LATEST STORIES
Learning through Play - Art
Our mixed-age setting provides many opportunities for our tamariki of all ages and backgrounds to work alongside each other, contributing to the best of their ability to make things happen.
Many of these activities use resources from nature and recyclables to minimize landfills and create some fantastic pieces of art that our tamariki take ownership of. We had a tree made in a bucket of cement that has been used at Matariki and was sitting forlorn in the back garden and a space in our Tui room that needed some decoration to celebrate outer space.
We had toddlers working alongside the older members of our learning community, taking turns to come and go, taking turns and sharing space, and resources to paint, collage, and do wool wrapping. It is a tree that looks out of this world and takes pride of place in our Space project area.
Many of our learning priorities in our localized curriculum were met with this part of the space project- Kaitiakitanga - taking care of Papatuanuku with recyclable and natural materials, such as trees, scraps of wool, and materials.
Whanaungatanga , with social and emotional competency - our tamariki were working alongside each other in close proximity sharing space and ideas. Friends working with friends, or toddlers working with those that will be heading to school in the near future. Having our tamariki absorbed in art and the process, was great for their emotional development, especially with working with dispositions of focus and confidence in using the materials to express themselves with this mahi. We are still doing regular visits to Kawaha Point School, which we have a close working relationship with.
Many of our tamariki will move onto this kura and they are getting to know the kaiako and the tamariki who attend, they get to see some of their old friends in some of the reception classes that do the " Preschool Buddy" program, offered by the kura. This is a great service offered to our whanau that meets the learning priorities of whanaungatanga, making links with the kura.
Also for our tamariki, it will support their social and emotional competency where they feel comfortable and gain confidence with the different rules and expectations that are inherent within the schools' curricular programme.
To find out more about 16 areas of play, click on the link: 16 Areas of Play