2012 Term 4 Week 4 Day 1

Kindergarten

Religion: Bible Story
☑ Dramatic retelling of David and Goliath. Waratah is now keen on making a slingshot (particularly having recently watched the Blinky Bill movie, where Blinky uses a slingshot to fire gumnuts.)

English: Story Time
☑ Hugh Lofting, Dr Dolittle (1920)

Having now finished reading all three books in Dorothy Wall's Blinky Bill series, I went looking for our next "living book" to read aloud. We started today with the first two chapters of Dr Dolittle and it is proving immensely popular. Both boys are listening with full attention, and Waratah is eagerly answering my comprehension questions along the way.

Mathematics: IXL / iPad
☑ Geoboard

I have seen Geoboards used to great effect in various activities (mainly through Pinterest). Making one for Waratah has long been on my to-do list. However, in the meantime, I have found an app which offers an electronic version. Not quite as much fun as playing with rubber bands and nails, I am sure, but useful now as an introduction to the concept, and later as an adjunct for exploration. For example, I envisage setting up patterns on the app for Waratah or Mulga to copy on the real board.

Creative Arts: Craft
☑ Sewing.

Waratah had an interest in making a treasure pouch, so we started sewing one out of felt. Today Waratah appliqued some decorative fabric on the front and sewed on a button. He also practiced threading the needle.

Human Society & Environment: Brainstorming
☑ What are the good and bad things about being a member of a family?

Science & Technology: Observation and Report
Theme: Chicken and Egg.
☑ Waratah let the chooks out and reported verbally on his observations of their behaviour.

Personal Development, Health and Physical Education: My Body
☑ Once Upon A Time... Life: Blood [Playlist - 3 episodes]
☑ Once Upon A Time... Life: Platelets [Playlist - 3 episodes]

Having had several cuts and grazes recently, Waratah watched these episodes very attentively and asked questions, as well as answering comprehension questions along the way. He was particularly interested in the role that platelets played in forming a scab.

Cultural Studies: Investigating Diversity
☑ Waratah asked to decorate some blown eggs as Christmas ornaments, so we investigated various cultures which had a tradition of decorating eggs. We looked at pictures of traditionally decorated eggs from many different places, commenting on their similarities and differences, and the methods used to decorate them. Here are some of our favourites:



Poland - cut paper applique

Ukraine - wax-resist. Waratah noted a similarity to Aboriginal art in the egg on the left.

More from the Ukraine - wax resist.

Here is a tutorial for the wax resist method that we really want to try: http://susanbenarcik.wordpress.com/projects/what-to-do-on-easter/

Eggs decorated with seeds, beans and grains.

Russian icon egg

 

PreK - Play-based learning (EYLF)

Mulga was in a dramatic, creative mood today. He pulled a number of cans out of the pantry to build a robot which would "do all Mummy's work so all she has to do is play with us!" Unfortunately, this robot did not reach the final testing phase.

Mulga also spent a long time building a track for our wooden train set and dramatising voices for the trains.

His creative urges carried over into his iPad time, as he designed and tested some very unique vehicles in the Create a Car app.

Infant - Play-based learning

Boronia enjoyed her usual "air bath" and dabbling her toes in the grass.