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GROUP A REFLECTIONS – WEEK 25TH – 28TH NOVEMBER 2014.
With Christmas fast approaching , Christmas preparations have started so we are very busy at Kindergarten. We have started to make our decorations to make our room look festive and beautiful, and will continue to do this. We are making our official invitations to our Christmas party on Thursday 18th December at 1.00 p.m. – you will receive these in a few days. We will be learning some special songs we will be singing for you, and will also be making some special gifts for you. It is very difficult to keep everything secret, so please try to not look or listen sometimes ! This is a very exciting time , particularly when combined with School Orientation days which the children are having at the moment- so we are also having some quiet familiar activities which will give the children opportunities to relax. The children were very excited to discover our first Silkworm moths had hatched, and more are hatching every day, the next step in the cycle is for the moths to mate, then lay eggs, then they will die – the life cycle is complete. I will keep these eggs until Springtime next year when the process will happen all over again. This has been a wonderful hands on learning experience for the children who have been able to observe a complete life cycle happening , and this has led to discussions about other life cycles – life in action! By the way have you noticed how much the Stick Insect in our room is growing ? When we look around our room or the playground at the moment- we are delighted to see just what we have been working towards during the year – the children working busily and happily with each other, talking happily, helping each other , sharing ideas, co-operating with each other (most of the time) and following through their ideas, listening to each other, respecting each other, taking an active part in our Kindergarten, confident in their own abilities. They have developed into responsible members of our Group, curious, interested, confident, wanting to learn , and wanting to have fun together. As Educators, we can stand back and watch this happening just the way it should be. Some Reminders – · Our last normal day of Kindergarten – Wednesday 17th December. · Our Christmas Party - Thursday 18th December 1.00 p.m. · Clean up day at Kindergarten on Friday 19th December – we would love some help , even an hour of your time – this is a huge job. · We will soon be putting out a suggested food list for our party, please put your names on this list. · Have you returned your Transition Statements – I need these , as you will then receive the complete package for your signature of approval – this will then be forwarded to the Schools, you will receive a copy for your records. What will happen next week ? Group A Educators – Margot, Ann and Lisa. While indoors on Monday the children were rather involved in their chosen experience/s. At the drawing table they were choosing the colours they needed for their designs. Rulers were also used to create different patterns by some of the children. These designs have certainly taken time, care and thought. In the block area some of the children worked on standing on a stack of blocks in a safe manner. There were discussions about balance, height and of course how to do this safely. The children worked together on building the stands and they helped each other if they did loose balance.
What great teamwork............... The block experience continued again on Tuesday where the children who were involved previously altered their designs into more step like structures. With Fiona the children worked on creating their family Christmas party invitation. Jamie brought in a melting snowman. Jamie showed us what the pieces were and how to put it together. We watched the “snow” melt and go nearly flat..........the children thought it was rather funny to see the carrot, hat and other pieces mixed up. The “snow” was hard when it started but as time went on it became softer..........yes it melted.........another science experiment. On Friday each child wrote their name in their invitation and then gave it to their family when you arrived. Many of the children were practicing their cutting skills as well as how to use glue, sticking tape or a stapler when making decorations for the tree in the foyer. Talk about busy and very excited about helping decorating the Kindergarten......As the last few weeks come to a close we will continue to make more decorations and gifts as well as enjoy each other’s company, singing and spending time outdoors. Please remember to return your Christmas survey that you were given recently. 3 Year Old Kangaroo Group Educators; Karen, Fiona and Annette 3 Year Old Kangaroo Group Blog 21/11/2014
On Monday we started outdoors enjoying the opportunity to build gross motor skills and exploring the components of the sand. Some of the children are using the sand wheels and working out whether wet or dry sand is more effective. When indoors Karen and Gina helped the children make either strawberry or banana smoothies. During this experience the children were able to add their ingredients, press the button on the blender and watch them mix together. This experience enabled the children to talk about where the ingredients came from, whether they were sometimes food or every day food and how they give us energy and help us grow.......the equipment...blender was also discussed........ On Tuesday I was away so Margot and Fiona provided an environment that enabled the children to build their interests and skills. While in the block area some of the children showed Margot how talented they are with building and using the various blocks in different structures as well as using the animals and people. When using blocks the children are enhancing their mathematical knowledge and design techniques as well as working together and developing communication skills. On Friday I was happy to be back to see everyone and participate in many conversations about what had been happening over the past few days. The block area enabled many of the children to work together to construct a multi layered structure.........while others were involved in art experiences such as painting and/or cutting and pasting...... When checking out the silkworms some of the children noticed that there was only two silkworms left as all the others had spin their cocoons.....have you seen the cocoons....nature is so amazing....... We were also very fortunate to see a butterfly emerge from a chrysalis. (Margot’s 4yo group had seen one emerge earlier in the day) Initially the wings did not move very much but the more they moved the more we could see them.....we compared it to babies learning to walk. They both have been released but we hope we will be able to see them fly around our garden as we have planted native plants that butterflies love........keep an eye out for them.......I wonder what other animals we will attract with these many native plants............. Remember our last normal session will be Monday 15/12/2014. Christmas celebrations will be happening on Tuesday 16/12/2014 and our Family clean up day will be Friday 19/12/2014 3 year Old Kangaroo Group Educators; Karen, Fiona and Annette GROUP A REFLECTIONS – WEEK 18TH – 21ST NOVEMBER 2014.
What a busy week we have had ! During the recent Dinosaur interest experiences and the visit by the Museum – we had talked about Volcanoes. So we decided that we would make a volcano. We talked about what volcanoes were and how they erupted, and how some were active and some were extinct, we even discussed how there were actually volcanoes under the deep ocean. Then when we were outside we all worked together (every child helped ) to make a big mountain/ volcano in our sandpit – it was really very big by the time we had finished. Margot then told the children what would happen next. The children watched while a jar was inserted into the top of the volcano. The children then listened carefully about what would be put into this jar – first some red paint dye, then some Bi Carbonate of Soda, then last of all some vinegar. They examined these ingredients need and sat in a circle in the sandpit in anticipation. And – sure enough - after the red dye and the Bi Carbonate of Soda were in – Margot poured in the vinegar – instantly red “Lava” came bursting out of the top of the volcano and ran down the sides of it. We did this many times, counting down in anticipation each time, until we had run out of ingredients. What excitement! Then we felt we needed to be responsible and clean up the red sand so the other children wouldn’t get stained by it. Then when this was done – we jumped and stamped on our volcano till the sand was flat again – we had just completed our Science Experiment. Another science experience later in the week – we had received a parcel in the mail which contained 4 Butterfly Chrysalis of Native Australian Butterflies, which we hoped to watch hatch out, and then we would release these in our garden near our butterfly attracting plants we have just planted, and hopefully they will stay and make their home in our garden. We were very surprised when the first Chrysalis hatched just after we had talked about what might happen –when we went into music it was a chrysalis when we came out the butterfly had hatched. The others hatched really quickly later in the day. After 24hours they need to be released , so we will have to watch them flying around in the garden. We did take photos ! Our silkworms are still in their cocoons, but we are waiting patiently. Please return your sections of the School Transition Forms, so we can continue the process. We will soon be starting Christmas activities and decorations , so we can make our room beautiful for our Christmas Party on Thursday 18th December (Invitations will follow shortly) What will happen next week ? Group A Educators – Margot, Ann and Lisa. |
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