Group A Reflection, 17th – 20th November

Another busy week – the year is flying by!
 
The final stage of the Silkworm Life Cycle is happening now, with new moths hatching, then mating, and now we have so many eggs – it is amazing, the children check daily, and are very excited about their discoveries – it has been a great hands on learning experience for the children. We re-read the Reference Book, and re-visited the story – the children have grasped the concept of the life cycle, so we made a pasting sequence. We provided drawings of each part of the life cycle- eggs, eggs hatching, the tiny caterpillars, caterpillars eating and growing bigger, spinning cocoons, then hatching out as little white moths. The children needed to find the correct pictures, cut out these pictures carefully, paste them into the correct sequence until they had illustrated the complete life cycle. This required the children to understand the sequence, concentrate, remember, use scissors carefully, and deliver the correct sequence – they did a great job
 
The children continue to sign themselves in each morning; their “ signatures” are becoming clearer and neater. We are having activities, which require the children to control the implements carefully – scissors, brushes, paper etc. We experimented with “dribble” paintings which the children made by carefully dribbling patterns onto cardboard to make 3 dimensional art works – they were so beautiful, as are the art works and paintings that adorn the walls in our room – they are so colourful and vibrant, and the children work very carefully and imaginatively to achieve their designs – and are rightly proud of the results. Experimenting with colour, design, pattern, and shape is also a lead up to pre writing activities – the children are learning to carefully control what they do with their implements as they will need to do when they are writing.
 
We set up a Hospital Corner this week – this has been the centre of much activity and imaginative play – the children are using play as a way of learning about what happens in the real world. We have Doctors, Nurses, Patients, even a Receptionist. The equipment includes aprons, bandages (which the children have learnt how to re-roll), a bed, a table to examine doll patients, a collection of various empty medicine bottles, stethoscopes etc. We have pictures about Hospitals, Ambulances, a Helicopter Ambulance, X-Ray equipment, children in plaster casts etc. The children are really engaged in this corner, and are learning and discussing many things we will continue this play, and extend their knowledge in the weeks to come.
 
We continue to have Board Games and activities which require the children to take turns, follow rules, finish what they start, concentrate, be patient, remember, recognise – all important skills.
 
What will happen next week?
 
Group A Educators – Margot, Ann and Lisa.