St Paul's Lutheran Kindergarten Caboolture

Our “Emu Book of Calm” is an ongoing long-term project where children actively participate in developing a book of Self-Regulation Strategies using technology in the form of a ‘Talking Photo Album’. The strategies are learned from sources such as books and the MindBubbles resilience program. Children represent the strategies through drawing, then voice-record a description of the strategy.

Through this project, children are empowered to use technology as a tool to support their learning and development, and to independently access and ‘read’ the strategies in the book be it proactively (while emotionally regulated) or reactively (when in need of support for self-regulation). It enables children to preserve the level of autonomy they desire and/or require to succeed, holding agency to choose whether to stay on their own or with the support of an educator to self-regulate.

Our children love gearing up with safety glasses and earmuffs, and doing some ‘real work’ with our carpentry tools.

Carpentry experiences focus not only on developing hand-eye coordination and creativity but also learning about the importance of safety in a context that is meaningful and purposeful. As children develop their confidence and skills, these projects evolve from simple hammering, to decorating pieces of wood, and creating different items.

The Emu Class has been doing a lot of learning inspired by “The Very Hungry Caterpillar”, by Eric Carle. Mathematical Provocations have been set up around for children to explore mathematics through patterning, comparison and mathematical language.

Meaningful literacy and language opportunities were made available in the Mark-Making Area and our ‘Beyond the Story’ provocation. By manipulating the prompts, ‘reading’ the book and retelling the story, children develop their oral language, which is an essential foundation for the learning of formal reading and writing.

The Kindergarten was participated in the school lockdown. All the children did amazing.

LOCKDOWN DRILL | This afternoon we completed our practice lockdown for the term, and we couldn't be prouder of our students! They listened carefully, stayed calm and quiet, and moved quickly to their safe positions - well done everyone!
An important reminder of how well our school community works together when it counts.

Oh, how fun it was to create our very own Puppet Theater!

Emu children represented their ‘desired designs’ through drawing and then combined the individual preferences into a final design that was agreed upon by the group through discussion, negotiation and voting. Over the course of a week, children contributed to the creation of the Puppet Theater and the pride and joy on their face once it was completed was delightful!

Through this collaborative project, imagination, creativity, problem-solving and language were fostered, and children experienced engineering and literacy in ways that are enjoyable and meaningful to them.

Want to grow a future engineer? Let your kids play!

Play is a crucial part of child development, and in particular, on the development of early engineering skills. Through play, children can explore and experiment with the world around them, which can help them develop problem-solving skills, creativity, and critical thinking. All useful dispositional skills within the engineering industry.

One of the keyways that play can develop early engineering skills is by building toys. Building toys, such as blocks, Lego, and K’NEX, allow children to explore and experiment with different structures and designs. Through the process of building and taking apart these structures, children are able to develop spatial reasoning skills and an understanding of how different parts work together to create a cohesive whole.

Another way that play can develop early engineering skills is using technology. Many older children today have access to computers, tablets and other technology and this can be a great way to introduce them to the concepts of engineering. Programs such as Minecraft, Roblox, and Scratch, help children learn about coding, construction, robotics and other engineering concepts in a fun and engaging way.

Research has shown that children who engage in playful activities, such as building and technology-based play, are more likely to develop an interest in STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics) subjects as they grow older. Children who engage in building activities with blocks and other construction toys are more likely to show an interest in engineering and architecture later in life.

Playing with loose parts is another way that children can develop early engineering skills through play. Loose parts refer to materials that can be manipulated and moved around, such as blocks, beads, shells, and other small and large objects. These materials are open-ended and can be used in a variety of ways, which allow children to use their imagination and creativity to build and create.

Using loose parts in play can help children develop a variety of engineering skills. For example, children can use loose parts to create structures and designs, which can help them develop spatial reasoning and problem-solving skills. They can also experiment with different materials and see how they interact with one another, which can help them develop an understanding of cause and effect. Additionally, loose parts can be used to create simple machines, such as pulleys and levers, which can help children understand basic mechanical principles.

The use of loose parts in play can support children’s understanding of scientific concepts, such as force and motion, and can help them develop problem-solving and critical thinking skills. Loose parts play also allows children to become more confident and independent learners as they are allowed to explore and experiment with materials on their own.

Play is an essential part of child development, and it can play a key role in developing early engineering skills. Combining loose parts with play opportunities, where children can build toys, or access technology-based play, can help children develop problem-solving skills, creativity and critical thinking – all important skills for success in the field of engineering. It is important for parents and educators to encourage children to engage in playful activities that will help them develop these skills, as it can have a positive impact on their future academic and career success.

References:
Alawajee, O., & Delafield-Butt, J. (2021). Minecraft in education benefits learning and social engagement. International Journal of Game-based Learning, 11(4), 19-56.

Casey, T., & Robertson, J. (2016). Loose Parts Play: A Toolkit. Inspiring Scotland. Retrieved from:https://creativestarlearning.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2020/05/Loose-Parts-Toolkit.pdf

Flannigan, C., & Dietze, B. (2017). Children, outdoor play and loose parts. Journal of Childhood Studies, 42(4). 53-60.

Gold, Z.S., Elicker, J., Evich, C.D., Mishra, A.A., Howe, N., & Weil, A.E. (2021). Engineering play with blocks as an informal learning context for executive function and planning. The Research Journal for Engineering Education, 110(4), 803-818.

Linder, S.M., A.M. Emerson, B. Heffron, E. Shevlin, A. Vest, & A. Eckhoff. 2016. STEM use in early childhood education: viewpoints from the field. Young Children, 71(3), 87–91.

Nicholson, S. (1971). How not to cheat children: The theory of loose parts. Landscape Architecture (62), 30-34.

Resnick, M. (2018). Lifelong kindergarten: Cultivating creativity through projects, passion, peers and play. The MIT Press: MA.

Robinson, K., & Aronica, L. (2015). Creative schools: The grassroots revolution that’s transforming education. Viking: New York, NY.

Yan, W., Ng, D.T.K., & Gao, H. (2022). Robot programming versus block play in early childhood education: Effects on computational thinking, sequencing ability, and self-regulation. British Journal of Educational Technology, 53(6), 1817-1841.

✨ Read more about the brain behind the block tower here: https://neurochild.com/library/the-brain-behind-the-block-tower/

If you have questions on the support Allied Health can provide or want to learn more about what to look out for in your child's development this is the chance for you. This webinar is free and open to all so contact us on 5428 1477 or [email protected] to register for the link.

How lucky are we to have an amazing Nature Play Area to explore right next to us at St Paul's Lutheran Primary School & Kindergarten, Caboolture. Children get to benefit from being outdoors with the endless possibilities that nature provides, while learning to value, to appreciate and to look after the land.

If you're attending the Caboolture Show this weekend, please visit the art display and appreciate the hard work of local Kindy and school students.