We have had a busy but fun couple of weeks at kinder. The children enjoyed experimenting, extending their knowledge about letters and numbers, extending our kindness and emotion discussions.
Science Experiments
We have been having lots of fun experimenting at kinder, the children have been able to engage in some fun science experiments and we have so many more to do with the children.
So far we have learnt more about
- Electric circuits- the children were able to use a battery, wires and a light to make a circuit to turn the light bulb on.
- Wind energy- The children were able to learn that there is energy all around us and that everything needs energy to make it move. We experimented by using our own air from our mouths to move items on a table.
- Static electricity- We learnt a little bit about static electricity. The children were able to charge the balloon with static electricity using their hair and making the butterfly fly or the ghost dance.
- Chemistry- We made our own bouncy balls. The children were able to mix two ingredients together to make their own bouncy ball.
- Chemistry- The children made a big volcano in the sand pit.
Science experiments are so much fun but they also provide many benefits for children’s learning development. Children are able to extend their cognitive thinking skills, problem solving skills, communication skills, analytical reasoning and perseverance, collaboration and working as team.
EYLF- learning, community, communication
Learning about letters
The children have been showing a lot of interest in extending their knowledge about letters and their sounds. We will be extending this interest by implementing a letter a week and will have fun experiences to engage in to help build the children’s understanding and knowledge about that letter. Children learn best through their play, they are able to extend their knowledge and skills when they are able to engage in hands on experiences.
The last couple of weeks the children have engaged in different letter experiences for the letter A and B.
Letter A- At the literacy table we had a basket of different items that started with the letter A. The children were encouraged to write the letter Aa and draw things that started with A.
Letter B- We had a basket with the letter B and objects that started with B. We also made a bouncy ball and read a story called ‘Did you take the B out of my _ook?’ The children were also able to match the coloured BUGS to the same colour BOTTLE tops.
This week the letter of the week is C. We will be Cooking Choc Chip Cookies and learning more about Clouds by engaging in a science experiment.
Other Pre-literacy activities that the children have been engaged in
- A literacy table has been set up with different activities for the children
- We made our kinder friends page by using our friends first letter of their name and turning the letter into a person by adding a face, arms and legs. The children were able to use letter stamps.
- Jack and the Beanstalk puppet set was set up in a small area for the children to retell the story using the props.
- The children explored with letters on the light projector. Some of the children made their names.
- Capital letters were set up on the light table with water dye and black texta’s.
EYLF- Learning, Communication
Other areas of interest inside
The children were able to cook yummy pumpkin muffins in week 2 and boy did they taste yummy. I did email the recipe out but we will also be putting it in the children’s recipe art books.
Construction- The children are enjoying building with the police Duplo, magna tiles and blocks. We also introduced the small Lego with Lego boards last week. The children enjoyed working together to build a house or a vehicle.
Dramatic Play- The children are enjoying using their imagination and prior knowledge in the Bakery that has been set up. A lot of role playing, negotiating and turn taking is going on in this area.
Horse imaginative play- The children have enjoyed the horse imaginative area that Amber set up inside last week. We have a group of children who love playing horses outside, running around pretending to be a horse.
In my heart book- On Friday we read a story called ‘In my Heart’ by Jo Witek. It spoke about the different emotions our body and heart can feel. The children were asked to come to the front and draw how they were feeling. I had a lot of the children who said they were feeling happy and a few who said they were feeling sad, one child who said they were feeling annoyed and one child who said they were feeling wise. We extended this book by asking the children ‘What makes their heart feel happy?’ and asked them to draw a picture of what makes them happy. The children were also able to use their cutting skills and cut out a love heart to draw on.
Bouncy Balls- The children loved making bouncy balls last Thursday. Even though they didn’t bounce very high, the children were still amazed that they bounced a little bit. The children were able to sit as a group to test their ball before they took it home on Friday.
Areas of interest outside
The children have had the opportunity to dress up in superhero or princess costumes outside. The children have enjoyed using the costumes in their play but there has been certain rules set for the superhero costumes to make sure that the play is kind and safe. The children are very aware that of there is any rough play then the costumes go away. This has actually helped the children to think about their play and how the costumes can be used safely.
Thank you to Boronia Group for making the Dinosaur scavenger hunt, the children have enjoyed hunting for the dinosaurs outside.
Thank you to Waratah group for setting up a treasure hunt outside. The children were provided photo clues around the yard to follow which lead them to the treasure.
In the last couple of weeks the children have enjoyed playing tennis, last week we got the totem tennis out for the children to play with. A great activity to build the children’s hand-eye coordination skills.
The children have been building a house out of the large wooden blocks and using all the home corner resources to set up their house. Great imagination and collaborative play happening in this area in the last couple of weeks.
Who didn’t love to play with Barbies when they were a little child. The children have enjoyed having the barbies out the last couple of weeks.
Group time-
We have started secret in a box at group time, the children have enjoyed trying to guess what is in the box. This activity is great to build the children’s confidence to stand up the front in front of their peers, build their communication skills, cognitive thinking and problem solving skills.
As mentioned, we have been talking about emotions at kinder and reading a lot of emotion books and emotion cards. This is a topic that we will continue to discuss in the kinder program.
We have been doing fun science experiments at group time.
On Fridays we are going to separate into 3 small groups, each group will be able to engage in a fun learning activity with one of the teachers. The experiences the children were able to do last week were;
- Group 1- The children were to build a number tower using blocks
- Group 2- The children were able to draw a monster by rolling a numbered dice
- Group 3- The children were able to practice writing their name using the correct format and extended their knowledge about letters and their sounds.
EYLF- wellbeing, Learning, Communication, Identity
We learnt a new action song called Boom Chicka Boom
Week two photo link –https://photos.app.goo.gl/s4J8Gzzuz5pi7Bzf9
Week Three photo link- https://photos.app.goo.gl/rg7X9hKHcxeuqTkJA
What’s happening this week?
We have a busy week ahead.
- On Thursday we have the fire truck and fire fighters visiting the kindergarten
- On Friday we have Responsible Pet Ownership visiting the kindergarten
- Babies have been added to the bakery area
- Marble run has been added with water beads
- The three little pigs story and puppets have been added
- We will be finishing off ‘What makes my heart feel happy’ drawing
- The letter of the week is ‘C’ we will be cooking choc chip cookies and doing a cloud experiment
- Science this week- Sinking and floating experiment and cloud experiment
- Wattle Group’s commonwealth games will held on Thursday afternoon- the children will be able to engage in some running races, spoon and egg races, long jump and obstacle races.
- A fire station has been set up outside
- At group time this week we will be doing secret in a box, splitting into our three groups on Friday, learning a couple of new action songs.