Scarlett's dance

Last Monday afternoon I put some te reo Maori music on for the children to dance to. Scarlett wandered down to the art room after her sleep to see what all the noise was. She stood and watched as the older children danced. Once the older children had left she started to dance. She had some very graceful moves mixed with a few break dancing moves too. She danced like this for a good five minutes.

Scarlett, it was a pleasure to watch you dance. You showed great persistence and had an array of dance moves which you were not afraid to show off.

Rochelle

Our canvas masterpieces

Today I brought in some canvas for the children to do a special painting on. One that they can keep and hang on their bedroom wall. Each child concentrated hard on their paintings and were proud to show off their work. Next time you are in the main room have a look at their wonderful creations, they are just on the shelf outside the door to the office, and will be coming home with your child over the next few weeks.

Ann

New rock resources

Yesterday I brought in my new rock resources which I have been painting at home. I have painted the rocks with different colours, and then numbered each rock from 1 to 20 on one side, and on the other side having the corresponding number of dots. This is a simple math activity in which the children count all the dots on one side and then check to see if they are right by turning the rock over to find the correct number. Jack, Donnagh and Charlie spent a long time counting and turning rocks over to see if they were right, with Donnagh saying "look Ann I know how many this one is". Kai Pai boys great counting skills.

Ann

Making Canadian flags

In preparation for visiting the Canadian rugby team to watch them train, we made flags to show our support. I put red paint on the table and the laminated canadian flag for the children to use as a guide. Emily, Zoe, Hannah, Charlie, Isabella and Ruby took a real interest. The great thing about this experience is that the children showed individual creativity and varied perception of what a flag should look like.

Charlie decided to carefully look at the flag and paint slowly, to get it as close as possible to the printed one, even doing a Mabel leaf in the middle.

Zoe wanted to paint her whole piece of paper red, except for one of the corners that she left white.

Ruby wanted to make the red strips on the side much bigger, with a smaller 'flower' in the middle.

Once these had dried over night, we found some pieces of wood in the carpentry area, and stapled them to it, to hold as flags for when we watched the rugby. The children were very proud of what they made, and enjoyed taking them along to the game. For the children that didn't visit the rugby but made a flag, they have wanted them in their profile book.

Ainslee

A love for the swing

Brayden has shown a real interest in the swing of late. He will often approach me and say, "You push me in the swing Mara". He sure can spend a very sustained amount of time being pushed backwards and forwards.

Not only does he like the teachers pushing him, but also other children pushing. He doesn't mind sharing the swing with a couple of other children - he will often laugh and giggle with them. If I need to help another child outside though, Brayden gets upset that I'm not pushing him anymore (that's how much he loves the swing!!!!). "Come back", he will say.

I think Brayden finds the swing very soothing and relaxing, which doesn't surprise me as some children have been known to fall asleep in the swing.

Tamara

Pasta Making

While I was away on my teaching practicum, Jane mentioned to Monica that Jack loves making pasta at home. This resulted in Monica mentioning that I have made pasta with the children here at KIDSPACE before and that maybe it would be fun if Jane would like to join me and the children in making pasta when I returned.

Last week was the big day with Jane joining us to make pasta. After lunch all the older children sat around the table and watched while Jane and I set up our pasta machines. We then proceeded to make our pasta dough consisting of eggs and flour, with just a pinch of salt. All the children enjoyed taking turns in stirring the eggs into the flour and then kneeding the dough, preparing the dough for the pasta machine.

The tricky bit of making pasta is putting it through the pasta machine, if it is too wet it will stick to the machine. The machine has 10 settings starting from 1 being the largest, widest setting to 10 being the thinest setting. The children turned the dough through each setting of the machine until we got to the desired thinness. Each time this was done the dough gets thinner and longer and then it's ready to cut into pasta !

After our pasta was all cut and ready, I cooked it up for the children for afternoon tea with a tomato and basil sauce. The children loved it.

Ann

Fun with Slime

Last week I made a large batch of pink slime, and upon pouring it on the messy play table, I watched to see who would be the first to explore this gooey mass, and it happened to be Scarlett.

Initially she approached the table with caution, looking unsure as to what it was.

First she poked the tips of her fingers in to it. After repeating this several times, she then summoned up courage and put her whole hand in. She then took the next step and placed her other hand in as well. What fun.

Once she realised it was nothing to fear, she became really involved, even exploring the taste before spitting it out after discovering that it was made from soap flakes.

It was wonderful to observe the enjoyment she gained from exploring this unfamiliar medium, and I intend to introduce her to some other forms of messy play in the future.

Scarlett is developing the knowledge that trying things out, exploration, and curiosity are important and valued ways of learning, as well as the attitude that not knowing and being uncertain are part of the process of being a good learner. Monica

Exploring Messy Play.

Last week I introduced Poesy to fingerpaint.

She initially approached this experience with caution, uncertain as to what the mass of pink goop was, but after a little encouragement and scaffolding she took to it like a duck to water.

Well she was a joy to watch, taking handfuls of the paint and squeezing it through her little fingers. She then experimented slapping her hand down on it appearing intrigued with the fact that by doing this she could make it splatter. She then had a little taste, but by her facials, I don't think it met the flavour test.

Through this experience Poesy is developing the concept of cause and effect, texture and taste, fine and gross motor development and hand eye coordination. Monica

Songs of the Sea

Last Thursday, Monica and Ann took Donnagh, Cian, Noah, Tarquin, Ataahua, Libby, Ruby, Zoe, Emily,and Isabella to a Capital E production at the Municipal Theatre. We also were lucky to have the help of Isabella and Emily's mum Zilda. We caught the public bus into town, and after sharing morning tea, entered the Theatre to watch the Songs of the Sea stage performance.

All the children enjoyed this outing and I think in particular, the bus ride.

Upon waiting for the bus ride home, the children also met a policeman on duty, who kindly agreed to have his photo taken with us.

All in all, an enjoyable morning out.

Through this experience, the children are developing an expectation that music, art, drama, and dance can amuse, delight, comfort, illuminate, inform, and excite, as well as an awareness of connections between events and experiences within and beyond the early childhood education setting. Monica

The gym

What a great memory Donnagh has. When I was in last Thursday he asked if I could make a gym again. "A gym" I asked. "Yes, the one with the punching bag" he answered. A few months ago I had hung one of our foam shapes up as a punching bag and the children had spent quite a bit of time using this. With Mohanans help I set this up again. Donnagh, myself and the other children then negotiated rules for 'the gym'. Donnagh is demonstrating his social skills by turn taking, negotiating and maintaining relationships.

As Donnagh worked out he told me that his Dad has a punching bag and his Dad does exercises. I asked if that was so he could get big muscles. Donnagh laughed and said "Yes". Go Dan! Donnagh also told me that he has his own boxing gloves and uses the punching bag as well.

Donnagh is developing gross motor skills and spatial awareness through physical exploration. He is also developing an awareness of what keeps our body fit and healthy.

Rie

A trip in to town...

On the 5th of January we had just a small group of children at KIDSPACE, so Ainslee, Kerry and Rochelle took Shaydn, Lyrique, Jaz, Aimee, Mollie, Jorja and Akasha for a trip into town! We packed morning tea and headed down to the bus stop. Our first stop was the Napier Library were we enjoyed our morning tea under a shady tree, waiting excitedly for the Council Chambers to open. Just before 10.30 we made our way up stairs and lifts, ready to watch Zappo the Magician!! We found a good spot, in amongst other children, parents and families. Zappo had lots of funny things to show and tell. He had a parrot puppet and told stories. Zappo invited some children one at a time up the front to play little tricks on them as well. His last trick was to cover a rabbit hutch with 'magic blankets' and after he said a spell, and pulled the covers off, there was a little fluffy rabbit! Shaydn, Jorja, Lyrique and Mollie were so intrigued and interested and were watching and listening all the way through. Jaz, Aimee and Akasha (the younger children), sat very well, and enjoyed being in the atmosphere of things and watching different people interact.

After the show had finished, we headed over to the Marine Parade playground, where we had our lunch from our lunchboxes and a big drink of water. We had a big play on the playground afterwards as well! Slides, tunnels, swings, ladders kept the children energised and happy! After we packed up from the park, it was nearly time to head back to the bus stop. But not until we had stopped for an ice cream at Lick-it!. The children chose their flavours and we sat outside in the sun eating ice creams before heading back on the bus.

Children develop interest and pleasure in discovering an unfamiliar wider world where the people, images, objects, languages, sounds, smells and tastes are different from those at home (Belonging, Te Whariki).

Ainslee

Musical tones

Last week I introduced an activity to support children's sound awareness. My activity consisted of using glass jars filled with various levels of coloured water, to create different tones and pitches. I also provided paper coloured patterns to support children to read, and to recreate the pattern by tapping out the pattern in sequence onto the correct coloured jar. I found the children really enjoyed this activity, in which they were learning sound awareness skills such as different tones and pitches, supporting children's decoding skills in literacy. Basic maths such as interpretation of different patterns, shapes, volumes, turn taking, perseverance and self-confidence. Together with learning the primary colours. Ann

Guinea pigs visit

This week I brought in my two week old baby Guinea pigs to show all the children. A white one, two white and greys, and a multi-coloured white, black, and brown one. All the children were eager to have a pat and a cuddle, and were very gentle.
Acacia really liked the multi-coloured one and gave him lots of cuddles throughout the day. Xavier also liked the multi-coloured one and enjoyed giving him a little pat. Jordan and Jordan's Mum enjoyed giving the white and grey one a little pat. From the guinea pig visit, children were learning how to care for the well-being of the baby Guinea pigs. Exploration- Te Whaariki.

If anyone would like a baby guinea pig as a pet for their child, please see me.

Ann

Popular play in the sandpit

Yesterday after lunch, the sandpit was very popular! It's a nice shady area to chill out, and to play with and explore different things. Kian, Donnagh and Jorja were busy making a river. They used spades, shovels and buckets to dig and transport sand. They kept digging until there was a big long hole in the sandpit. Our new friend Mana was holding on to the hose, providing the river sculptors with water. Ashton was sitting close by, enjoying being bare foot, wriggling his toes in the sand. He was intrigued by the water as well, and loved dipping his hands under the running hose and into the small bucket full of water. He even put three hats in the puddle of water, over the space of 5 mins.

Lyrique came along half way through, and took a real interest in helping to construct the river and transport sand around the sand pit.

Tarquin helped a little bit with the river at the beginning, but then continued on a treasure hunt. He was interested in what he could find up on top of the wooden boxes. He moved bits and pieces to get to places he needed to look.

Caelyn, Emily, Libby and Isabella spend lots of time on the swing that was set up in the sandpit. They each look turns at sitting on the seat, while their friends spun them round and round. I really liked the way the girls were talking to one another, voicing their opinions and making a real effort to take turns.

Acacia loved being in barefoot, and walking through the ankle deep water. She had a spade in her hands and a big grin on her face. She continued to extend on the river, even through the water flow slowed down a bit!

Kian enjoyed stomping through the the river in bare feet, pretending he was a bear! He held his hands out and said "raaaahhhhh", like a big scary bear! Kian was doing a great job at keeping an eye on his little brother, and reminding everyone that Ashton is HIS little brother.

Children learn strategies for active exploration, thinking and reasoning - control over bodies, exploring with senses, use of tools and equipment, confidence with moving in space and playing near others (Exploration, Te Whaariki).

"Children develop a perception of themselves as 'explorers' - competent, confident learners who ask questions and make discoveries" (Te Whaariki).

The sandpit was a lovely relaxing place to be after lunch on this warm sunny day, and it was so nice to observe, watch and be engaged in a range of different play mediums.

Ainslee

Painting with Fly Swats

For a new painting experience I brought out fly swats for the children to paint with. Luke was one of the first children to have a go, he chose his fly swat, dipped it into the paint and then went splat onto the paper he really enjoyed this part and did it over and over again. Luke is gaining control of his motor skills through his confidence in experimenting with materials that enable him to play around with ideas and to explore actively with all the senses. Exploration

Ann

Weaving with Wood

To extend upon Irene's natural weaving with the children, a couple of weeks ago, I introduced Jorja, Caelyn, Emily and Mania to weaving at the wood carpentry table. I demonstrated how we can use wool and material wrapped around nails, to create three-dimensional woven pictures. The girls were eager to have a go, and enjoyed creating their own three-dimensional woven pictures.

The girls are learning basic mathmatics and numeracy, in which they are able to order, group and compare different objects and materials, through the patterns within their weaving.

Ann