Sunflowers

Continuing on with our interest in gardening Emily, Caelyn, Isabella, Lyrique and Acacia made their own plant labels for the sunflowers we had planted in the veggie garden. Using pens, crayons and pencils children drew their own sunflowers after finding their name on the labels. After laminating their labels, they took turns to use the hot glue gun (with help) to attach a strong pencil at the back of their sunflower label. We moved to the veggie garden and I lifted Emily, Isabella, Libby and Acacia over the low fence to place their label in the ground by their sunflower.

We checked these through out the day and used the hose to water them and the whole garden.

Lots of conversations took place during this process such as, "my sunflower (drawing) has leaves", said Libby. Isabella very safely used the glue gun stating "this feels warm yay". Lyrique's glue came away from her pencil and label so together we found the cello tape to, "fix it, then it can go in the garden ah?", she said. Emily commented "those sunflowers are pretty (of the printed out sunflower templates) I can see the yellow and look leaves". Acacia assisted in the garden saying "that's your one (sunflower plant) Jessie and that's my one".

These friends demonstrate receiving and producing information, they produce and respond to questions and requests and show social awareness when interacting with others- through Levels One and Two Learning Languages for 'The New Zealand Curriculum'.

By making these labels, "Children develop an understanding that symbols can be 'read' by others and that thoughts, experiences and ideas can be represented through words, pictures, print and shapes", Communication, Te Whaariki.

Sadly over night the slugs and snails ate most of the sunflower leaves, so we will see what happens next?

Jessie

Hanging around

Last week a small group of friends walked to Onekawa Park for shared morning tea, this is the park we will have our children's Christmas party at on Sat 11th December.

After using a wet wipe to clean our hands and saying our karakia kai, we had morning tea.

Once we had eaten we played Duck, Duck, Goose, climbed trees and rolled on the grass.

"Children experience an environment where their health is promoted", Well-Being, Te Whaariki.

Essential skills- these children and teachers are demonstrating physical, social and emotional growth. Children are developing personal health through exercise, good hygiene and healthy diet and enjoying recreational, motor and manipulative skills. (Well-Being, Te Whaariki).

"He oranga ngaakau, he pikinga waiora.

Positive feelings in your heart will enhance your sense of self- worth", Health and Physical Education, The New Zealand Curriculum.

Jessie

Learning Together

Yesterday, I had the pleasure of watching Rionagh and Jaz, explore the workings of KIDSPACE vacuum cleaner.

I had just plugged it in, and was about to vacuum, however, both girls discovered it and toddled over to investigate, before I could get to it.

It was a real joy to see the investigation that was taking place, as they fiddled with the handle and attempted to push the on button.

Both girls, under the watchful eye of Jessie and myself, tried to push the button down, but it was no easy feat, however they persevered and at last success.

The look of horror on both girls faces, was clearly visible as the vacuum sprung to life, with it's loud whirring.

Rionagh's original reaction was to run in the opposite direction, while Jaz looked on in disbelief.

After watching the cleaner for a bit, I unplugged it, and then the funniest thing.

Both girls returned to the vacuum, and got their little fingers in to action, trying to turn it on again, but to no avail.

Rionagh and Jaz are developing the knowledge that trying things out, exploration, and curiosity are important and valued ways of learning, as well as the ability to enquire, research, explore, generate, and modify their own working theories about the natural, social, physical, and material worlds. Monica

A beagle comes to visit...

During our lunch time today a friendly beagle dog came up to our art room/kai room window. Monica wanted to take this dog home, but instead we called the dog, give him a pat, and put him in the front garden with a big bowl of water. He had a rest on the deck in the shade. Monica called the Dog Control officer and our new friend the beagle was picked up a in white van. His micro chip was scanned and the Dog Controller drove him back to his home. Children eating their lunch and upstairs for bed enjoyed the beagle's visit to KIDSPACE.
Jessie

Transtion to school evening

Last night (November 3rd) we hosted a transition to school evening at KIDSPACE. We invited principals and new entrant teachers from a range of different primary schools in Napier/Taradale and had a fantastic turn out! We started off the evening with Jess doing a formal greeting in te reo followed by her mihi. Monica extended a warm welcome and spoke about what we hoped to gain from this evening. Cold drinks, nibbles and brownie slice was provided as teachers and princiapls mingled, chatted and were introduced to unfamiliar people.

We wrote up questions on big pieces of paper and put around the centre, encouraging people to answer them, providing us with feedback. Some included, 'How are new entrants doing on entering the classroom?; How do you use children's profiles from ECE?; In what ways can we strengthen the relationships between ECE services and new entrant classes?; What unstructured activites are available in new entrant classes to ease transitions e.g. mobilo, painting etc? After we have collated the feedback given, we will email out a copy to schools that attended and will post a copy on the blog.

Christine Dew from the Ministry of Education came along and spoke about transition to school, as this was her passsion area. She is the regional manager for ECE services based in Waikato.

Sue, the new entrant teacher from Westshore, and the principal Martin, spoke about the transiton class they hold one morning a week. This gives young children the opportunity to come along and get a feel for the school and routines early on. They have 'letter of the week', and children are encouraged to join in and give new things a go, such as the climbing wall in the school hall, which provides enjoyment as well a challange.

Thank you to the parents that came along last night. We value your contributions.

Ainslee

Celebrating Healthy Hearts

Today Char Savage from Sports Hawkes Bay presented KIDSPACE with our Healthy Heart Award, one in Te Reo and one in English. We also received a large goody bag of active music cd's, Push Play adult and child t-shirts, Push Play balloons, blow up beach balls, Sport Hawkes Bay drink bottles, Push Play bags, Come on the Bay black bracelets, a soccer, rugby and volleyball also. These active resources are a real treat and the children have already enjoyed using them today.

Come and look at our certificates on the wall above our kitchen and laptop bench. Thank you to Ann for all of her hard work with this award.

Jessie

Interest in the garden

There has been a great deal of interest in our KIDSPACE veggie garden of late, particularly with friend Emily. Last week we planted sunflowers and harvested our leek and beetroot vegetables, with Emily being apart of this process. Often friends Acacia and Isabella like to join in and at times- Libby, Lyrique and Caelyn also. Past blog posts about our environment/gardening these friends have been in or interested in too, which are;

Wonderful Weaving (14 Sept), using natural materials to weave.

Taylah and Marley visit KIDSPACE for Worm Juice (21 Sept), past KIDSPACE children pop in for worm juice for their new garden at home.

Our Friends at Bardowie (15 Oct), we gave the residents our grown broad beans to plant and in return they showed us their veggie patch.

Our Blossom Tree (26 Oct), where have all of the putiputi (flowers) come front in our outside garden.

Let's see where this interest take us, maybe on to... care for the veggie garden e.g., watering and weeding, library books, recipes for using our harvested produce, playing the 5 Plus a Day veggie game, our Snap veggie cards, visiting Onekawa fruit and veggie shop plus suggestions from

Emily and friends.

Jessie