3 Year Old Kangaroo Group Blog 25/7/2014




We started this week inside first and we were happy to entertain the guinea pigs again.....Several children did pat them and have a bit of a chat with them........

Positive interactions were of course encouraged with each other and the children were greeting others happily and when speaking to others they were respectful and listened to what their friend was saying to them. When outdoors some of the children checked out the veggie patch and noticed that the lettuces were growing big......Maybe you would like to have some.........let me know........

Tuesday gave the children the opportunity to enjoy being outdoors interacting with their peers and of course working at their chosen experience. Time was also spent watching the dog walker and the dogs she had, get out of the car and head to the park. They were excited to do this........

On Friday Margot and Karen were with your children as I was away rather unwell. Some of the children have decorated a tin can which later we will be planting seeds to watch them grow.......what will it be?????????? We are of course also recycling.......by using a tin for a pot.............................

Do you recycle at home????/Please let us know what you do........




Take care everyone..........

3 Year Old Kangaroo Group Educators; Karen, Fiona and Annette

GROUP A REFLECTIONS – WEEK 22ND – 25TH JULY 2014.

We have had another busy week!

We started to make a Hot Air Balloon to hang up in our room this week, as part of our discussions about our World and different ways of travelling around it. This is a multi staged process, which requires the children to work together on a combined project that takes some time to complete. So as well as persisting, they have to be patient as well. Paper Mache is a messy business but good fun. We’ve discussed what makes hot air balloons fly and how you steer them. I think some of the children hope it might really fly – sorry – I can’t manage that!

Our dance sessions with Karen and our music sessions with Kylie continue to be exciting and inspiring and great fun – the children are practicing  following multiple instruction, and are being very creative and imaginative..

We have been exploring colour, design and shape this week, with a number of activities that encourage the children to explore what complicated designs they are able to make, and how shapes fit together. We have had our light table with transparent coloured shapes, Kaleidoscopes magnetic Mandala patterns, coloured stones in sand, small coloured blocks to build with , and the children have also explored drawing on vertical table easels , which is quite a different experience to drawing flat on a table, and uses different muscles as well, strengthening their grip and control.

We have put together a book made up of photographs of different experiences and incursions we have had at Kindergarten so far  this year, this has been a popular spot at this table, with groups of children and discussing the pictures. We will add to this as the year progresses.

The Guinea Pigs have gone to a new home – we will miss them.

Max the Photographer came and took both individual and a group photo of the children, as we needed to fit a lot into that morning, the children needed to be very adaptable, which they were. We look forward to seeing the photos in a few weeks.

Please remember the Group A Working Bee next Sunday 3rd August – many hands make light work!

We would also appreciate your input with the Questionnaire recently given to you- please put your replies into the box on the table in the foyer.

What will happen next week?

Group A Educators – Margot, Ann and Lisa.       

Koala Reflection

Week beginning 21st July




Well it’s been another busy week this week! On Monday we have continued to discuss recycling and where our rubbish goes. A few children told us that they have a special recycling bin at home and they help to sort the rubbish. Fantastic! We continued this topic at our story time by reading a book called “Where does our rubbish go?” This gave the children the opportunity to broaden their knowledge and understanding of recycling. In the coming weeks the children will be taking part in our environmental special helpers. This will give the children the opportunity to not only gain an understanding of how we can help take care of our environment but also gives them a sense of responsibility.




During our group time we have also been continuing our name recognition exercise. The children are getting very good at this, and are recognising not only their own name but their friends name too.




On Monday we did some marble painting. The koala children were able to pick the coloured paint they wanted to use and dip and then place the marble on their paper. This created some wonderful patterns on their paper. This exercise is great for building children’s co-ordination and fine motor skills.




On Thursday we spent some time outdoors and the koala group were very busy in all areas. We had a considerable amount of children wanting to practice their balance and gross motor skills on the balancing pole. Annette and I were there to assist if required, as this can be quite challenging for the three year olds.

We are continuing to take great care of our sunflowers. The koala children have noticed significant changes since the end of last term and are very excited about it! Will be interesting to see how they are looking by the end of this term.

Our Koala Dory has been getting around, and its great to see all the fun the children are having! The children enjoy sharing their experiences with their friends during our group-time session.

Next week we will be continuing our topic of a healthy me. We will be tracing ourselves and then the children will be able to decorate their body using lots of different materials.

Have a lovely weekend!

REFLECTION

We have been busy planting Marigold and baby boomers in little pot plants to grow. We are making sure they get plenty of water and sunshine and expect to see some shoots in 10 or so days. They will be planted with the vegetables and herbs once they have grown big enough. We will also be planting some more fresh produce so we can continue with many more cooking experiences. The children enjoyed squeezing lemons to make juice, just by adding a little sugar and water and letting it chill. This activity was an extension from our ‘lemon and orange’ dancing class with Karen who always appreciates the need to be in touch with our senses.

Our interest in dinosaur continues. We have drawn up a list discussing the differences between humans and dinosaurs

‘Dinosaurs are reptiles’ said Kayla

‘Humans are mammals’ said Zihan

‘Dinosaurs were much bigger in size’ said Molly

‘They had bigger teeth and claws’ said Guy

We have been looking for dinosaur fossils in the sand tray.

‘Dinosaurs are extinct’ said Jack

‘That means they are not around anymore’ said Will

At group times we like to look at books about dinosaurs! Linus brought in ‘Linus the vegetarian Dinosaur’ and Arjun brought in a science book all about volcanos. In the book there was a diagram on how to make a volcano using sand, bi carb soda, red dye and vinegar which we will try outside in the sandpit!

On Tuesday we had photo day. Max the photographer took some great snapshots of the children in action, doing puzzles, pasting, construction and reading. The photos will arrive in an album and you will be able to select the ones you would like to purchase. Max is also clever enough to photo shop the children who were absent that day....so we can still look back and remember the entire class.

We sadly have to say goodbye to our gorgeous Arjun who is starting a new chapter with his family in Ballarat. We wish you all the very best......




Amy, Tracey, Helen and Fiona