The past few months, we have been providing the children with lots of sensory activities, from rice and oat play, sand and water play, painting, playdough, and a sensory bin filled with coloured rice and bugs and the children got to visit the wild space, revisit the gardens, and mud kitchen area. They like to play with the water fountain filling kettles and watering cans to water the herbs and flowers. It has been a fine motor-focused movement. Children could use their little fingers to press knobs or push buttons that squirt water.

Children love to listen and interact with short stories such as ‘Cows in the Kitchen and Dear Zoo;’ it has been a great tool to develop our language skills, imitate animal sounds, learn new words from stories, and predict what will happen next. They thoroughly enjoy listening to the “Bear Hunt “. We have extended this story by placing soft toy animals on the trees throughout our yard. Outdoors we would go and follow the sequence of the story. This is exciting and fun for the children as they run outside to find all the animals. Literacy development is a vital part of your child’s overall development. It is the foundation for doing well at school, socialising with others, problem-solving, making decisions, and developing independence.

Further learning provocation areas include obstacle and sandpit play or exploring concepts when building with blocks. When we observe the children playing or engaging in activities with one another, we evaluate their activities and actions then deliberate and thoughtful decisions are made by educators to extend the ideas of the children for them to take the ideas where they want. This allows children to develop skills of creativity, inventiveness and flexibility in thinking, planning, and reflecting. Our children are capable learners who are becoming independent learners in how to make friends, solve problems, use their imagination, and express their ideas verbally and physically.

During National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Day, we had a special visitor who gave us a presentation about different leaves. He spoke about the kangaroos (Noongar – yongka) and how they make bags and skin cloaks like the possum skin cloaks worn during winter. We were interested in the trees outside and their effectiveness in medication and cooking. He explained that picking the very young leaves can be rubbed on our necks when we cough. He demonstrated how to use reeds which can be used for fishing and use it for tug of war. The children could sit and listen for a while and touch and feel the kangaroo skin cloak, a wooden tray, a boomerang, and sticks, which can be rubbed together to make a fire. 

We had many events throughout the months, such as Educators Day, Father’s Day, and other Aboriginal events. Grandparent week and Children’s Week was wonderful time to come together and enjoy a family picnic.

As the year ends, we thank parents and families for their support and humbleness. It is a great privilege to work with your children and an honour to get to know our children and their families. We have been blessed with a wonderful team who have given their time and effort to work throughout the year.

We look forward to celebrating with your children in the upcoming whole Centre Christmas Party!

Hebrews 13: 16

“And do not forget to do good and to share with others, for with such sacrifices God is pleased “.

Mrs Laqere
Room Curriculum Leader