The children have shown me this week that they're starting to feel very settled in their classrooml. Their individual personalities are starting to shine through, with some children choosing to spend their free choice time predominantly in the role play area, or building or writing. Through this free choice, the children get the opportunity to undertake their own investigations, problem solve and also apply what we have been learning altogether. It really highlights the importance of every interaction that we have with the children and our important jobs as role models. For example, listening to the children repeat phrases that I use, such as "I like you're ideas sweetie," when they are playing in the role play area, illustrates that everything you say, even those incidental words like "sweetie," are listened to and potentially used in their own language or behaviours. Below is a collection of photos of the children using and applying what we have been learning about altogether, in their own play.
Using the language of size and measuring.
Using the language of size and measuring.
Writing letters and names.
Our outdoor area is an extension of our classroom, providing further opportunities to apply what we have been learning indoors, extend investigations further and provide different sensory opportunities. Creating different learning environments and experiences helps children to develop their social skills by working cooperatively, develop their communication skills by listening to each other and sharing their own ideas, and to develop self-management skills, such as gross motor skills and spatial awareness. Of course the list goes on and on as the benefits of learning in different environments is endless! Take a look at the children working on some of the skills mentioned above.
Gross motor skills.
Gross motor skills.
Fine motor skills.
Cooperation skills.
This week we also started exploring more about our similarities and differences through our Unit of Inquiry on Who We Are. The children identified that we all have heads, bodies, hearts, lungs and blood, and that our eye colour, hair colour, size and likes and dislikes are different. The children painted pictures of their favourite things and also read the book 'Elmer' to think about and celebrate what makes us all look different. The children created their own patchwork elephants, thinking about the colours they were using and trying to keep each coloured spot inside its own square.