Visit to ANIMALZ

After morning tea on a nice sunny warm day, we went for a walk to ANIMAZ on Taradale Road. Ann and I took Acacia, Caelyn, Paige, Donnagh, Kian, Rionagh and Charlotte. When we arrived, we looked at all the different fish swimming in the tanks. Along from the fish were birds in cages and a little guniea pig, that Paige particulary enjoyed looking at. A favourite at Animalz though, is the yellow bearded lizard. Since last time we visited, its grown heaps! Donnagh notcied how long his tail had gotten. We all stood around his inclousure, peering in and watching him move. Caelyn and Acaica pointed out how good his climbing was! After getting 3 bags of hay for Murphy and Jojo. We went through Onekawa park on our way back to KIDSPACE. We stopped for a run around and play. Caelyn and Donnagh initated the game duck duck goose. We enjoyed a refreshing drink of water to re-energise ourselves. Paige started getting a little bit tired, and Rionagh was more than happy to swap with her for the pram. Rionagh loved having some independence and walking with the big kids.

Children develop connections between the early childhood setting and wider community. Children developing an increasing awareness of how to keep themselves safe form harm (Well Being and Belonging, Te Whaariki).

Ainslee

Making music, music, music

Click to enlarge

Tamara

Morning tea baking

Baking is a great group activity at KIDSPACE, lots of our tamariki ma enjoy helping to mix, pour (riringi), measure (ine) and take turns to make ingredients before the end product is put in the oven (umu) to cook (kuki). Baking also helps children to form relationships with each other while learning essential maths, science and health skills.

This afternoon Paige, Donnagh, Emily, Kian, Jorja, Taneesha, Libby, Caelyn, Noah, Rionagh, Isabella, Acacia and Netana assisted to make up the mixture (whakaranunga) and bake (tunu) ANZAC biscuits.

"Maa roto i ngaa piringa, i ngaa whakahaere i waenganui o te mokopuna me te katoa, e whakatoo te kaha ki roto i te mokopuna ki te ako.

Children learn through responsive and reciprocal relationships with people, places and things", Te Whaariki.

Jessie

Noah's Aunty Nina's pet lamb

Tamara

Literacy in the sandpit

A few weeks ago to further support children's interest in community signs (see display in main play area) I thought it would be fun to continue this interest in the sandpit. I set up the sandpit as a road construction site and asked Max and Netana what signs do we see when we drive past road works. Max replied 'stop', Netana said 'green is go'. We then made construction signs. I wrote these in pencil then Max copied over the top of the letters in paint as it Netana adding the letter 'T' to the end of his 'Go' sign, forming the word 'Got".

Max and Netana are learning that familiar print within their play has meaning and a purpose, linking their play to the wider world of our community- Communication, Te Whaariki.

Ann

Visitors to the KIDSPACE blog

I've just been looking at the visitor locations, (click on the cluster map on right hand side of blog), and I am intrigued that someone connected to KIDSPACE knows someone in Mongolia and Russia who have logged onto our site. Do you have friends and family in other parts of the world who would be interested in what your child is doing at KIDSPACE? It is a great learning tool looking at the map with children and discussing the different countries where people have logged onto our site. Our blog will not come up in a general search of Kids or even kidspace - you either need the full address, kidspacenz@blogspot.com or access the blog via our website, www.kidspace.net.nz
Irene

Walk to Onekawa school

Today was the second day of the school holidays, and it was such a warm sunny day! Monica and I took Acacia, Caelyn, Jorja, Max, Libby, Charlotte, Jack and Emily for a walk down to Onekawa school. They have a big fun playground there. We wore our sunhats and walked through the alley way next to KIDSPACE, around a few corners then we were there. There were wobbly bridges, poles, slides, climbing nets, monkey bars and much much more. We stayed for about an hour and had so much fun! We love to make the most of visiting schools that are close to KIDSPACE, during the holidays, as the children can extend their own skills and abilities playing on different, and sometimes challenging equipment. It's also nice for children to see schools first hand and make connections to the wider world.

"Children gain confidence in and control of their bodies" (Te Whaariki, Exploration).

Ainslee