WE LOVE GOING OUTDOORS!

The Importance of Outdoor Play

The outdoor is the very best place for preschoolers to practice and master emerging physical skills. It is in the outdoors that children can fully and freely experience motor skills like running, leaping, and jumping. 

It is also important because the outdoor light stimulates the pineal gland, the part of the brain that regulates the "biological clock," is vital to the immune system, and makes us feel happier.

The Kindergartens went out on Thursday for their Structured Outdoor Play. We focused on walking on line and running (shuttle run).

Once done with their Structured Outdoor Play, the Kindergartens had their free play time. Look at how much fun they had!

Let's begin the shuttle run race!

The Kindergartens were very careful walking on the rope as they didn't want to 'fall down into the river'.

Structured Outdoor Play was over! Let's have water play and free play time!

Mummy and daddy, please bring me for more outdoor activities over the weekends!

Snowflakes in the Kinder class!

Snowflakes, Snowflakes

Falling to the ground.

Each one rest so gently

They never make a sound.

Snowflakes, Snowflakes

Are so pure and white.

The special thing about them is

No two are alike.

Children were introduced to different snowflake patterns. Although no two snowflakes are alike, children discovered that all snowflakes have six sides. The children were assigned in a group so the older children could guide the younger ones to make the Glittery Snowflakes. Children pasted 3 strips of paper to form snowflakes. Then they sprinkled glitters on the snowflakes.

Look at our glittery snowflakes, ready to fill the classroom with glittery snow! 

Where's the Christmas cookie?

Christmas cookies are traditionally sugar biscuits and cookies cut into various shapes related to Christmas. The children looked forward to making the cookies!

This is the way I rolled the dough, rolled the dough, rolled the dough,

This is the way I pressed the dough, I pressed the dough, pressed the dough,

This is the way I made the cookies, so early in the morning!

After mixing the ingredients to make the dough, they kneaded and rolled it to have a feel of the texture. 

After flattening the dough, we chose our own Christmas cookie cutter and pressed it into the dough. Look at how focused we were! 

Once done with pressing the Christmas cookie cutters into the dough, Ms. Cynthia and Aunty Halimah helped us to put the baking trays into the baking oven. 

Now, could you guess where our cookies had gone to?

That's right! The yummy cookies went straight into our tummies! 

Look at my X'mas cookie!

Hi Mum and Dad, let me show you how to bake Xmas cookies!

Ingredients needed:

Plain flour

Eggs

Butter

Sugar

Sprinkles for decoration 

After we scoop the flour into the bowl, we need to add sugar, eggs and butter to mix it.

This is the way to mix it, with one hand holding the bowl and the other the mixer. It is smiliar to hold we feed ourselves during lunch where we need to hold the bowl and the other hand holding the spoon too.

Once we have mixed it well, we may knead the dough with the rolling pin to flatten it. It helps me to improve my fine motor skills as I rolled it with my hands. I have observed that the dough became flatten too after rolling it. 

We also realised that from the powdery flour texture it became more sticky after we added eggs, sugar and butter in it. 

Next, we shall find the cutter that we like and pressed it on the dough. We have to ensure we placed the cutter inside of the dough so that the cookie shape can be seen. 

Once done, we may decorate our cookies with Xmas sprinkles so that it enhances the festive mood!

Lastly, we are ready to bake the decorated Christmas cookies! 

But we can't wait to see the baked cookies and taste it! Mum and Dad, let's do it one more round at home if you didn't get to try the cookies I have baked :) 

Nurturing Learning Disposition; Appreciation

Apart from gaining knowledge through thematic and Montessori learning, children also learnt about PRAISE (Perseverance, Reflectiveness, Appreciation, Inventiveness, Sense of wonder & curiosity, and Engagement.

In the month of November, children learnt about being appreciative. 

A few sets of painting (abstract work) were printed out and displayed randomly in the class.

Children were grouped of 2s or 3s and had to go around observing the artwork.

There children were in a vertical group (K1s & K2s) and they had to discuss about the artwork.

Appreciation
Children with a sense of appreciation recognise that everyone has different and unique qualities. They listen to the views of others and show respect for them.  

 

The children were engaged in discussing the details of the abstract artwork with each other. They were encouraged to speak their own view of the abstract art with their partners.

: Abstract art uses a visual language of shape, form, color and line to create a composition which may exist with a degree of independence from visual references in the world.

Thereafter, children were assigned to do their own abstract art. Look at how busy they were! Once they were done, they showed their abstract artwork to their friends. Apart from appreciating each others' artwork, children also learnt that they have to be respectful when others were presenting their work.

These were some of the abstract artwork done by our young artists, the Kindergarten children!

Insects, Insects Everywhere!

Look at all the collections we have made after a walk around our neighbourhood! The dried leaves, twigs and some dried fruits. What are we going to do with all these you may wonder? 

We will like to take the opportunity to let children look for insects where they may have hands-on experience to catch or observe it! They have realized that insects are mainly found in places where there are soil and in dark quiet areas.

Look at what we have found! A live caterpillar! They were all very curious to take a look at how it moves.

After that, they all had to draw whIch insect they will like to create with the things that they have picked earlier. It is through planning before they decide what should be use for the 3 body parts of the insects and other details if they will like to add on.

Let's go for another insect hunt! We may spend some time with the nature and enjoy it's beauty!