Head Start Montessori Mount Gravatt

🦠 Exploring Microbes!

Over the last few weeks, we have been exploring the fascinating world of microbes. The children have loved learning about the tiny living things that are all around us, including bacteria and viruses.

Our journey began with the book Me, Microbes and I by Philip Bunting, which introduces children to the microscopic world in a fun and engaging way.

Today, the children used playdough to create their own models of bacteria and viruses. They explored different shapes, colours and features while using their imagination to represent what these tiny organisms might look like under a microscope.

A wonderful hands-on way to bring our science learning to life!

How do we get a mandarin out of a jar without spilling the water?

This was the challenge we presented to the children during Science Week. The children had plenty of ideas and first tried reaching into the jar to grab the mandarin. As they discovered, this caused the water to spill over the sides!

Miss Anna then showed the children another way. By placing a finger into the water and moving it around in a circular motion, the water begins to rotate and creates a small vortex. This movement helps bring the mandarin towards the centre and upwards, making it possible to remove it without spilling the water.

The children watched closely, made predictions and observed the cause-and-effect process. It was a wonderful opportunity to explore problem-solving, observation and early science concepts through hands-on experimentation. 🔬✨

Gardening in Science Week 🌱

This Science Week, the children have been exploring what happens beneath the soil as a plant grows.

We planted carrots in a special see-through planter that allows us to observe what is happening both above and below the soil. This means the children can watch the roots develop and follow the different stages of the plant's life cycle without having to dig the plant up.

Carrots were chosen because they provide a wonderful visual example. As they grow, the children can observe the roots developing underground while the leaves grow above the soil.

The children are already excited to see what is happening beneath the surface! 🌱🥕

Comparing School to Pre-Prep 🎒

As part of our ongoing exploration of transitioning to school, the children have been learning about the similarities and differences between Pre-Prep and School.

Using The Wild Guide to Starting School by Laura and Philip Bunting as a starting point, we have been discussing what children might experience when they move on to school. The children have also been sharing their ideas and using a diagram to explore what is different about each environment and what experiences they may have in common.

These conversations provide opportunities for children to ask questions, share their thoughts and build a greater understanding of what their transition to school may look like 🎒📚🌱

🌱 Each day, we give our garden a little love to help it grow, thrive and flourish! 🌿

Recently, our orchids and succulents had outgrown their pots, so it was time for a little gardening project. The children put on their gardening gloves and got involved, carefully helping to move the plants into their new, bigger homes.

As we worked, we talked about what happens when plants grow and why they sometimes need more space for their roots. The children explored the soil, handled the plants gently and helped care for our beautiful garden.

Through these everyday experiences, children are developing an understanding of growth, responsibility and caring for the living things around them. 🌱💚

Our children have been exploring the sense of smell through a hands-on sensory experience 🌿

Using fresh herbs from our garden, cinnamon sticks and other natural materials, the children have been comparing different scents, building their vocabulary and engaging their senses through play.

Hands-on experiences like these encourage curiosity, observation and a love of learning about the world around us. 💚

Our educators have already completed 885 skips this month!

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With cold and flu season here, we've been learning about how to keep ourselves and others healthy.

The children have been sharing wonderful ideas about washing hands, covering coughs and sneezes, eating healthy foods, getting plenty of rest and helping stop the spread of germs. It's never too early to build healthy habits that support our whole community! 💙

Although most of our Purple King climbing beans were harvested, the chilly winter mornings caused a few of the pods to dry out before we could pick them. Rather than seeing this as a setback, we turned it into a wonderful learning opportunity!

The children opened the dry pods, explored the beans inside and used a mortar and pestle to crush them. When they discovered some of the beans were too hard, they worked together to problem solve and decided to soak the beans in water to soften them before trying again.

Experiences like these encourage children to think critically, work collaboratively and develop an understanding of how seasonal changes affect the plants we grow. 🌱💜

What is School Readiness?

School readiness is about so much more than knowing letters and numbers. It is about developing the confidence, independence, resilience and social skills children need to thrive when they start school.

At Head Start Montessori, our Queensland Government Approved Kindergarten Program supports children to build self-help skills, communication, problem-solving, early literacy and numeracy, and a lifelong love of learning through meaningful, hands-on experiences every day.

If you're looking for a Kindergarten program that supports your child's transition to school, we'd love to hear from you.

🌐 www.headstartmontessori.com.au
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