Posts By reed.jane
The Value of Loose Parts Play
Loose Parts Play
Loose Parts are materials that can be moved around the indoor and outdoor environments and used in endless ways.
The provision of loose parts in our indoor and outdoor environments adds quality to our play experiences. Open ended materials – loose parts – provide children with never ending ways to transform things into whatever they can imagine.
Loose parts play in the outdoor environment
An amazing creation!
The versatility of these materials provide children with endless ways to create something new. Having access to a variety of materials during play and exploration assists with:
- Problem Solving
- Engineering
- Creativity
- Concentration
- Hand-eye coordination
- Fine motor development
- Gross motor development
- Language and vocabulary building
- Mathematical thinking
- Scientific thinking
- Literacy
- Social/emotional development
- Valuing sustainability by using recycled materials
- and more…
A robot made from recycled loose parts
Collaborating and working together on an idea
Children have the freedom to explore the materials, use them as they wish, and take them to any area of the classroom. The children will use the same material in many different ways.
Two storey villa!
Creating with shapes
Bottle top fun!
We welcome donations to build our collections of loose parts and recycled materials. Do you have any interesting materials lying around at home? PVC pipes, milk crates, small rocks, pebbles, off cuts of lino, carpet, tiles, wood, nuts, bolts, buttons, bottle tops, cotton reels, old photo/picture frames… The possibilities are endless!
Off to a Great Start in Pre Primary Gold!
First Day In Pre Primary!
The children in Pre Primary Gold have made a great start to the new school year. There have been lots of smiles, fun and laughter as the children have been exploring their new environment and building new relationships with teachers and class friends.
Water Play!
Cooking in the Mud Kitchen!
Exploring the Bush!
Our outdoor learning environment promotes children’s connection with nature. Children love being outside to enjoy the freedom, fresh air and change of pace that the outdoor environment offers. Our outdoor environment provides many opportunities to learn – respect for nature, social skills, managing risks and physical skills and stamina.
Collaborating on a puzzle
Making chains with monkeys!
Our Fine Motor Stations aim to develop fine motor skills, language and handwriting. The activities help to develop strong, flexible fingers and promote better hand-eye co-ordination, differentiated movements and dexterity.
Letter S – Painting with Spaghetti!
The language experience approach is a wonderful way to engage children in reading and writing. In language experience children are engaged in a rich learning experience to provide an experience that children will want to talk about. Teachers take dictation from the children, (or they have a go with their own writing) then use the children’s own words in shared reading experiences.
Tracing Numbers
Sticker Fun – representing numbers 1-10
The children have been building relationships between numbers and a represented item. Counting and representing numbers with objects or pictures allows children to make connections between the real world and their developing math skills.
We engaged in drawing and painting self portraits. The children have been considering their personal identity and learning that everyone is unique and different.
Let’s Build A Castle!
The Pre Primary children have been immersed in our Fairytale unit this term.
We were inspired to build a castle in our shared role play area. The children collected lots of boxes from home and then had to plan, experiment and problem solve how to use the boxes to build a stable wall for our castle.
We needed lots of tape to make a stable wall structure
This is fun!
Unfortunately the rain and stormy weather one weekend proved that our structure was not stable enough to brave the elements!
Mr Searle came to our rescue, donating some large and strong boxes from his workplace.
We cut windows and painted bricks on our castle walls
We have made thrones for our King and Queen and have costumes for role play and dress ups in the Pre Primary Castle. Keep your eyes open and you may catch a glimpse of knights, wizards, witches, princes, princesses and fairies!
Welcome Back to Term 4 in Pre Primary Gold
Let’s Write!
We have been integrating writing opportunities into our morning Fine Motor Groups. This week the children had to respond to a question posed by the teacher in our Thought Bubble. Children are encouraged to talk, draw, write and share on their journey to becoming more confident and flexible writers.
You can help by encouraging children to write for a range of relevant and meaningful purposes at home – creating shopping lists, letters and cards to family and friends, writing emails, keeping a holiday diary, labelling items and photos and leaving notes.
Give children opportunities to read aloud their writing attempts. Listen and focus on the message that they were trying to convey. If children are encouraged to express their meaning and are acknowledged, they will be more inclined to attempt to write.
Provide a quiet place for your child to write with lots of writing materials. Leave notes and messages for each other and engage in writing games. Write together and have FUN!
All About Dads!
What fun we had on Dad’s Morning in Pre Primary! We had Dads, Pops, Grandads, Uncles and Mums come along to join in the activities. We loved spending this time bonding and celebrating the special people in our lives!
Working together at Maths Stations
Making a tie for Dad
Printing tracks with trucks in paint
Writing task ‘Super Dad Interview’
Maths Games with Pop
Prints with tools in play dough
Building together
Three Generations
I’m ready Dad!
Big smiles!
It was a lovely celebration! Thanks for joining us in PPG!
The Pre-Primary Medical Centre
Role play is a very important part of a child’s development in the early years as it provides them with the opportunity to develop their imagination, to build confidence, and to develop communication and problem solving skills. Our role play area provides spaces, scenarios, props and the support children need to explore real life and imaginary worlds!
Imaginative play also promotes children’s intellectual development, improves social skills and ignites creativity! It gives children an opportunity to ‘play-out’ events that they have observed or experienced in real life.
Our Pre Primary role play area has been transformed into a Medical Centre and it is a very busy hub in our learning environment. In fine weather we open our folding door to provide indoor – outdoor play with both classes.
Good Morning, would you like to make an appointment? Just wait while I put you on hold…
Sitting in the Waiting Room, filling out the paperwork and needing medical attention
Doctor on duty, selecting the right medicine … it’s been a long day in the surgery! 🙂
How are you feeling at the moment?
Don’t worry, this won’t hurt!
Informative Charts
Oh the wonder of childhood!
Balls, Body and Brains!
Our Pre Primary class was really excited to engage in our first session of ‘Balls, Body and Brains’ in Week 3.
Stretch Those Muscles!
The ‘Balls, Body and Brains’ sessions this term will provide the children with another opportunity to develop their fundamental movement skills through games and activities.
Balancing Can Be Tricky!
The series of indoor and outdoor experiences assist in developing perception, fine and gross motor skills, listening and memory training. We had lots of fun!
Jumping Hurdles
The 100th Day of School!
The 28th of July was the 100th Day of School! The children have been counting each day of school in Pre Primary and we made it to 100! The children enjoyed a fun day of activities celebrating the number 100.
Our Special Guest
We invited Mrs Thuijs to be our special guest to count to 100 on our number chart and have the very special job of putting a star on the number 100. Mrs Thuijs put the 100th cube on our 10’s cubes and we counted by 10’s to 100. She placed the 100th marble in our marble jar, it was a big ‘Tom Bowler’!
We made ‘I Am 100 Days Smarter!’ crowns and we had lots of fun completing counting activities to100.
Do your recognise these lovely old folk? We used the ‘Age Me’ App to change our faces to look like we are 100 years old! The funny photos made everyone giggle!
The highlight was our lovely afternoon tea that we shared together. Thank you to the parents for organising ‘100 Things on a Plate’ for us to eat, what a spectacular party table!
Yay! It was a great day!
