German 3

This week we learnt the German word for money (taler) through a German game.  We sat in a circle and secretely passed a coin behind our backs.  The idea was to try to confuse the person standing in the middle.  While we were doing this we listened to a song about this game.  We learnt ‘nein’ (no) and ‘yah (yes) and bitte (thank you) Monika also brought along a coin for each of us to take home.

OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA

Teacher Reflection

When I sat down to write the BLOG entries this week I thought ‘Have we done that much?’  But scanning through the photos taken – I can see that this week has been as busy, if not busier, than any other week.  Writing this BLOG helps us to reflect on even the simplest and shortest activities and see all that children are learning through their play.  Great work (ie play) again this week kids!

People Sandwiches

Today is Thursday, and by Thursday we are all getting a little tired from our long week.  A sure sign of tireness is when normally very active children drag mats up into the top of the cubby house and lay down!  Then they started making ‘people sandwiches’ with a person in between two mats.  Then it was double decker people sandwiches!  This is a great example of a sensory activity where children were naturally seeking deep pressure through weighted items to ‘calm’ down.  The game was only brief but just what we needed to calm our ‘engines’.  Thank you to Genevieve Jereb OTR who alterted me to the impact of sensory learning.

Do you remember playing a similar game with siblings and friends when you were young?

OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERAOLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA

Chickens

Douglas has some chickens at his house.  He brought the mother hen (a beautiful silky hen) and two chickens to Pre School for the day.  We were able to roam around the yard and we were also able to have a hold of the chickens.  One chicken was called Choc Chick and one was Yellow Chick.

Thank you to Douglas and his Mum for going to all this effort for us.  It was a lovely experience.

OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA

Water Colours

OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA

We have some special water colour paints (brand: Stockmar) at Pre School.  There are two shades of each primary colour (blue, red, yellow)  The colours are so attuned to one another that they can be easily be mixed to yeild all the intermediate shades.  We also used special water colour paper.  First we wet the paper and then we paint the liquid colours on.

Look at the results:

OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA

We purchased the products from www.mercurius-international.com

They appear very expensive – but they last along time and the results are so beautiful.

Hint for Parents:  Go to the cheap shop and buy a glass frame, mount your picture and hang it in the living area for all your visitors to admire.  You have a famous artist living in your house!

Healthy Eating

OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA

Today we welcomed Rachael (Dietician from Robinvale and District Health Services) to our Pre school for a talk about healthy eating.  Rachael looked in our lunch boxes and was delighted to see all the healthy foods we like to eat and the wide variety of foods presented.  We read a story and learnt the following saying:

Two fruits and five vegetables…..Eat a rainbow of food every day.

After our talk, Rachael talked to the families about food choices and recommended serving sizes for particular ages.

Thanks for teaching us how to be healthy so that we can have fun playing Rachael.

Pirates

The mystery of pirates captures the imagination of every child and children at our Pre school are no exception.  Our pirate learning started when Jake said he had a treasure map at home.  We all know that ‘X’ marks where the treasure is.

OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA

The teacher gave us some paper that had been distressed to draw treasure maps.  We used examples of treasure maps to stimulate us.

Then Mrs Gayle made a gold nugget with a rock, gold paint and sprinkles.  We played a game of hide the treasure.  We learnt to take turns, to hide our eyes (and not cheat!)  After we had hidden the treasure we had to be careful not to tell them where it was – and to give the others time to find it!  Very difficult when you are four.  We introduced the children to the idea of being ‘hot’ or ‘cold’.  We then filled our treasure chest with jewels (thanks Ann!) and gold coins (milk bottle tops) and we had fun playing with the treasure.

OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA

We also made treasure bottles with blue water, sand, shells, sequins, beads and glitter.  We shook them up and held the bottles up to the sun to see the ‘treasure.

OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA

We made pirate ships from egg cartons.  Douglas and LillOLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA y really perserved at this task.  Douglas said, “This is hard work!”

And lastly we played a game called Pirate Ship.  We made a pretend ship outside.  The children had to listen and follow the Captains directions.  The directions included:

Here comes the Captain (Aye Aye Captain and salute)

Scrub the deck.

Man overboard

Climb the ropes

Walk the Plank

Eaten by a shark

This was a fun way to practice our listening skills!

OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA

 

Police Visit

Jake’s dad is our local policeman and he called into to Pre school for a friendly visit today.  Today he was in uniform.  (Yesterday he was off duty and he helped us sing Five Little Ducks.)  Today we got a good look at his car and play with the siren, the loud speaker and the flashing lights.  Thanks Senior Constable Chris.  We look forward to regular visits through out the year.

OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA

The Flying Dentist

OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA

We were lucky enough to have the Flying Dentist visit us again at Pre School this year.  This was Dentist Michael’s second visit to Manangatang and Dental Student Brita’s first visit.  They talked to the children about cleaning their teeth and healthy foods to eat and foods to avoid (funny how we know these foods even at the age of four!).  We all had a practice with new brushes donated to the children.  Then our parents took us for a ‘check-up’.  This visit is an ideal way to introduce your children to the dentist in a familiar environment.

Jake was very excited to take Cuddles (our Pre School Bear) to the dentist for his check up.  We must be feeding him healthy food – because he had no decay.

Thank you to Michael and Brita for another successful visit.  We appreciate you volunteering for this service.

Tadpoles 2

Those who follow our BLOG will know that we tried to hatch frog eggs at Pre School in September 2013.  Unfortunately they hatched and then died.  In November I found some more frogs eggs in my pool.  This time I transfered them to my pond (3 metres) away – this saved them from the filter.  I talked to the children about not bringing them to Pre School this time because they would probably die again.  My family and I have watched the tadpoles hatch and gradually grow bigger and bigger over the past three months.  They have eaten a lot of boiled lettuce leaves!  And finally today, when I had nearly given up hope, I found a tadpole with back legs.  This is very exciting.  Hopefully I will see a few more in the coming days.  If any parents from last years group (or this years group) are driving past and want to come for a look you may.  If I am not at home – the children know where the pond is!  In the mean time I am trying to get a good photo to post.  Not the easiest thing to photograph!