Pania of the Reef Puppet Story

Last week I brought in my felt puppets to recreate the story 'Pania of the Reef'. The children already knew the legend of Pania and quickly became interested and absorbed in what was happening in the puppet story. Puppet stories are used to capture children's imagination and inspire creative thinking in ways that foster intellectual, emotional and creative growth. The children really enjoyed this experience and have already started to plan new stories to recreate. Next on the list are 'The Three Little Pigs', 'Three Billy Goats Gruff' and 'Sleeping Beauty'.

Jess

Matariki head bands

The children were looking at Maori designs to use for Matariki art work. Maia decided to make a head band and decorated it with Maori patterns. A lot of other children joined in, wanting head bands of their own. Everyone had a lot of fun making their own designs, measuring their heads to make sure they would fit and wearing the head bands around KIDSPACE. These photos show Caelyn finishing hers off with some help from Rachel. Libby and Alana are wearing theirs proudly while they play.

Rachel

Haere mai Tyson

Welcome to KIDSPACE Tyson. We have noticed already your interests in construction and outdoors play plus having a go at play dough and puzzle activities also. We know you will have lots of fun here. Haere mai.

Jessie

Paapaakiri bread

On Wenerei (Wednesday) we made Paapaakiri bread (flat bread) and butter with a group of children.

We measured out all of our ingredients for the bread, we mixed, we kneaded, and then it was ready to cook. It looked like a giant scone. To make butter we poured in a bottle of cream and shook, and shook, and shook, and shook.....

Charlie showed great persistence with making this, we found jumping up and down while we shook the shaker really helped.

We had the bread and butter with homemade jam for pm/tea- yum.

Process cooking exposes children to early science concepts. They are able to observe that effect that temperature, force and interaction have to change row ingredients into a new product. The butter e.g., cream stared as liquid and the interaction and force changed this into a solid mass. Physical science is the interactions between matter and form and the study of change.

Authors of 'Who Am I in Teaching Lives of Children?, Introduction to Early Childhood Education' believe- "That science education for younger children must not only be hands on, but must also be mind on".

Rie

Isabella

Isabella is doing well at KIDSPACE and settling in and beginning to have a sense of belonging. She's getting to know the teachers, children and knowing the routines. She's exploring what our environment has to offer and using self help skills, like putting the chairs away, helping with the table cloth and getting her own lunch box.

Isabella it's great to see you getting involved.

Tamara

Rock art

Caelyn, Libby, Donnagh, Teihana, Ruby H and Eneri all had a go at painting on rocks. I displayed some pictures reflecting Maaori culture like bone carvings, kowhaiwhai patterns, flax and plants which reflect new beginnings and growth. I put these pictures out to inspire the children and show them different types of art. Eneri choose to paint the Matariki stars on his rock, Caelyn layered colours starting with black then putting white over the top. Libby used several colours on her stones putting on lots of layers of colour.

It was fantastic to see the children having a go, exploring with Papatuuaanuku (Earth Mother)and being self expressive.

Tamara

Matariki screen printing

Today was the perfect opportunity for the children to do some Maaori inspired screen printing for Matariki week.

The children looked through books with korus and other Maaori art works. After looking Caelyn and Maia then drew and cut out their own shapes.

"I am going to make a zig zag, like in this picture", Maia was telling me. After carefully drawing and cutting out their patterns, the children then placed their patterns where they wanted them to be on their piece of paper.

"I would like the red first, but not to put on all of it", Caelyn told me as she was setting up her picture.

The children spread the paint over their picture, and then re-laced their cut outs to make another pattern. They then chose another colour and repeated the process.

Rochelle