Road safety is an all year round concern to highlight and reinforce, but a visit from Thingletoodle is still an exciting way to emphasise the message of Hold Hands – Stop – Look – Listen – Think. These are messages that we have repeated and practiced every time we go out side the kinder, and the play, songs, games, puppets and books have all helped to present the message in a variety of ways. Thanks Thingletoodle!
We had a busy day when we brought our bikes and scooters to kinder. We were promoting healthy exercise , (one of our Kids Go For Your Life messages), riding to school or kinder (with parental supervision just at present), science and art and language – and more – some community knowledge and road safety.
Judy, the lollipop lady , came to visit us, to tell us about her job of being a crossing supervisor.
We had thought of a couple of questions to ask her – and some of us already knew a bit about what she does because they sometimes use her crossing. But almost every child had at least seen Judy and her co-lollipop lady.
This was great, to have some first hand accounts of using or seeing the crossing – the children were able to make connections with their prior learning.
Then came the best bit – getting on the bikes!
We practised waiting for Judy to help us to cross the road, as well as pretending to be a car and stopping until she let us go.
Everyone got a go, we shared our bikes and scooters, and all in the beautiful autumn sunshine.
Thanks Judy!
Our last day of term was a bike and scooter day. Almost everyone was able to bring along one of these – and Mrs Bell rode hers too.
It was good to show the children that bikes are for everyone – and so are the rules about helmets.
There was lots of discussion about the bike itself and its different parts. The children noticed features that adults might miss – like the valves on the tyres.
After that some of the children wanted to draw the bike – or a part of it, if the whole bike was too tricky.
And if you have ever tried to draw a bike, you will know that it is tricky!
But you also learn a lot about what you are looking at – and about the person doing the looking and drawing, so it’s an interesting exercise.
Billy noticed the valves.
Makenzie noticed the spokes.
Maddie P. was grappling with the connection between the wheels and the handlebars.
Reba thought the pedals are important.
And Maddie M. noticed the lambswool seat on Mrs Bells’ bike (and put her on it as well, of course).
We had a lot more happening on this day, but we will leave Judy, Lollipop Lady to another day.