Wattle Curriculum Objectives and Provocations

Wattle Curriculum Objectives and Provocations
Monday 26th October- Monday 16th November 2015

For children to extend their emerging interests in the following:

• Making freshly squeezed juices using the shared fruit provided by kindergarten families.   
• Felt boards with felting characters (retelling Goldilocks and the Three Bears- by Paul Galdone.  Exploring the pretend prehistoric land created in the sandpit with dinosaurs and natural materials.  
• Science experiment (making a large volcano in the sandpit).
• Doll washing with warm soapy water, scrubbing brushes, towels (an extension on the dramatic play in the cubby house)

“Somebody has been eating my porridge and has eaten it all up!” cried the Little Wee Bear in his little wee voice”

For the children to engage in environmental science:

• Making a bio pot, blending recycled newspaper into pulp.
• Plant sunflowers in our bio pots and closely observe the sunflower seeds sprout.
• Science experiment, visual display of how plants drink water.
• Continue to water garden beds with water collected from the rain water tanks (rostered day).
• Making a scarecrow, mini project combing all LCK children for the garden beds to protect the freshly planted vegetables and herbs.

“From little things big things grow”- by Paul Kelly and Kev Carmody

•  Making a scarecrow, mini project combing all LCK children for the garden beds to protect the freshly planted vegetables and herbs.

“From little things big things grow”- by Paul Kelly and Kev Carmody

For the children to enhance their group living skills.

• Help set up for morning tea, lay table cloths with decorative display
• Help cut fruit for morning tea using chopping boards, child safe knifes.
• Be responsible for individual belongings e.g hat, water bottle.
• Place fruit in basket and bottle water on the tray.
• ‘Have you filled a bucket today’ By Carol McCloud A Guide to Daily Happiness for Kids (Activities and discussion around how to fill and empty each other’s buckets)

Ongoing:

• Preparation for art exhibition individual and group canvas.
• Please note that new learning experiences will be added and other modified as the curriculum evolves to meet the interests and needs of the children.
• Other experiences on offer:
• Reading corner, dress ups, drawing, puzzles, block corner, light box, wooden car set and train set, making table, bikes, swings, cubby house and making cubbies with sheets and blankets.
• Please note that new learning experiences will be added and others modified as the curriculum evolves to meet the interests and needs of all children.

Our curriculum is informed by The Victorian Early Years Learning and Development Framework (VEYLDF) AND THE Early Years Learning Framework.

Upcoming events:

• Curriculum day –Monday 2nd November- LCK closed- child free day (teacher professional development training day).
• Melbourne Cup public holiday- Tuesday 3rd November- LCK closed.
• LCK Fundraising Event- 28th November- 4-7pm.

Banksia Group Curriculum Objectives and Provocations for Art Based Project Work - November 2015

• For the children to extend their interest in art projects and develop their knowledge and skill in a range of art based medium.
• Exploring identity through “Portraiture” Delving further into, self and our family.
• Explore a range of tools and equipment safely, respectfully and effectively.
• Exploring and extending on projects based on children’s individual interests and ideas.

Current group projects

Group Canvas – collaged group canvas for exhibition. Mixed media - Collaged and stitched, hand printed original painting.

Book of the Month – “The Coat Hanger Horse” by Kym Lardner
Inspiring wire sculptures and creations from the children. Can you make the letters of your name out of wire? What other designs can you make?  

 “Identity” through portraiture using a range of mediums observational drawing/clay/wire sculptures – Children will have an opportunity to explore both self – identity and belonging through family through exploration and experimentation of a variety of mediums, wire sculptures.

Children will research a range of artists who also explore portraiture in their work. e.g Pablo Picasso, Van Gough, Frida Kahlo, Amedeo Modigliani, Alberto Giacometti

Through observational drawing and wire, the children will also explore identity, and look at similarities and differences in individuals. What makes us unique and special? What do we notice and like about ourselves? This term we will focus in on different parts of the body that we use every day to help us communicate and show expression such as eyes, eye brows, mouth, hands etc. how do we use these to convey emotions/feelings?

Creating Wooden sculpture figurines for the garden, Using a variety of wooden pieces, hammers, saws, woodworking tools and loose parts to create a family of people that will live in our garden- artist reference – Alberto Giacometti and sculptures made by children at my previous Kindergarten,

Through clay - The children will be introduced to the process of firing and glazing (painting the clay) through collaboration with Gasworks.
Paper mache masks

Eco Printing Pressed flower/nature art printing – Introduce the children to the process of eco printing, using natural/found objects and watercolour paper to create dynamic/handmade prints.

Gelatin and frottage printing – Introduce the children to the process of printing with natural/found objects and paper to create dynamic/handmade prints.

The “Magic Hat” and other individual Paper Mache projects. - Children will be encouraged to explore their own interests this term embarking on a Paper Mache project of their own. Beginning with some brainstorming sessions and a series of drawings/designs, they will then be supported to create their individual sculpture pieces.

Blue Gum Group Curriculum Objectives and Provocations

Blue Gum Group Curriculum Objectives and Provocations
26th October - 12th November 2015

For the children to further develop their literacy skills:

• Read children’s picture storybooks – both at LCK and home
• CD storybook – ‘Wombat Stew’ and ‘Collecting Colour’
• Janetta reading Italian language books during Italian classes  
• Identify words that start with the each letter of the alphabet
• Create a literacy workstation with words, alphabet, markers, lined paper, books, worksheets, phonics awareness
• Storytelling/ drama workshops using puppets and other props
• Puppet shows and storylines created by the children
• Cut out letters creating names, words and poems
• Alphabet puzzles and games
• Families encouraged to visit local libraries eg. Emerald Hill Library,
• 195 Bank St, South Melbourne

“Any book that helps a child to form a habit of reading, to make reading one of his deep and continuing needs, is good for him” - Maya Angelou

For the children to develop sustainable practices and care for the earth:

• Children’s books with earth matters theme – eg ‘Window’ by J. Baker
• Making a scarecrow – collaborative project with other groups at LCK
• Veggie patch song and props – group singing
• Care for the garden – composting, watering, planting
• Discuss the positive effects of growing food – fruits and vegetables for sustainable living – please supply a variety of seasons fruit/vegetables for snack times
• Establish a kitchen garden- table, tools, seedlings
• Planting seasonal vegetables and herbs
• Use scientific experiments – ‘What happens when a plant doesn’t get water, air and sunlight?
• Establish a succulent garden for spring time
• Create a collaborative canvas of ‘flowers’
• Planting pumpkin seeds and roasting pumpkin seeds

“Just living is not enough... one must have sunshine, freedom, and a little flower”
Hans Christian Andersen

For the children to extend their emerging interests in the following:

• Celebrating Diwali 11th November – Hindu – the festival of lights – the awareness of the inner light
• Celebrating Origami Day 11th November – Japan – honouring the ancient art of creating intricate objects and complex shapes out of square pieces of paper
• Making teepees out of bamboo sticks – creating outdoor cubbies
• Discuss different countries, cultural diversity and languages
• Paintings using dyes and crayon resist
• Obstacle course – interest extended from the Obstacle-a-thon fundraiser
• Variety of different construction sets eg. Polyms and Lego
• Puzzles and games of varying degrees of difficultly
• Drawing in ‘dream diaries’ – open-ended reflective drawing books
• Threading using beads, paper, cardboard, ribbon
• Water play with science equipment
• Imaginative play – dolls, farm set, dinosaur world, castle, dolls house
• Blocks with new addition of wooden and foam pieces
• Sand with volcano, Jurassic park, dinosaurs

“When you wake up in the morning, Pooh," said Piglet at last,
"What's the first thing you say to yourself?"
"What's for breakfast?" said Pooh. "What do you say, Piglet?"
"I say, I wonder what's going to happen exciting today?" said Piglet.
Pooh nodded thoughtfully. "It's the same thing," he said.” ― A.A. Milne

Please note that new learning experience will be added and others modified as the curriculum evolves to meet the interests and needs of the children.

VEYLDF: Children are connected with and contribute to their world (community), Children are confident and involved learners (learning), Children have a strong sense of identity (identity), Children have a strong sense of wellbeing (wellbeing), Children are effective communicators (communication)

Specialist classes:

Italian language program with Janetta on Wednesday’s – weekly (30mins)
Music program with Von on Thursday’s- fortnightly (60mins)

Upcoming events:

• Curriculum day – Monday 2nd November – LCK closed - child free day (teacher professional development training day).
• Melbourne Cup public holiday – Tuesday 3rd November – LCK closed.
• LCK Fundraising Event – 28th November – 4-7pm

Getting ready for Halloween!

What we have been doing this month.

So much artistic talent!

Colourful creations.

Obstacle A Thon Fun!

The Obstacle A Thon was a huge success last week. Children had to jump hurdles, walk a plank, run through cones and clamber over the climbing net. A highlight was the 'Tug Of War' where two teams and had to pull, heave and tug on the enormous rope. The day was finished with gold medals and icy poles! Thanks to all the parents and families that helped on the day and assisted with collecting sponsorship money for their children.

Jumping the hurdles!

Heave Ho!!

It was a team effort!

Everyone's a winner!

Time to cool down.

Tours For New Families

Tours are held on Monday, Thursday and Friday at 10am for any new families that would like to have a look around the kindergarten and talk to Tracey about the programs that we offer.

Sports Day Dress Up

The children loved coming to kinder dressed up in something from their favourite sports team for the recent Sports Dress Up Day. We had tennis, basketball, rugby, cricket and of course many AFL teams represented. It was a super fun way to end term 3!

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LCK Social Night

On Saturday 12th September, the committee organised a social evening and around 40 parents enjoyed a sit down dinner in a private room at the Vincent Hotel in Albert Park. This social evening was organised in response to feedback from the recent parent survey that was conducted. We would like to thank the parents that made the effort to come and we hope you enjoyed it! We understand that some of you would have liked to come but had other things on, or were away. For parents staying with us next year, we plan to have another social evening in the first term to welcome new parents, giving everyone the opportunity to meet each other over a drink at the start of the year.