We began this week with a cooking experience. Karen runs these experiences and the recipes used are usually favourites of hers to do with children or suggestions. If you have any suggestions for what we could cook with the children, we would be happy to give these a try. The children made sausage rolls, half were sausage meat and the other half were vegetarian. The children were required to measure out ingredients, grate carrot and potato and roll the sausage rolls up themselves. This was a fun experience and the children seemed to enjoy how involved they got to be. Most of the children tried the sausage rolls at the end and appeared to really enjoy them.

Once inside, the children examined the effect time had had on their carnation experiment. All of the flowers had changed colour and the children deduced that the flowers had sucked up the water; this made them change colour. The purpose of this experiment is to assist the children in drawing the link between the flowers needing water to grow and the water we pour on our vegetables to help them to grow. At this age, children benefit from visual explanations and this one is quite clear for them. In addition to this experiment, we have been looking at worms this week. We began reading a book about how worms help our flowers and vegetables to grow. This assists in the children’s understanding of the interconnected nature of insects and plants. Next week, we will take a closer look at bees and flowers.

Jess, Karen and Fiona

Lately, the children have engaged in running laps of the outdoor play area, using the pathway. Usually, it is one child at a time who will demonstrate to the educators “how fast I can run”. Particularly as the weather gets cooler and there is potentially more rain, this is a good way to ensure the children use up some of their energy. It is essential for the children to play outside, even when it is cold or raining. In these instances, a coat, beanie, gloves and gumboots are useful. If the rain is too heavy, the children will be kept under the shelter, however, it is important for them to get a chance to play outside whatever the weather. The children really enjoy having their snack and group time outside, so this is something we will attempt to do whenever possible.

On Friday last week, we began a science experiment using dyed water and carnations. On Monday, we observed the changes in the flowers. The flowers had changed colour from white to whichever colour the water was. The children decided that this was because the flowers sucked the water up the stem. Jess asked if the children thought flowers outside would do this, and though some said, no, they realised that all plants must do this because they need water to grow. The purpose of this experiment is to demonstrate the fact that flowers, plants and our vegetables which we planted, suck up the water we pour on them and it helps them to grow. This visual way of explaining this really assists the children’s understanding.

In addition to the carnation experiment, we have been learning more about worms and how they assist our plants to grow. We read a book about how worm casts are good for the soil and even the tunnels which they dig help the water to get to the roots of a plant. The children also learnt about being careful with worms and not chopping them in half when they dig as the worm will die. This assists the children’s understanding that all insects need to be treated with care and looked after.

Jess, Karen and Fiona

Our week started on a high note with the visit of David The Music Man, who visited us with his wonderful collection of Musical Instruments from around the world, some were familiar , others were new to us . He talked to the children about these instruments, explained how they worked, sometimes he showed the internal workings of them, and played them for the children to hear – what a talented man! He played songs the children were familiar with on different instruments, and asked the children to recognize them, and they were able to. We all joined in singing songs and clapping in time to the music, and had a turn at playing percussion instruments , the children all had a turn to try playing  a Trombone if they wanted to  , they were able to produce a sound too. His collection of musical instruments included stringed instruments, wind instruments,  brass instruments and percussion instruments, even a saw, a plastic bottle, and a garden hose with a funnel attached. The instruments came from all around the world, including America, Africa, England, Ireland, Greece, Argentina, Macedonia, Italy, & West Indies. So much for us to learn about – we sent home a list of all the musical instruments the children had seen for the parents to see and be able to discuss at  home. We have taken photographs for the children to look at and talk about. We also have a Reference Book about musical instruments of the world which we have discussed at mat  time, and is available for the children to refer to at all times.

We made our own musical shakers- the children collected a lot of the small nuts that fall from the tree in our playground, and then we made our shakers by using two paper plates with the nuts inside- the children stapled these inverted plates  together, then decorated them by painting them and adding streamers . We will use these to make our own music with the children , then they will take them home. We will also explore what other instruments we can make from what we can find at Kindergarten.

We are enjoying the dancing sessions  with Karen – this week it was based around shapes and colours, which we have been exploring through our activities  at Kindergarten, and will continue to do so.  We are learning new songs and games  with Kylie too – great experiences for the children.

What a busy week.

What will happen next week?

Group A Educators – Margot, Ann and Lisa.   

Reflection 13

We have started pasting and collage on the easels using recycled products. This is a wonderful addition alongside paint pots- the children can see a whole new dimension when adding ‘other materials’ to their paintings. A single large easel has been set up so children can also work in solitude, while we encourage group and collaborative play it’s also important for children to have spaces where they can have time alone when they need it.

Karen provided a lovely dance class with star pillows which the children used in their dancing and even used them for a relaxing pillow time while the music played in the background. In music we had sing-along with puppetry and Kylie incorporated some Italian. All the children are learning new songs and action using castanets and maracas. This Tuesday 26th May we have David the Music Man visit!

We are building a profile to ‘who stole the cookie from the cookie jar’. Olivia suggested we should draw maps so we can follow them to find the culprit- the detective work is still under way…….

The children have produced some beautiful butterfly paintings by folder the paper in half and seeing the ‘mirror effect’. All the children enjoy turning into the caterpillars by crawling through a long elastic tunnel and coming out the other end where they suddenly become bufferflies! We’ve also been using our memories to recall all the foods the Very Hungry Caterpillar ate and document these using pictures and numbers.

Lots of the children have enjoyed making Goo with corn flour and water. The children can create their own consistency and like the slow dripping sensation it creates when running through their fingers, it’s wonderful to get messy at kinder….that’s what being a kid is all about!

We have been busy learning traditional nursery rhymes such as The Old King Duke of York, Yankee Doodle, Little Miss Muffet, Jack and Jill, London Bridge, Hot cross buns and Here We Go Round the Mulberry Bush. The children are often singing and humming these all-time favourites throughout the day- which always makes us smile. :)

Amy, Tracey, Helen and Fiona