Term 2 Week 5

Our week began on a Saturday this week as we showcased our Kindy to 42 Early Childhood & Primary Teachers throughout Southland.  REANZ (Reggio Emilia Aotearoa NZ) South hosted a 'gathering' of Reggio inspired teachers in a morning of collaborative exchange.  We 'humbly' received huge accolades on how 'engaging' our learning environment is ... so BIG kudos to the Teaching Team!

Polyfest 2017 - Whenua ki uta, whenua ki tai - Celebrate the Environment

We are in the beginning stages of designing our Art piece to be entered into the Murihiku Polyfest Art Exhibition (we have been accepted as a finalist in the past 5 years - no pressure!!!) Our T-shirts design forms are being distributed this week - check our FB post for more details. Our thoughts around our Art piece will be with the significance of the changing of the seasons (through investigations last term) through the collection of various coloured & various sized leaves. A notice will be out next week on our FB page of our intentions! 

To tatou pūngāwerewere ataahua

 

Our Pungawerewere (spider) continues to intrigue  ... Kaiako (teachers) have created a very interactive playscape, playfully provoking & acknowledging children's 'wonderings'.  I wonder what spiders eat?  What sound do spiders make?  'Have you seen a white-tailed spider ... I have?' - Annabella Rae. Wow ... Annabelle you have indeed found the one spider we MUST keep away from!!! Why?

And look at this spider by Sam Cairns.  Created with the Doodoo App on our iPad.  Spider webs & clay spiders have also been created this week - The Hundred Languages of Children is alive & well  - children representing their ideas a 'Hundred' ways!

 

And this week we have also introduced a 'Pungawerewere action song' along with sourcing a very busy Orb spider link which we thought would be great to share with everyone @ home.
                                      https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DwLn11KJS9Y

Matariki
This week we have also introduced some Matariki stories.  The Parent Group are in the initial stages of organising our Matariki night @ Kindy (a FB invite has been sent out to all our families).  Along with our stories we also have lantern making organised, along with lighting our Fire Pit & shared kai. More details will follow.  An RSVP list is on the wooden table along with some great information about this special celestial celebration.  We've also been researching on Google Earth stars & constellations and we have challenged all the children to check out both the morning & night skies for those seven distinctive stars that make up Matariki!

The Seven Stars of Matariki

Can you find this constellation in the morning sky?

Download this free App for more Celestial intrigue.

As we ponder the phenomenon of our celestial night skies, here's a question Georgia Wylie posed to us all this week ... 

Geez ... that's a biggy!

And as a continuum we were all so surprised to see in our Seven Stars of Matariki story, this week  ... you guessed it ... a Toroa - Albatross!

 

These are our weeks 'Discovery Time' kids (Mon, Tue, Wed group) representations of Toroa.  The BIG wing span of the Alabatross seems to have really intrigued the children.

  The children are indeed developing a wonderful sense of 'Ecological Identity' through both our Spider & Albatross investigations. These include thoughtfully considering their pastoral care & the most optium conditions within their habitats.

We found this thought provoking quote ... 'Don't just fly ... SOAR'.   Walt Disney

Just a reminder ... the 'Name the Alabatross Chick' competition closes on Fri 2 Jun.  We'd love to claim the accolade of having shared the winning name.  Click on our FB link to share your ideas.

We've purchased a set of reference books on our coastal treasures (taonga).

We also had our very own competition on Monday @ Morning Meeting - guess what Elle's baby will be?   Christina's cake was the determinant ... what colour icing would be in the middle of the cake!

Our votes were collated ... 19 girl votes & 7 boy votes!!!

Well let's cut the cake & see ... pink icing!!!   It's a girl!!!

Nature Discovery
Here are some pics from Ivy Russell Reserve this week ... the BIG LONELY WOLF continues to intrigue everyone.  This week Penina & Kyle were our leaders taking us along hidden paths & finding new ways to navigate the heart of the forest.  Our provoking question 'What sound does a spider make?' also provided opportunities for the children to search for webs ... now where would they be? And we've also sourced some very naturalistic resources for our Polyfest Art work!!!

Harvest Time

Thanks for another fabulous week!!  Feel free to leave a comment.  We'd love to share your comments with our Kindergartens South Senior Teaching Team!

Your Winton Kindy Teaching Team,
Judy, Christina and Elle.