Cooking up a storm

While talking to the children over 'snack time', about what healthy choices they had in their snack boxes, many children pointed out the fact that they had helped Mums, Dads and Nonnas to bake healthy biscuits, muesli bars and bread.  At the same time my co-educator was experiencing a similar conversation in the home corner, as children 'cooked' and prepared meals.  Reflecting on these experiences after the session, we decided to extend this interest in cooking, including adding Cheese & Vegemite pinwheels into the program.

Small groups of children washed their hands and sat at the table listening intently as the experience was introduced.

Children were given the choice what to include in their pinwheels, then began spreading butter or Vegemite on the pastry before sprinkling the cheese on.

Not only did this support fine motor development and dexterity, but enhanced cognitive skills.  Pre-mathematical concepts were again introduced (thick, thin, long, short and measuring).

Sprinkling cheese on the pastry proved too tempting for some children, who decided that they needed to 'taste test' the cheese prior to using it.

Rolling the pinwheel again used many of the children's skills as they manipulated the pastry, trying to keep everything inside.

We introduced the concept of time into the program as children anxiously waited to see their pinwheels cooked and then wait long enough for them to cool so they could be eaten.

This was such a successful experience, I cant wait to add other cooking experiences into the program.

A bare foot Blog

I have just finished reading an article on the importance of allowing children (particularly infants) the opportunity to explore their environment bare foot.  Not only does it stimulate the senses and overall development of the child, but reconnects children to their world, lowering stress and anxiety, hyperactivity and helps to 'centre' children.   I was forced to reflect on the opportunities we provide for the children (and educators) in our early learning centre.

What better way to reflect then through photography?????

 Barefoot play is not only limited to the children but Early Years Professionals also.  Children are guided and encouraged to make 'safe' choices about where they walk while bare foot however ultimately the choice is theirs and we see it as an opportunity for the child to use ones initiative, learn and grow from the choice they have made.  Children are encouraged to clean their own feet and place shoes and socks on before leaving.  Access to buckets of clean soapy water, brushes and washers is always made available so the children can practice Independence skills.

* Note the only 'limit' we set for bare foot play is on cold, wet  or wintery days.  On these days children are encouraged to make a choice that will keep them warm and safe.

Playing with light

Last week, I.M. and a group of children designed and constructed a power station out of blocks, wool, tape and imagination. During the construction, staff overheard the children discussing properties of electricity, dangers and how it can be used.

This week, we have added an overhead projector to the program to extend on this interest of 'power, lights and electricity'.

 At first the children focused on the light plate, not seeming to understand that what they were placing on the plate was projected onto the wall

 Once they realised the play changed dramatically and they started to develop patterns, shapes and discussing sizes.  D.M. noticed that if he placed on object on the left of the screen it would be projected to the right of the wall.

Then the shadow play began with arms, legs and fingers

 Today we added some natural materials to the screen which, when projected looked like spiders.

I am interested to see where and how the children will evolve this play area.  We have had many wonderful in depth conversations about light and electricity as well as shadows, size and shape.

Button Sorting

After observing the children classifying and sorting toy animals, collage materials and the like toward the end of last term, we decided to further develop this interest by including a button sorting activity onto the program.

Set Up;

To make the activity attractive and interesting to the children, we set it up in a quiet area of our play room, pictures of button sorting were also included in the area.  Early Years Professionals began sorting the buttons by colour and left the area set as a 'sample'. We discussed amongst the adults that the children might decide to classify the buttons by shape, size, colour or texture and could perhaps extend the activity further by reintroducing objects that they had been using in play last term to sort.   

Learning

This activity was more popular than anticipated.  Children began sorting and classifying, noting similarities and differences, negotiating where certain buttons needed to be placed and matching sizes.
In the photo above 'M' holds the buttons and discusses with 'MM' the similarities between the buttons - same size, same number of holes and same black ring around them.
'MM' responds "But that one is red and that one is pink so they can't be the same"

 Further sorting is required. 

The children have favoured sorting by colour.  We will introduce the concept of size and shape next week and observe if the learning can be extended, or if they prefer continuing to develop the skills and learning from this week.

Early Years Learning Framework:

Outcome 4: Children are confident and involved learners.
Children develop a range of skills and processes such as problem solving, inquiry, experimentation, hypothesising, researching and investigating.

Celebrating International Mud Day

Wednesday June 29th 2011 the inaugural International Mud Day.

Over the last few months the children attending our service have been exposed to, and thrive in, creative play in our mud pit.  We have seen pirates digging for treasure, farmers looking for their animals, construction workers building dams, roads and houses - so we didn't think twice about joining in and celebrating International Mud Day.

 Mud painting on our perspex fence using brushes, rollers and our hands.

The children enjoyed throwing mud balls at the fence  and watching the mud slide down the wall

Native plants were planted around

our hill slide

 Worms were discovered as we planted veggies

 The real 'fun' was happening in the mud pit