Kangaroo Group - Term 2, Week 8

The children respond very well to having whole group experiences where they all sit together and engage in an activity. This week we attempted to provide more of these for the children. On Monday, we began with cooking Autumn Sausage Rolls. Half were sausage and the other half were vegetable. The children assisted with grating the carrot and the potato, measuring the ingredients and finally rolling their own sausage rolls. This experience is fantastic for their developing fine motor skills along with their literacy. Saturday was Karen’s birthday, so we discussed what we should do for her at mat time and then kept it a surprise. The children decorated a card and we sang happy birthday to Karen. Then we all sat together and shared the sausage rolls.

There has been a big focus on construction both in the room and outside. This type of play usually requires that the children work together to create something and negotiate any conflict which arises. An aspect of teamwork which the children are facing consistently of late, has been cooperation and compromise. Compromise is a particularly difficult skill to learn and one which will take time to understand. The form it takes at the moment generally revolves around turn taking and working together. The educators in the room assist the children in figuring out ways to ensure everyone has a turn and is happy with the outcome.

On Friday, Fiona and the children made play dough together. The children assisted in measuring the ingredients, stirring the mixture and choosing the play dough colour. This involves the children more in the process and is an activity which we will definitely do again. The play dough table is always a busy one, however, all of the children wanted a turn once Fiona had cooked the mixture. Activities such as these ensure the children take ownership of the things in the kinder room.

On Monday the 15th of June we will have David the Music Man come for an incursion. This is an excellent incursion which will introduce the children to interesting musical instruments. We hope all of the children will be there!

Jess, Karen and Fiona