Mat Motorbike

Mana had created a motorbike out of the coloured mat. Thadeus, Ahlyna, Noah and Luke joined in and jumped on. They had noticed how much fun Mana was having, they all made motorbike noises. The children would angle the mat and eventually fall off the other side and crack up laughing. These children are showing the ability to use their imaginations through there play. They are enjoying the social interaction between each other, sharing space, laughing together and communicating as some frustrations arose when there wasn't enough space for everyone. A fun time was had by all!!!!

April

Tamara

Mad about cars

Mana is so very keen on cars, he's been incorporating lots of these aspects in his play and throughout the curriculum, making a motorbike with the mats outside (creativity), choosing to do the quad bike puzzle (problem solving, patience) and looking at motorbike books (early literacy) that Monica brought in from home. Whenever he has the opportunity he likes to get his hands on the front of the blue truck or the red car. Mana and Noah race around very fast, although sometimes a little too fast and they need reminding to slow down because of other children. Mana builds ramps with the blocks so that his cars or trucks can do big jumps. Mana is able to build on his interest in different areas of the curriculum, he is using his creative mind to build upon these interests.

Has Mana been on the farm lately and seen the quad bikes?

Tamara

Taking the stored electricity out

Mohanan

Salt painting

I introduced a new textile experience to the children this morning. I set the activity up with which coloured salt with powder paint mixed in. The main primary colours were in plastic bags. This activity required children to pour the salt out of holes in the plastic bags onto glued paper. Within this fun activity, children are exploring with a new sensory texture that provides them with an understanding of the nature and properties of salt (Te Whaariki, Exploration).

Ann, April

It's a rainbow shining rainbow

Noah has a REAL love for music and movement. Lexi had asked for the 'Rainbow' song, at this time Noah was busy doing something else with the blocks, all of a sudden their was Noah, as soon as he heard the music he joined in by getting himself a hand of ribbons that have all the colours of the rainbo. Noah has heard this song quite a few times before so was aware of what the lady on the C.D was singing. She sings, "take a little bit red (echo), take a bit of orange (echo), then a strip of yellow, and a strip of green, and a little bit of blue and bit of indigo, don't forget the violet (echo), it's a rainbow, it's a rainbow a wonderful, wonderful, colourful, colourful, shining rainbow, shining rainbow. Noah confidently did the actions to the song grabbbing the piece of ribbon of the colour he heard the lady singin. Noah showed great listening skills and shook his hips as he danced, it's great to see you so confident with movement Noah, through music you are showing the ability to listen to actions, developing your gross motor skills and your balance as well as co-ordination. Keep up the great dancing skills Noah, ka pai to mahi!

Tamara

Luke doing a marbling picture

When Luke is at KIDSPACE he loves to get involved in the creative arts. Yesterday there was a whole table of children some under two's and some over two's. Luke waited patiently for a turn to do a marbling picture. Luke asked me for a piece of paper so I got him one, I then asked "would you like to write your own name", he nodded. I passed the vivid to Luke and he wrote L, U and a few other symbols. Luke is showing that he understands that symbols and letters convey meaning. When Luke was producing his marbling picture he carefully choose the colours he wanted, then dropped the colours onto the white dot. Once he had chosen his colours Luke then used the paint brush to swirl the colours into different patterns, he then placed his paper on top, then lifted it up and his picture was done. I could see that Luke was proud of his finished picture. I then hung it up to dry. Through this experience Luke is able to be self-expressive and make choices, he's also learning a different technique. Luke was very observant and carefully watched what the other children did, so by the time it came to his turn to create the picture he was very confident at following the steps.

Tamara

Making Morning Tea

This morning Lexi was my little helper with morning tea. Lexi was a great help with putting the cheese onto our ham toast. Within this fun activity Lexi is learning self help skills in food preparation together with contributing to the regular routines within the KIDSPACE environment, Thanks Lexi.

Ann