Monthly Archives: February 2012

Sand Dough

Posted on by under Creativity & Imagination, Emergent Curriculum, The Natural Environment

We have added a new sensory and manipulative material outside – sand dough. (Where did the recipe come from? I can’t remember – thanks to the people out there in the blogosphere who invented and shared the recipe, if you are reading this, please let me know who you are so I can acknowledge you properly.)

It was very popular – “squishy’ said Oscar, but also a little bit gritty. Like clay because when it dried out, we could mix a little water back in and reconstitute it – and the children can do this.

The children found different ways to use it:

– shaping it with fingers;

scratching a picture into  it with a stick or stem;

decorating it with gumnuts and other treasures;

and then discovering that the decorations leave a mark. (The pine cone leaves a mark like a rose.)

HOW TO MAKE SAND DOUGH

4 CUPS OF SAND

2 CUPS OF CORNFLOUR

1 CUP OF WATER.

I used very fine sand and needed to add some plain old sandpit sand to give it more texture – and I also found I needed to adjust the water a bit, then the flour…but it lasted well in the fridge in between uses.

 

 

 

 

 

A new year at kinder

Posted on by under Transitions

We have started our new year with a smaller group,  very sociable and active. More girls than boys, but all very tuned into role and pretend play, in different forms. The children are interacting easily with each other and are very switched on.

We notice that in this time of transition and settling in to the full kinder routine, that the children are intent on processing everything, and enjoying their favourite areas as well as getting to know the new possibilities available to them. They are busy!

While the home corner was busy, this is what was happening down on the floor in the corner of the photo….

Oscar was looking after his baby, named Cooper (big brother’s name). He spent a long time tucking him into bed, arranging his blankets, taking him out and putting him back. Beautiful, caring play.

Outside Harry and Maya set up the tea table under the tree’s shade, then Mia came along and then Seanna. There was a wonderful bit of role distribution: “Can I play?” “Well I’m the mother and Harry’s the father and Mia’s the big sister – you can be the other big sister.” and that was okay.

So much else happened – too much to tell in one go!

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