Orenda Circle Early Childhood Centre

06/09/2026

26/08/2026

Following an inquiry wherever it leads

A few months ago, our Thursday group discovered the remains of an animal washed up at the beach. What began as a fierce debate about what the animal might be gradually developed into a much longer investigation of bones, decomposition, palaeontology, scientists and how we might find answers to questions we couldn’t solve ourselves.

The children returned to the animal week after week, observing how it changed, documenting and graphing their evolving theories, and respectfully challenging one another’s ideas as new features became visible. Along the way, their thinking increasingly turned towards palaeontologists and museums as places and people that might help them understand more.

Last week, that inquiry took us to the museum.

There was something really meaningful about visiting after months of investigation. The children arrived with their own questions, theories and experiences to draw upon, making connections between what they encountered at the museum and the thinking that had already taken place together.

For us, this is one of the strengths of long-term inquiry. We don’t always know where an investigation will lead when it begins. By allowing children’s questions to genuinely shape the direction, a discovery on our local beach can eventually lead us somewhere entirely new.

13/08/2026

Our mud kitchen has been getting a little extra attention lately, with some of our educators enjoying finding new materials and resources to add to the space and seeing how the children respond.

Alongside the usual mud, water, pots and utensils, we’ve been experimenting with flowers, herbs, natural materials and other additions that invite children to mix, pour, combine and create.

We’d love to gather some new ideas. What are your favourite things to add to a mud kitchen? Are there particular resources, natural materials or ingredients that your children return to again and again?

05/08/2026

Our Monday group has been looking deeply into storytelling by exploring the different elements that come together to create a story.

We’ve begun to break stories down into their individual parts, asking questions such as: Who are the characters? Where does the story take place? What problem needs to be solved?

This week, the children turned their attention to characters. Through painting, drawing and conversation, they reflected on familiar characters from books they know and love, recording their ideas in their journals and talking about what makes each character unique.

By slowing stories down and exploring them piece by piece, children begin to understand that stories are made up of different components that authors carefully weave together. It lays an important foundation for both story comprehension and the children’s own storytelling as they begin creating narratives of their own.

26/07/2026

A meal can be more than a meal.

When we slow the rhythm of the day, ordinary moments become opportunities for connection, responsibility and belonging.

23/07/2026

One of the things we value about the school holidays is the opportunity to slow the rhythm of our days.

Without the pace of ongoing inquiry projects, we can spend more time immersed in small, meaningful experiences that invite children to work carefully, practise new skills, and simply enjoy the process. This week, the children have been exploring simple stitching, developing patience, coordination and perseverance one stitch at a time.

These quieter moments are an important part of our program. They provide opportunities to build practical life skills, strengthen fine motor control, and experience the satisfaction that comes from creating something slowly with their own hands.

Sometimes, slowing down creates the richest learning of all.

15/07/2026

The team at Orenda Circle Early Childhood Centre had a simple but wonderful idea: Create a little Beach Toy Library at Midway Point Beach (near the McKingly side) where children can borrow toys, play, and return them for others to enjoy.

I gave the Sorell Men's Shed a quick call, and by that afternoon they had built a fantastic Beach Toy Library. The children then added the finishing touch by painting it with bright, colourful artwork.

A huge thank you to Orenda Circle Early Childhood Centre, the Sorell Men's Shed, and the young artists who brought it to life. I can't wait to see it being enjoyed by families for many summers to come.

This is the sixth Beach Toy Library I've helped install alongside our community, with libraries now in Dodges Ferry, Carlton, Midway Point and Primrose Sands.

What other small improvements could make our public spaces even more beautiful, welcoming and easier for everyone to enjoy?

12/07/2026

Through our centre-wide inquiry into community, many of the children have become increasingly interested in maps and map making.

Our Tuesday group, in particular, has been captivated by The Golden Glow, the story of a fox following a map on a journey up a mountain in search of a rare flower. This story has inspired the children to begin exploring maps within their own community, drawing maps to and from familiar places and thinking about how maps help us navigate, communicate and share our understanding of the world around us.

We’re hoping to continue extending this interest and would love your help. Does anyone know of any picture books that feature maps or map making? We’d love to add a few more to our collection.

💡📚🔍

10/07/2026

What a beautiful, still winter’s day to be out exploring our community.

Today’s walk was filled with moments of collaboration and care. We watched the older children naturally support our youngest explorers, hold their hands, look out for one another. We also enjoyed looking for and identifying native plants and working together to care for Country by collecting rubbish along the way.

We were also incredibly proud of our babies, who have really grown their “walking legs.” For some, today was their very first community walk without being carried in the backpack, a milestone that reflects the confidence, resilience and sense of belonging they have developed over the year.

These moments remind us that a sense of community isn’t something we teach through words alone, it’s something children build together through shared experiences, kindness and belonging.