Between January and March, the room has been buzzing with music and stories. We’ve been very intentional about incorporating action songs and reading familiar books into our daily rhythm. A highlight for the children was practising naming animals and their sounds. It has been wonderful to see them so engaged and having fun.  The integration of music into our sessions has proven to be a valuable tool for capturing children’s attention and enhancing their participation. Sensory play, such as water and ice play, is one of the activities we explore to support both physical and social development. We also set up a sensory activity using coloured pasta and rice in a tub, adding toy safari animals. Scoops were used to pick up pasta and rice, demonstrating great imagination as they pretended to feed the animals.  

While new children are settling in, our educators continue to provide extra cuddles and comfort to those who are still trying to settle during transitions. It has been wonderful collaborating with our families during our “Meet and Greet” session. Meeting with these wonderful families and hearing their expectations and perspectives has been a highlight. 

It was also a joy to celebrate Harmony Week with our families and the community. From face painting and an animal farm to tasting cultural dishes shared at the picnic. 

Introducing sustainability to toddlers. We role model how to put leftover scraps and recycled materials into different coloured coded bins. The children had the opportunity to head out into the Wild Space Area to visit the garden and explore nature. They take turns at the fountain, filling up watering cans and containers before transferring them over to the garden beds. 

Making a volcano using Coca-Cola and Mentos. The children listened carefully to the instructions and discussed what they thought might happen when the Mentos were added to the bottle. 

As the Mentos were dropped into the Coca-Cola, the children watched in amazement as the fizzy eruption bubbled up and overflowed like a volcano. There were lots of excited reactions, laughter, and discussions about why the reaction happened. A program on volcanoes was shown to the children on the iPad. All we could hear was, “Woe “, fire. This experience encouraged curiosity, early scientific thinking, and observation skills.  It was a fun and exciting way to explore basic science concepts together.  

One of the most significant strengths this month is that educators work together to maintain smooth transitions throughout the day. Even when the environment becomes hectic, the team communicates effectively, steps in for one another, and adapts quickly to the needs of the group. 

Mrs Laqere 

Pikanini Room Curriculum Leader