Term Two is a wonderful time in the kindy year. The children have made some lovely connections, they are settled in the space, and their play and conversations are showing depth and richness.
We established in Term One an attitude of curiosity, modelling to children that it is good to notice what is happening around them. There are many fascinating changes and things to observe in nature and the world that create opportunities for learning. Noticing what is going on for the people around us helps our relationships to grow, and paying attention to our environment helps keep us safe.
Children start sentences with “I noticed…”, which is evidence that their worldview is expanding beyond their own immediate needs and wants.
“I finished my tidy-up job and I noticed that the blocks team needed help, so I helped them,” reported a friend, showing good citizenship.
“I noticed some Bilin feathers on the ground up the top, so they must be visiting Kindy,” said another friend, demonstrating that their horizons are expanding by using the Yuggera word for Rainbow Lorikeet.
“We noticed a stink bug on a friend’s jumper, so we flicked it off and now we want to draw it in the Noticing Book,” a friend told me as they fetched some paper and pens to document the event and thereby practise their emerging literacy skills.
Curiosity is the seed of learning and the bedrock of connection, compassion and growth.
A few weeks ago, we set off on our highly anticipated adventure to Bush Kindy by the Creek. Each week, we set off in two straightish lines to see what we can see.
Down by the creek, we have been exploring ropes, what we can use them for and how to handle them safely. We follow the children’s ideas and try to enable them to do as much as they can independently.
There has been the construction of varying types of swings, some that you sit on and others that you stand on with your feet; a bendy zipline that resulted in less of a smooth-sailing experience and more of a hilarious bottom bump along the ground; homes built with ropes and tarps against the enveloping buttress roots of fig trees; and large and complicated spider webs that could be climbed upon and took many minutes of concentration to untie.
Resilience, independence and resourcefulness are the skills and dispositions at the fore during our sessions by the creek, and we enjoy watching this year’s young ones take on the challenges and grow.
Other interesting and wonderful learning going on has included:
Planting, sowing, pruning and mulching our new trees and edible garden beds. As the children don gloves, dig holes, rake mulch, count seeds, notice flower buds, fungi and sap, take care around native raspberry thorns and observe beneficial and harmful insects, they are connecting, learning and broadening their worldview.
Changing the swings has sparked lots of excited play, testing our bodies and developing new skills. The swings invite multiple users, so this has also required sharing space and working together.
Children teaching children how to climb the trees. There has been lots of support from our young friends as they model and encourage others to learn how to climb safely.
Building robots in Kupi Group using craft materials. Robot vacuum cleaners have been enormously popular, along with lots of other sorts after reading The Wild Robot, the book that inspired the wonderful movie. Here, children are learning to plan, represent, problem-solve, express their ideas verbally, help one another and practise essential fine motor and tool skills.
Pirate play involving treasure-making, map-making and high drama on the seven seas.
Dinosaur and sea-creature worlds in block corner that are becoming amazing, with so many details including caves, volcanoes and more. Kupi children are spending long stretches of time collaborating on this project day after day.
More collecting, exploring and discussing feathers in Balimber Group. This week, we shared our knowledge about aspects of feathers such as camouflage, flying, warmth and protection, colours and more.
Putting on a play. Some Balimber friends performed Wombat Stew at group time with Miss J, using costumes, props and the all-important audience involvement via musical instruments. It was so much fun to play and watch, and led to repeat performances for the remainder of the day.
Our lovely Mothers Afternoon Tea. What an enjoyable occasion, from all accounts, and our gratitude goes to our helpers for organising it.
Thank you to those in our community who helped at the Working Bee during the holidays. Kindy looked amazing and we truly appreciate the effort.
There are also parents who come along at various times to mow the lawn or take rubbish away. We notice that and acknowledge your generosity and commitment to your community.
