Over the past few weeks, our Gecko classroom has been bursting with creativity and discovery! We’ve been busy working on exciting projects that have fostered the children's critical and creative thinking.
Building and Testing Boat Designs
Inspired by the story 'Iggy Peck, Architect', the children explored the concept of designing boats to transport the school children back to the island after the bridge collapsed (follow on from our last blog post). In small groups, they crafted boats using various materials such as LEGO, tin foil, and paper. The children were encouraged to design their boats before making them and testing them out in the water, encouraging reflection on their choices. They pondered questions like, "What makes this material good for a boat?" Why did my boat sink/float?" and "What materials could we try next time?" The children experimented by adding rocks and figures to their boats, observing what caused them to sink or float.
**We captured some snapshots from this small group activity, which you can view here: [AM / PM]**
***
Where Does Water Come From?
After reading the story 'What If Rain Boots Were Made of Paper?', the children were inspired to ask some big questions, such as, "Where does water come from?" and "What happens when you put foil into water?" During our circle time, we had an engaging discussion where the children shared their thoughts on which materials would be suitable for rain boots and why they believed those materials would work.
To answer their questions about where water comes from, we conducted a bit of research and opened our circle time for further discussion about where we encounter water in our everyday lives. The children eagerly shared their knowledge about rain, discussing how it travels from clouds to the ocean. This exploration not only sparked curiosity but also connected their learning to the world around them.
As part of our exploration, the children created their own rain clouds using shaving foam and blue water and discussed which materials might prevent rain from falling through the clouds. Some chose to experiment with fabric, while others tried cellophane and tin foil. The children were encouraged to share their observations and consider why their materials stopped the water from passing through to the cloud.
**We captured some snapshots from this small group activity, which you can view here: [AM / PM]**
***
Construction Area in the Gecko Classroom
Many of the Geckos, expressed their enthusiasm for building. During planning time, they requested wooden blocks to create various scenes. The children have enjoyed constructing imaginative settings, including dinosaur land, a veterinary clinic, a fire station, and a hospital. They've also created maps that have included Australia, Disneyland, and Hillside. It has been heartwarming to see how the children use open-ended materials to explore their ideas and bring them to life!
**We captured some snapshots of the children's creations, which you can view here: [AM / PM]**
The Tower Challenge
Last week, we introduced a fun and competitive Tower Challenge. In small groups, the children were given five minutes to build the tallest tower they could. Once the time was up, they compared their creations with their peers, discussing whose tower was tallest. This activity promoted teamwork and sparked discussions about measurement. We explored various ways to measure our towers, from counting how many hands tall they were to using measuring tapes.
**We captured some snapshots from this small group activity, which you can view here: [AM / PM]**
***
That's a Boundary
The children have been exploring the concept of boundaries and personal space. Through the story 'PersonalSpace Invader', the children shared their own experiences of feeling squashed and uncomfortable when someone is in their personal space bubble.
To help them express their feelings, we practiced using language to tell a friend when they are too close such as 'I need more space', 'I'm feeling uncomfortable'. The Boundary Song reinforces the children's wishes and helps them to remember what to say easily. It has been a joy hearing the children sing the words when they need them.
***
Photo Albums:
We have continued to add photos to the albums: How The World Works AM / PM
I want to take a moment to express my heartfelt gratitude for the wonderful time I’ve spent with your little ones this year.
Over the past four months, I have had the joy of getting to know each of them. Their creativity, curiosity, and energy have made our time together truly special. It has been an absolute joy to watch them grow, learn, and discover new things each day. Although I will not be there to see them continue their journey, I have no doubt they will thrive and shine in their learning adventures ahead, and that they will enjoy their time with their new teacher, Penney.
Thank you for your kindness and support throughout this year; it has made a tremendous difference in our classroom.
Wishing you and your little ones all the best, and may you have a magical Christmas!
Dear Gecko Class Families, What an imaginative and exciting few weeks we've had in Term 3 so far! Our Unit of Inquiry, How We Express Ourselves, is bursting with creativity, play, and exploration. Blast Off into Imagination! We launched into imaginative thinking with the book Not a Box —a story that shows how one simple object can become anything with a little imagination. Inspired by the story, the children created their own "Not a Box" drawings, transforming boxes into everything from race cars to castles to magical creatures. It was a joyful reminder of how powerful creative expression can be in helping children share ideas and feelings beyond words. Gecko Fashion Show! In case you missed it—we hosted a fabulous Fashion Show! The children absolutely loved dressing up, strutting their stuff on the runway, and striking poses like pros. It was a fantastic way for them to build confidence, celebrate individuality, and have lots of fun together. ...
Dear Gecko Class Families, Welcome back from the Easter holiday! I hope everyone had a wonderful break filled with rest and family time. We’re kicking off a very short but exciting Term 3 with a brand new Unit of Inquiry— How We Express Ourselves —and it’s already full of music, movement, and creativity! Our Central Idea for this unit is: People can express their imagination and ideas in different ways. Throughout this unit, we’ll be focusing on using our imaginations and being creative through art, music, drama, and dance. The children will have lots of opportunities to explore different ways of expressing themselves and discover their own unique voices! At this age, developing imagination and creativity is so important. It helps children build confidence, problem-solving skills, empathy, and emotional expression. Giving them different tools to share their ideas not only strengthens their communication but also helps them connect with others in meaningful ways. We’re also going to f...
Dear Gecko Class Families, Ahoy, mateys! We’ve been sailing the high seas of imagination these past weeks as we dive deeper into our Unit of Inquiry: How We Express Ourselves. It’s been all about pirates—bold, brave, and bursting with creativity! Building Our Pirate Ship To begin our adventure, the children transformed into pirates and worked collaboratively to build a life-size pirate ship using Makedo tools and recycled materials. This hands-on construction challenged their fine motor skills, encouraged problem-solving, and provided a meaningful opportunity to negotiate space and share materials with their crew. Just like real pirates, they had to work as a team to stay afloat! Eye Patches, Binoculars, and Maps No pirate is complete without the proper gear! The children designed eye patches, crafted binoculars, and created treasure maps that led to mysterious islands and magical beasts. These creations were more than just accessories—they were gateways into storytelling. Each artifa...
.png)
.png)
Comments
Post a Comment