Spring art

Posted on September 16, 2011 by Louise under Creativity & Imagination, The Natural Environment

We have been looking carefully at different spring flowers lately – the unusually high rainfall last summer in the Mallee has produced wonderful wild flowers. We love our garden flowers but we also think that the children gain so much by noticing the Australian plants flowering beside the road or in the bush. If we stop to look more closely at something, we learn to appreciate it and hopefully value it more.

Kodie did a water color painting of the wattle.

…so did Maddison.

Jim enjoyed using tissue paper to help make his picture.

and so did Porscha.

egg and spoon relays

Posted on September 12, 2011 by Louise under Games & Activities, Kids Go For Your Life, movement & physical learning

We really enjoy using our wooden eggs and spoons – we got them as a reward from the Kids Go For your Life program when we received accreditation.

We got them out again today – what a useful activity for practising concentration, coordination and perseverance.

….many of the children have bigger siblings at school and they have quickly learnt about relays and teams – we don’t race but it’s a handy way to spread the waiting out so nobody has too long to wait.

It’s also nice to do an “old-fashioned” activity that children have been doing for many years – it makes a nice link with our grandparents when we still enjoy the same games.

And just look at Jack’s focussed body and careful steps – he’s really concentrating!

Vanilla Slice Day

Posted on September 1, 2011 by Louise under Early Learning, Kids cooking, learning about our community, Rituals & celebrations

We are a bit sad that this will be our last Vanilla Slice Day – it’s been a great family and community day, and anything celebrating a piece of true Aussie cuisine has to be a winner. Anyway we have had a good time preparing for the day.

We made window decorations last week -thanks to one of our mums, Julie, for all her hard work putting the decorations together.