Outdoor Kindy Week
May 20, 2013Outdoor Kindy Week – day 2
May 28, 2013After much excitement and preparation over the past few weeks we spent our first full day outdoors today.
The morning was perfect for us to be rugged up in beanies and coats to protect ourselves from the obvious chill in the air, and the campfire was a welcome meeting point for those wanting to warm themselves a little before heading back to explore this new and exciting learning environment that they had been presented with.
Soon after the children arrived, the excitement level sky rocketed as we received a dump truck delivery of river stones, all ready to be carted to the digging patch and water course by our eager army of willing helpers (including a dad helping out – thanks Alan!) , as well as a ute full of hay bales from one of our wonderful Kindy families.
Our day was filled with so many engaging and rich learning experiences.
There was lots of ‘real’ work…
trimming of tree branches that were getting too low over our digging patch…
hammering of tent pegs…
…which later led to a group of children further developing their skills at the woodwork table…
the relocation of some of our new rocks to the digging patch…
moving of logs and bales of hay…
mixing, kneading and shaping dough to make flat bread on the campfire grill…
cooking our flat bread, sausages and marshmallows on the fire…
washing the dishes…
and even the creation of places to climb and slide totally designed and built by the children.
The amazing learning continued all day as the children discovered and moved the natural and repurposed materials around our outdoor space,
created learning opportunities that constantly amazed us, challenged themselves and took risks,
and demonstrated their incredible problem solving and design skills…
They devised several ways to reach the ripe apples high in the trees that had previously been unattainable.
Experimented with a multitude of science concepts as they built and used their hay bale, plank, rope and and cardboard tube ‘playground equipment’.
Used charcoal to express their creativity.
There was some fantastic exploration of pattern with jute mats and a collection of natural material.
There was the building of a fort and draw bridge in the sandpit with the help of one of our lovely mums
.
There were a group using ropes and the ladder to create an imaginary electrical circuit to light their tent.
Our outdoor planks were given a new lease of life as shovels, a chainsaw, horses to ride, and even tools to make giant paths to follow in the dirt.
Our logs were rolled, balanced on, climbed on, sat on, used as fire trucks, and of course provided us with seating around the wonderful fire pit the children dug out last week.
There were times for us to come together as a group,
times to rest, and lots of time for eating!
We had a few more visitors during our day as well.
Mr North (the Principal at Lobethal Primary School) dropped in after lunch with his guitar and shared a couple of our favourite songs with us before teaching us a song from an aboriginal friend of his, and sharing an aboriginal dreaming story with us.l
Two of our relief teachers Jo and Kerry popped in for a quick visit, Kylie came in over lunch and enjoyed meeting many of the frogs group (she usually works on a Wednesday) and our teacher Nell visited us (on her day off) with the most gorgeous hand knitted (by her!) warm woolly beanies for each of the staff to help keep us warm during outdoor week…thanks Nell!!! Haylie, our finance officer, came in and set up her gazebo for us to use as our outdoor kitchen, and we were also very excited to have one of our Mums, who happens to be a photographer, spend the afternoon with us recording our learning with her camera, thanks Ali !
We even had a grandpa from the bugs group very generously deliver us a trailer load of wood in the afternoon.
Im sure that we will all sleep well tonight, and we look forward to another exciting and busy day with the bugs group tomorrow.
Lee, Janice, Gen, Nic, Kylie, and Kiree
28 Comments
Wow, thanks for that awesome run down of the day, no wonder I enjoyed my sleep last night. Now to prepare for another fantastic day.
Wow, thanks for that awesome run down of the day, no wonder I enjoyed my sleep last night. Now to prepare for another fantastic day.
It’s so great to see children trusted to engage with and explore their environment. It’s awe inspiring to see what they come up with and create when they’re given free range of their imagination in a setting away from ‘grownup’ ideas of structured play. I hope other kindys (and beyond!) follow your lead with this!
It’s so great to see children trusted to engage with and explore their environment. It’s awe inspiring to see what they come up with and create when they’re given free range of their imagination in a setting away from ‘grownup’ ideas of structured play. I hope other kindys (and beyond!) follow your lead with this!
We are so lucky to have such an amazing group of women to lead, educate and inspire our kids. Thanks girls, you do a wonderful job! Rose was totally exhausted last night, she had a ball.
We are so lucky to have such an amazing group of women to lead, educate and inspire our kids. Thanks girls, you do a wonderful job! Rose was totally exhausted last night, she had a ball.
Just brilliant. It’s so easy to underestimate what four year olds are capable of, isn’t it? They are amazing. Thanks to all the beautiful staff for providing these opportunities! Can’t wait to be there tomorrow!
Just brilliant. It’s so easy to underestimate what four year olds are capable of, isn’t it? They are amazing. Thanks to all the beautiful staff for providing these opportunities! Can’t wait to be there tomorrow!
Our children are so lucky to have a kindy that thinks outside the square. Just another example of the team at Lobey going over and above. Oscar can’t wait for Wednesday.
Our children are so lucky to have a kindy that thinks outside the square. Just another example of the team at Lobey going over and above. Oscar can’t wait for Wednesday.
Looks amazing, Savannah would have loved every minute. Missing you all xx
Looks amazing, Savannah would have loved every minute. Missing you all xx
What amazing educators! No wonder I never get to see you as you are busy planning amazing weeks full of engaging ‘real life learning!’ I love it! Inspiring and thought provoking, thanks Lee you are amazing and your fellow colleagues are awesome too! Keep up the great work Cant wait to read about tomorrow!
What amazing educators! No wonder I never get to see you as you are busy planning amazing weeks full of engaging ‘real life learning!’ I love it! Inspiring and thought provoking, thanks Lee you are amazing and your fellow colleagues are awesome too! Keep up the great work Cant wait to read about tomorrow!
Your team constantly inspires me! Love the experiences and the way you have shared this with us!
Your team constantly inspires me! Love the experiences and the way you have shared this with us!
Angus had a great day and didnt want to come home at home time. He wants to bring his fire poker and seat tomorrow hehe , looking forward to day 2 of the adventure , thanks ladies 🙂
Angus had a great day and didnt want to come home at home time. He wants to bring his fire poker and seat tomorrow hehe , looking forward to day 2 of the adventure , thanks ladies 🙂
well done girls and kids!!! looks like you all had a ball!
well done girls and kids!!! looks like you all had a ball!
angus was asleep on the lounge at 5.00 o clock totaly exhausted , thats not like him !
angus was asleep on the lounge at 5.00 o clock totaly exhausted , thats not like him !
Love your work Lee, Genevieve, other staff and committed members of the Lobethal Kindergarten Community!
Love your work Lee, Genevieve, other staff and committed members of the Lobethal Kindergarten Community!
Well ladies, you wont be surprised to know that looking at these inspiring images and reading the beautiful comments from your kindy famlies has brought more than a few tears to my eyes! You lot are amazing. Think of the wonderful memories your kindy children will forever have of their outdoor kindy week, and especially of you all. xxx K
Well ladies, you wont be surprised to know that looking at these inspiring images and reading the beautiful comments from your kindy famlies has brought more than a few tears to my eyes! You lot are amazing. Think of the wonderful memories your kindy children will forever have of their outdoor kindy week, and especially of you all. xxx K
May I suggest a group hug for your community and their love of learning and sharing 🙂
May I suggest a group hug for your community and their love of learning and sharing 🙂