'Pirates love underpants!'

We read the story, “PIRATES LOVE UNDERPANTS” by Claire Freedman and Ben Cort.

Thisen and Josh sail the seven seas!

Some templates of undies were made for the children to trace around. They skilfully cut around the shapes and created their own designs using paint, textas and various collage materials. The activity enhanced the children’s broad interest in Pirates and Pirate play. We have been making maps, sailing the seven seas and firing cannon balls.

The children explored aspects of IDENTITY through role-play and were open to new challenges and made new discoveries.

Why Clay for children?

Recently there has been an interest in clay:

WHY CLAY FOR CHILDREN?

Clay is a strong expressive medium and is ideal for enhancing children’s development and holistic learning.

Working with clay improves dexterity and uses both small and large muscles.

Children’s imaginations are stimulated through the use of clay as they stretch their minds to develop new ideas for things to make and new ways of using the clay and tools.

Clay enables children to produce lasting pieces.  

With clay, children are able to make large, firm, complex structures as well as intricate pieces with detail.

Prahana and Sophie used an assortment of collage materials to add to their clay creations.

  

EYLDF:  Wellbeing.  Children manipulate equipment and manage tools with increasing competence

   

Being subject to gravity, clay structures often collapse. Educators show children as well as peers assisting each other how to join pieces firmly and to avoid making things to thin and flat as these pieces may crumble when dried.

Over the following weeks we will further explore “clay techniques” as children become familiar with using this medium.

We have set up an area where clay creations are put on display for others to admire and get ideas from.

Reference: Rapunzels Supermarket: Ursula Kolbe

Being safe with dogs - Resposible pet education

Title: BEING SAFE WITH DOGS

Date: June, 12^th 2014          RESPONSIBLE PET EDUCATION.

IDENTITY	The children openly expressed their ideas and feelings in their interactions with adults and their peers
COMMUNITY	The children built on their own social experiences to explore other ways of being
WELLBEING	The children demonstarted trust and confidence in Geraldine and Educators
LEARNING	The children participated in a rich and meaningful inquiry-based experience
COMMUNI-CATION	The children responded verbally and non-verbally to what they saw,heard,touched and felt

Today, Geraldine and her dog Jasmine came to educate us about different behaviour of dogs and she demonstrated how to be safe around them.

Geraldine showed us pictures of dogs eating, sleeping and looking after puppies. She told us how to be kind to dogs and what behaviour would make a dog angry or upset.

We learnt what to do if a dog comes running up to us.

We must:

- Stand very still.

- Keep our hands down by our sides.

- Look at the ground.

- Be as quiet as a mouse.

- Take 2 small steps back

- and call a grown up when the dog has gone away.

 We practised what we had learnt and patted Jasmine. Jasmine was a really friendly dog who sniffed our hands and gave some of us a lick. Her hair was very soft!

  

We learnt :”No owner, no leash,no touch.”  Geraldine said that we must ask the owner of a dog: “Please may I pat your dog?” She showed us how to safely approach and how to pat the dog.”   Here we are singing the song  “When a Dog Comes  Up To You”.

Yoga incursion

Sonali came to teach us some yoga. She showed us several animal poses as well as teaching us some relaxation techniques.

Children attempt the bridge pose and try to balance themselves.

Children were concentrating on Sonali's instructions and following her breathing techniques.

Towards the end, children listened to a story and relaxed in the starfish position whilst pebbles were placed on their forehead, chin and stomach for concentration. All the children enjoyed and participated in these special activities. It was a really enjoyable way to spend a morning.

Children imagine being at the zoo and perform different animal poses. In this picture they pretend to be giraffes to stretch their bodies.

WELLBEING: Children are connected to their spiritual and emotional wellbeing.