Toddler
One of the activities we did this November helped Toddlers’ large and small muscle development, as well as their eye-hand coordination. Using crayons, markers, or paintbrushes helped the Toddlers practice the fine motor control they will need for writing later on.
The Toddlers’ social development where demonstrated when they worked together in the art area where they learned to share, to interact with others, to be responsible for cleanup, and to put materials away. These were positive and important changes in social learning. Then, they learned the names of colors and shapes through creative art activities. They found out what happens when they mix two primary colors together and get a secondary color.
Along with improving Toddlers’ balance, jumping on a trampoline it also helped improve their posture. The trampoline floor is constantly moving and Toddlers’ must be aware of their centre of gravity at all times. The balance they learned on a trampoline helps improve balance in other gross activities too.
Nursery 1
On this term, Nursery 1 talked about animals, insects and some other species that lives in trees. Different kinds of insects were discussed with the kids, the harmful and the helpful ones like Ladybug.
Nursery 1 made their own ladybug using paper plates for the body and colored papers for the other parts.
Trees provide habitat to birds and different kinds of birds were introduced to Nursery 1. They learned that not all the birds are able to fly. Penguins are one of the flightless birds that we talked about. They pasted googly eyes and colored papers for them to complete the printed out image of a penguin.
Nursey 1 also learned that honeybees are helpful to plants. They learned that the honey that we put in our pancakes came from honeybees. They also tried to taste the honey and most of them liked it. They also colored the printed out image of a beehive for their activity.
Nursery 2
This was a productive and active month for the students. A lot of activities were done inside the classroom in preparation for the culminating activity, “Farm Fest”. One of the activities that they had done was the hand puppet. Making a hand puppet aims to develop the fine motor skill and creativity of the child, and identify and recognize the animals in the farm. The students enjoyed creating their own puppet. While making their puppet, some of the students played and talked to their puppet. They moved their hands up and down, and acted like they have a puppet show.
Another activity this month was the paper making. Paper making develops the thinking skills, imagination, creativity and fine motor skills of the child. The students really enjoy making the paper. They were too excited to tear the paper, put the paper inside the blender, pressed the paper, and the entire process. After drying up, the students put their hand print on the center of the paper . These handmade papers were exchanged for flowering seedlings for our garden during the culminating activity.
Farm Fest is the theme for the Term 2: Trees culminating activity. The students were dressed like a cowboy/girl. It focuses on the products and uses of trees and animals. The students did their own puppet show entitled “Open the Window”. The puppet that they used was made by them. After having a puppet show, they had their dance presentation of “The Green Grass Grows All Around”.
During the culminating activity, there was a mini trade. The parents will buy the handmade paper made by the student by trading a seed (5 seeds=1 paper). The seeds collected were planted in the garden by the students and the parents.
Kinder
November had been a month full of new learnings. As Term Trees was about to end, the kids were able to explore, discover, and learn more about how a tree can be a big help to humans through the job it can give. One of the jobs they learned about was the Landscape Artist. They learned about the nature of work of Landscape Artists and their importance to the community as well as experienced being one on a different level of creativity. During PBEM, kinder kids once became their own Little Landscape Artists through designing their own little landscape. They enjoyed coloring their flowers using their favorite and chosen colors and independently pasted it on their little landscape. They also put so much interests into it which shows the creative side of them. Undoubtedly, these kids were little landscape artists in their own special ways.
What also made November so special for the kinder kids were the moments where they got to help their friends at Cambridge. During their Free Friday, the kids were able to develop more their helping behavior through helping the nursery kids in designing their portfolios. The kinder kids willingly offered the nurseries their helping hands. This might be a simple activity to look at, but as we dig deeper into it, we can clearly see its essence to children as they grow and mature.
