Following the children's lead..

It has been a struggle to keep the grass play area usable over the years, so the decision was made to dig it up as inspiration to find a solution.  We asked the children who would like to help dig it up and before long the spades, diggers, trucks and gumboots were hard at work.  We still don't really know what to do but the children have turned it into a construction site and an off road biking track, so maybe we just need to pause and follow their lead....

A Walk to Grace's House and the Stoke Library     

4th September 2015 

We set off out the gate and along the Railway Reserve, in beautiful sunshine, with Grace leading to way to her house.  With an ongoing interest in photography amongst the children, there were plenty of opportunities along the way to take photos, and before long and we were at Grace's house.

We were welcomed in to play, with Grace excitedly showing us her bedroom, and sharing her toys with the group.  Graces whanau had made special treats for morning tea, which we all enjoyed. Then there was time for more playing and dancing, before a quick tidyup, and continuing on our walk to Stoke Library.

Mary the librarian welcomed us to the library, and read two stories to the group.  Then there was time to explore and read books together, and check out the puzzles and games, before choosing some books to take back with us to Kindergarten. 

It was lots of fun heading out into our local community, and this supports our children to make links between the kindergarten setting and other settings that relate to the children and their whanau.

Our Trip to Pic's Peanut Butter Factory

Off to Birchwood School and Miela's house.

Miela’s invited us to come play at her house and because she lives close to

Birchwood School we visited Addison (who left us for school at the end of

last term) on the way. We spent time in the classroom with the children

and Mrs Saville, we played in the playground and then we walked to

Miela’s house. Everyone enjoyed playing in Miela’s bedroom and on her

trampoline. Thanks Kate, Dion and Miela for welcoming us to your

place. Also thanks to Abby, Andrea, Charmaine and Natalya who offered

to help on the day.

At kindergarten we encourage the exploration of the wider community as

this enables children to develop an understanding of the world around

them, while practicing their skills for dealing with new situations and

building relationships with a widening group of children and adults. We

appreciate being part of a community of families who are excited about

helping us make this happen on a regular basis.

A planting we will go!

Thanks to Waimea Nurseries we now have 4 new fruit trees, thanks for your very generous gift.
Thanks Graeme for coming to plant them with the children and to Kim and Martin for removing some old trees to make the space.
Our growing orchard now has a new apple, plum, mandarin and feijoa.
There were lots of ready helpers to dig the holes and place them in.

An exciting new experience

Our boys are excited about our new IDinosaur book and iPad app that makes dinosaurs come alive.
Being able to hover the iPad over the book and hatch a dinosaur out of a box or egg provides a lot of excitement and the anticipation is evident on their faces.
It has also attracted the interest, wonderment and awe of the adults in the centre.
A must have in every early childhood centre!
The photo says it all.  We are looking forward to getting further 3D books soon.

Developing interests

The icy winter mornings have kept children inside a little longer and new interests in the arts are emerging through horses and superheroes.
A request for a photo of a rainbow horse to use as a provocation for painting led to requests for colourful ponies, mystical horses and superheroes.
We often place photos around the art area as provocations for children to borrow other artists ideas and as a starting point for thinking.

  

Autumn - you just got to leave those leaves!

The children had been busy gathering the leaves on our shared driveway this morning. It was a big job and they worked at transporting the leaves over to the compost bins. However the last few loads went..... Oh well what is more perfect to a days hard work than having fun and laughing. It was especially funny when the children piled the leaves on the spinning wheel and watched them fire off as they spun it around! Thanks for a great morning tamariki.

Autumn is a second spring when every leaf is a flower.  Albert Camus  http://www.brainyquote.com

 

What's been happening this week ending 29th May 2015

Exploring Our Local Environment 15/05/15

What stories could our "Pear tree" tell??

In two years Nayland Kindergarten will be 50 years young and this has got us thinking about the history of our place.  Our beautiful pear tree that reminds us when spring has arrived, it provides shade and a resting place for children throughout the day and it provides delicious pears to share with our whanau.  Until a month ago we hadn't really realised the significance of this magnificent icon, but now we do.  This pear tree is possibly 60-70 years old and was here long before the kindergarten was built, so we began to wonder about the huge numbers of children and whanau the pear tree had seen passing by.  This also got us thinking about the land in the Stoke area and with the help of Mr Allport, who has lived in this area for most of his life, we learnt a lot of history about the land the kindergarten sits on and the surrounding areas.

We have also discovered that the pear is called "Peter Barry".

This new knowledge has inspired us to try and graft a new tree from our beautiful pear tree so that we can preserve our history and also show it the respect it so deserves.

Loose Parts are getting looser...

I love the freedom of "the theory of loose parts", it can translate right across the curriculum.  It seems to raise children and teacher's awareness of the possibilities of "things" in the whole environment.
It also changes the lens you think through about recycling, reusing and remodelling equipment to have many different uses, which hugely reduces the equipment you purchase.  The "theory of loose parts" also supports a more open ended environment where "things" have multi uses.

A child's passion for the arts

We watch and wonder as a child's passion for the arts unfolds before our eyes.  When children are afforded the time, the space and the resources to follow their passions alongside others, the destination is often unexpected.  When children are empowered to plan their own learning, travel a learning journey that is engineered and directed by them (and encouraged by teachers and peers) then the outcomes are not predetermined, but are INSPIRATIONAL!

Whanau and teachers have continued to celebrate the work displayed by this particular child and feedback has been added to the wall.  

A sleep over at Kindergarten? Surley not! Surely YES!!

Food for thought!

 

Check out the facebook page for more amazing questions and facts. https://www.facebook.com/lovefoodhatewastenz.

Welcome back to Term Two 2015

Many Loose Parts - Many Focused Ideas!

The theory of loose parts has come alive this term with the moving of a box of "stuff" "props" "provocations" , many names we can give to these things.
Out of this box has come the most incredible ideas, games and drama.

We have had ambulances, boats, cars, monsters, sharks, dead people, injured babies needing to get to hospital, a never ending list of ideas and fun.

Children have created and negotiated story lines, turns, outcomes and groups of children to be involved. Many a budding screen writer, set designer, builder, director, Adrenalin junkie and many competent leaders in our midst.

This play has seen both the boys and the girls busy putting their ideas into actions.

The theory of “loose parts” first proposed by architect Simon Nicholson in the 1970's has begun to influence child-play experts and the people who design play spaces for children in a big way. Nicholson believed that it is the 'loose parts' in our environment that will empower our creativity.

In play, loose parts are  materials that can be moved, carried, combined, redesigned,

lined up, and taken apart and put back together

in multiple ways. They are materials with no specific set of directions that can be used alone or combined with other materials.

Do you have things at home you could make a loose parts collection with? We also welcome any other loose parts you may have to add to our box or ideas of things for us to gather.


Thank you to all our whanau who have added already to the resources this term.

Challenging Fun!