embraced the chance for messy play, delighting in splashing through puddles and experiencing the sensory joy of nature.These specks of gold highlight the importance of play in all its forms—nurturing social development, imagination, and a love for the world around us.
Children Explore the Art of Cupcake Making
Today, our young learners enjoyed a delightful hands-on cooking lesson guided by our skilled chef and supported by their dedicated teachers. With safety gloves on and excitement in the air, the children gathered around the dining table, ready to embark on a delicious journey.
This engaging session introduced the children to the basics of baking as they collaboratively prepared their own cupcakes. From mixing ingredients to decorating their creations using some colours, the experience was not only educational but also a wonderful opportunity to build teamwork and fine motor skills.
The highlight of the afternoon? Enjoying their homemade cupcakes during afternoon tea — a sweet reward for their creativity and effort. Experiences like these help nurture independence, confidence, and a lifelong love of learning.
Ngaityalya
Hope you all have a relaxing weekend.