swamp run

During

Science Week…

our Senior school provided our Junior school with some fabulous times. 
It’s great having Physics, Chemistry and Biology Senior school teachers
promoting all things science to our Little Learners. 

The kids were blown away by their week long experiments and shows. 
Everyday was an adventure.  One favourite activity was…

The Swamp Run.

Strategically placed at the bottom of the stairs leading to the oval, the Little Learners were intrigued from the beginning of the day as they peered at the set up. 
Several stories circulated about what was happening  in the playground. 
The Teachers were loving it – especially our Physics Teacher, 
who donned fancy apparel for the occasion.

This one particularly delighted in advising all of the Kinder Kids to take off their shoes and socks,
stating that the
Kinder teachers
would help them all put them back on after their swamp run!!!
…he’s soooo funny. Hmm

The Swamp run was a HUGE tray filled with cornflour and water. 
The Little learners had to trust the science experts as they advised the Little Learners to run and not walk through the swamp.

One brave Kindy teacher
volunteered was persuaded, pressured to model the process. 
Luckily I was on photos!

And here they are…

   

It was hilarious. 
There were those who did exactly as they were told and safely made it through the swamp. 
Some made it half way, doubted and sunk. 
Then again their were some who right from the start could not believe the ‘scientists’ and sank right from the start as they slowly stepped into the swamp.

 

My favourite was a little fellow who was doubtful, sunk, then tried to get out with his hands which also got stuck. 
We had a few tears but mostly giggles and joy with everyone wanting more attempts to cross the swamp. 
Two feet together kangaroo jumps were a successful way to journey the swamp and looked very funny too.

 

All in all a really fun week. 
Thanks Science Team!

Happy Saturday!
Mrs Stowe

K-6 Literacy Day

This week our Junior school held it’s annual

Literacy Day.

Each teacher selects a book from either Australia’s short listed award potentially winning titles or a favourite book and creates a little bit of fun for the Little Learners.  we hold the groups from morning until lunchtime.

The children from Kindergarten to Year 6 are placed into groups of about 18 students, mixed grades.  Each group spends approximately 30minutes in a teachers classroom listening to a story and completing an activity.  The group then moves on and experiences a new book every 30minutes until lunchtime.

It’s so lovely to watch the older 12year olds interact with the Little 5year olds.  It also gives the “bigger” kids an excuse to really enjoy picture books that they otherwise think they are too mature for.

What did I do?  I hear you ask.

I introduced the groups I had to Peggy by Anna Walker

Peggy is the delightful story of a chicken who finds herself in the city then makes her way home again to the country.  Its absolutely gorgeous, both story and illustrations.  The author cleverly uses a double  page spread of delightful illustrations and simple wording towards the start then repeats this double page at the end of the book to bring the story full circle visually and in writing.  The unexpected treat is the final page which leaves everyone with a smile.

 What? 

Did you think I was going to tell you what happens and spoilt the story for you. No way!

Peggy the hen is given many human characteristics which are very funny as she fumbles her way around the city but rather than spend the reading time is ruckus laughter, it just makes you smile all the way through as you explore the illustrations.  It was a feel good story for sure.

Our Activity

We discussed chickens and I told the Little Learners how I had taken an egg from the fridge as a child, wrapped it in tissues and a hand towel and hopped it would hatch. 
Yes…I was pet deprived and…stupid!

Next the Little Learners played a game of
Memory in three’s. 

I printed the chicken and chicks freebie from TpT.
 
I laminated and cut them up ready for the day. 

I made six sets. 

Each chicken has upper case alphabet letters while the little chicks had lower case letters.

All ages enjoyed matching memory style.
 

 

 

Happy Thursday!
Mrs Stowe

My Piano Man…

 

Deviating slightly from my kinder posts just because I can. 
Although still about a school event.

Hats off to our Senior School Teachers

Last Thursday our school held its annual MAD night (Music, Arts & Drama).  The evening showcased some of the talents of the performing arts students in their final year at school.  These kids were amazing.  Credit to their teachers who persevere, encourage and channel their talents. While this MAD night is for fun, the students will present their items in about a month to a state judging panel and this will form part of their final school assessment.  In Australian we call this final school assessment HSC (Higher School Certificate) and it is used as entry for university. It includes all subjects the student studies.

Well…my son is in his final year and he is a gifted pianist!!
Okay, I know what you are thinking but honestly parent love aside,
He really is gifted…
Harry can hear something and reproduce it effortlessly. He plays with feeling and our home is filled with beautiful music of all styles from classic to jazz and more. Id like to add that he gets this gift or even talent from me but…he doesn’t.  I cant even clap a beat.  Sad but true.

Just wanted to say WOW!!

Harry

you are incredible and so humble. 
You are a blessing and an inspiration.
All the best for your HSC

What a great night!

Listening to the CD now…speechless.

Let your light shine.

Happy Saturday!
Proud Mum
Mrs Stowe

PS  Thanks for your indulgence friends.

desk plates…

Make summer last a little longer…

Ice Cream themed desk plates to drag Summer back into your classroom.
Take at look at the gorgeous graphics, frames and papers in these new desk plates.

Thanks to the creativity of the wonderful

Barbara Leyne
from Ruby Slippers Blog Designs.

I was able to put together a set of name plates using six different flavours/colours. 
Barb is amazingly talented and a real gem.

Barbara created six delicious flavoured ice-creams with matching paper and frames.  These are available at her TpT store. Creative possibilities are endless…hmm.

I love them all.  
Thanks Barb

 

This is a sample of my desk plates and you can see them in the photos above and below too.

I printed my plates onto light card, cut them down the middle and added the Little Learners names. I laminated them so they will last until the end of the year too.

Multi use…

I will  use the desk plates to mark places, support ability and mixed ability grouping, socialise Little Learners, assist with letter recognition (alphabet in lower case on every desk plate)  and to quickly group the children as we set about tasks or move to the floor or out to lines etc.
How? 
I will simply call out an ice-cream flavour or colour and in my class of 24, four students should respond immediately because they have that colour ice-cream on their desk plate. 
No arguments…I’m hopeful.

Introduced the new Desk Plates Today…

The Little Learner’s were so excited with their new desk plates and I LOVE that they are a reminder the Australian Summer is on the way 
– yay!

Although, 
ice-cream is good all year round
so head on over to my TpT store if you ‘d like a copy for your Little Learners.

Happy Wednesday!
Mrs Stowe

Posters–Days of the week & months of the year

A new product available from my Tpt store for anyone

too tired & too busy 

to be making Days of the week and Months of the year poster style display for their room.

Ready made poster style wall display.

How?

Print, cut and laminate for an easy, bright, colourful wall display in your classroom.

All posters are based on a dotty theme to coordinate.

Pack includes a matching title display printable too. (essential to complete the matchy look)

Alternatively use the printable as a set of flash style cards to practise ordering names of the days of the week and months of the year. The Little Learners could use the cards to practise putting them back into correct order also.

Have fun with this product. My Tpt store, click here.

Happy Sunday!
Mrs Stowe

Cats Sleep anywhere…

 

This week in our unit learning about ‘Pets’ the Little Learners drew some amazing cats.  It was a guided drawing activity and I am always thrilled with their results so let me walk you through their process.

Step 1. Brainstorm everything the Little Learners know about cats. then specifically look at physical features.

Step 2.  Good old You Tube…there are some wonderful clips to show how cats move not to mention the various types of cats.  Google images - Mane Coon, the largest breed of domestic cat.  It’s hilarious absolutely huge!! Laugh, tell stories and examine the details of each cat.

Step 3. Begin the guided drawing.  Its all based around a simple oval shape that I found the Little Learners could easily do.

 

Step 4. Use 1 colour wax crayon to alternatively shade a dark then light stripe.  This is great for assisting the refinement of downward pencil pressure and it gives a textured finish to the cat fur too.

                

Step 5. Colour the eyes dark and the face lightly then outline everything in black crayon.

                 

Step 6.  add the cushion.  Again only use 1 colour crayon varying the pressure to make patterns on the cushion.

                

Step 7. The Little Learners voted on a green dye wash to complete their product.

               

I haven’t hung them up yet but below you can see them drying.  It should make an eye catching display.  We also read a few cat poems and next week will add one of our own with lots of alliteration and adjectives. Have you found any great poems I could use?

Happy Saturday!
Mrs Stowe

100th day of Kindergarten

How much fun did we have counting up to this milestone.  The Little Learners were thrilled going home on day 99 and quite overwhelmed on the 100th day. 

It was very special.

The other Kinder teachers and I prepared into the darkness of the cold winters evening the night before our celebration, ensuring everything was ready for our big day. 

I wrote 100 in chalk all over the carpet as below.

The Little Learners thought this was really naughty and helped me get it off by tracing the 100 with their fingers until in faded.  Naturally they were just practising making 100 as chalk dust easily vacuums up.  Shh don't tell them though!

I also scattered 100 smiles around the floor too and throughout the day had the learners take one or two as a reward.  It was reflective of their beautiful innocence that they didn't just take them but waited to be asked to collect them as a reward – totally gorgeous and another reason I am thankful for them.

 

The Little Learners came to school either dressed as a 100 year old person
or carrying 100 items. 
We had 100 rice grains, a poster with 100 friends pictures on it, 100 stickers,  100 lollies, 100 cakes to share.  Our parents were very supportive indeed.

I wore a jacket with 100 smiley faces taped on.  I was assured that me black jacket looked much nicer with yellow smiles all over it!

We wrote stories about what could be done with 100 dollars.
We did 100 actions.
We counted to 100 by 2’s, 5’s and 10’s
We wrote 100 words.
We made 100 glasses to wear home.
We rolled a dice over and over until we had coloured in a 100 square pattern.

But…

my favourite was asking the little Learners to carefully draw their face. 
After a little while I asked them to pick it up and screw it up,
unfold it and that this is what they would look like when they were 100 with loads of wrinkles. 
They burst with giggles and laughter. 
{A couple added moustaches}. 
Next we pasted the pictures into frames and displayed on art lines in our room.

           

Finally….

The creativity of the day was…
this amazing 100 lollipop stand/trophy which was created by one of the parents. 
It was absolutely amazing!  A big painted Styrofoam ball forms the centre and the rest is self explanatory. 

A truly fun day!

Happy Monday!
Mrs Stowe