Visiting the bird life in our local backyard.....

 

Today on the 18th March 2015, we ventured out into our own local backyard to explore the thriving bird life. Our first stop was to visit the chickens that we observed everyday through the cracks in the fence. This was a great chance for us to see them up close and personal, and to observe Mark give them their morning tea.

After observing the chicken in their habit, we continued with our excursion to visit Tulsa Park, where we took some bread to  feed our local birds. Here we discovered a variety of hungry ducks, however the pukeko were nowhere to be found. When the ducks were fully satisfied with food in their tummies, we set off on our

journey to the bus stop to catch the next bus. On its arrival we all jumped on the bus to take a tour around Totara Park, before returning to kindergarten with bread and milk that we brought from our local four square.  This excursion provided us with the opportunity to interact with our local community and discover what treasures it had to offer to extend our learning about the world around us.

 

Excursion to Maidstone Max

Excursion to the bike park at Harcourt Park: Term 1, 2015

Superhero Costumes

 

 

February has seen some amazing superhero costumes emerge from the programme. Many children have become engaged in creating superhero accessories to entire superhero costumes. As the children create these amazing creations many have taken the opportunity to drive their own learning and support their peers. It has been great to hear children reinforcing to each other that superheroes play as good friends. 

Term 1, 2015

We have been practising our earthquake and fire drills this term. So I thought it was a good time to retell the traditional Māori story of Rūaumoko (also known as Ruamoko) the guardian of earthquakes, volcanoes and seasons. This story has been passed down through generations. It is a story that we regularly read to the children because we know that they enjoy it so much. It’s now on the blog for you to enjoy reading to your children at home as well.

Excursion to Harcourt Park: December 2014

Term 1, 2015: Blueberry and Emu Farm Excursion

          Learning about our Mihi

AM Session Programme

Term 1, 2015

Welcome back from the holiday break. The summer sun has not disappointed us these holidays. And we have also been able to enjoy great outdoor weather now that kindergarten has started again. Monica, our new Head Teacher has had many years of experiences, and we warmly welcome her to our team. This term, the programme in the Morning session is focusing on the strand and goals of Te Whariki known as ‘Contribution’. The concept of ‘Contribution’ from a curriculum viewpoint is considered to be when; children take another’s point of view, or empathise with others, ask for help, see themselves as a help for others, and when they discuss or explain their ideas to adults or to other children. We have started to document learning outcome of the strand ‘Contribution’ on the back planning wall, by the kitchen.

The Afternoon session curriculum focus is on the strand and goals of ‘Belonging’. As children settle into kindergarten, they develop a sense of belonging. This in turn enhances other positive learning outcomes. The concept of ‘Belonging’ from a curriculum viewpoint is considered to be when; there are connecting links with the family and the wider world and they are affirmed and extended, when children know that they have a place here, when children feel comfortable with the routines, customs, and regular events, and when children know the limits and boundaries of acceptable behaviour. We have also started to document the learning outcomes of this strand on the planning wall by the puzzle table.

Photos from the end of term 4, 2014

Berenstain Bears story of the 'Spooky old tree'

Pirate Goldilocks and the Three Pirates

To celebrate Pirate Day on the 19th September, and to extend our interest in dramatic role play, we

decided to retell a classic tale and performed our version of Goldilocks and the Three Pirates.

Our story begun with three pirates, Captain Andrew, First Mate Cody and Cabin Girl Kimberley waiting patiently for their morning porridge. On receiving this porridge they found it to be too hot, so they decided to go and investigate a nearby island. Meanwhile Pirate Goldilocks Millie discovered the ship and jumped aboard to find 3 bowls of porridge, 3 chairs and 3 beds.  After a while  the three pirates returned…..

 

Parent Workshop with Ellie Davidson from Activation Upper Hutt City Council

Learning about literacy starts early!

Keeping Kiwi Kids Safer in Cyberspace - Parent information (click on link below).

kids safer in cyberspace

Kia ora Totara Park community,

We have uploaded this 'Jolly Phonics' YouTube as a learning tool that can be enjoyed at home. These phonics are the same phonic sounds that we use at kindergarten. We have posted this as a fun way of learning, because if something is fun, it is more likely to be remembered. It could be played in the background while your having a snack together with your child, for example. The trick is to keep it enjoyable.

"Play is often talked about as if it were a relief from serious learning. But for children, play is serious learning.   Play is really the work of childhood.”  Fred Rogers

Matariki Breakfast Friday 20th June 2014

Visit from the Rimutaka Fire Fighters

Come and Join Totara Park Kindergarten

Happy Easter Everyone!

Grandparents day song - Like a bright star

Blueberry Farm Excursion AM Children

Tuesday 25th February 2014.

The weather was great for our excursion to the Blueberry Farm today. We had talked about what

blueberries looked like before we went; so that we could pick them and enjoy eating them.

We excitedly boarded the bus and off we went.The Bluebank Blueberry farm is tucked away in
the Akatarawa Valley in Upper Hutt. When we arrived we took a group photo and then we
headed off into the blueberry garden with our small container to pick and eat delicious blueberries.
Several of us had never been blueberry picking before. It was exciting and fun. Everyone seemed
to enjoy finding the bluest berries, picking them and eating them. Our containers were full and so
were our tummies. After some time we came out of the blue berry garden and had a delicious
morning tea. Janet made a yummy blueberry pie for us to eat.

 "Did you know that blueberries are natural antioxidants and they are known as brain   food so are extremely good for you.”

After morning tea we went over to the emus. We then gave them heaps of bread and they loved it. We enjoyed the freedom to be in the fresh air and sunshine to run, to laugh and to play. All to soon our morning in the country quickly came to an end. Our trip to the berry farm was enjoyed by all. Children and parents said they would return with their families. On our trip to the berry farm we all learnt how blueberries grow and when they are ripe to eat. We discovered you can make lots of things with blueberries such as jam, muffins and blueberry pie as well as enjoying eating them straight off the tree. We developed a relationship with the natural environment, exploring the world around us. We learnt to respect nature and our place in it along with the Emus and Alpacha we were able to see and feed. 

Rimutaka Gym Excursion PM Children

Thursday 20th February 2014

Today, the PM session ventured out of the Kindergarten, travelling by bus to the Rimutaka Gym. This was a first excursion for many of the PM children, so they were very excited to go. Once we got to the gym we all took our shoes off and danced around to a few familiar songs such as Miss Bunny and Singing in the Rain. It was then time to explore the gym, testing out equipment like the foam pit, sponge challenge course, balance beams, trampoline, wooden balance board, ladder and slide. 

Each piece of equipment is designed to build confidence, develop children's strength, co-ordination and agility. They had fun testing their abilities and sometimes venturing a little beyond their comfort zone. They were all surprised with how confident they were moving from one area to the other.

He tino pai tō mahi, well done all of you, for your effort and courage as you explored the gym.  You did a great job of trying out fun activities, and developing large motor skills, muscles, balance and spatial awareness. 

  

Welcome to our new kindergarten blog. We hope you have all had an enjoyable holiday and are ready to join us on our creative and innovative learning journey.

The children have started the term off with an enthusiastic drive for learning about volcanoes, insects, construction and design i.e. mobilo vehicles. Many more interests continue to develop as the term progresses.

                                                This is an aeroplane designed by Jared

                            Creating a volcano cake. experimenting with chemical reactions to create an eruption.