Dee Why Kindergarten

The Turtles have been exploring Australian animals and landmarks through hands-on sensory play and creative experiences!

Our nature corner has been transformed into an inviting learning space filled with natural materials, loose parts and opportunities for imaginative play. The children have loved discovering sea creatures, native animals and Australian landscapes through sensory trays, water play and collaborative exploration.

These experiences support curiosity, language development, fine motor skills and meaningful conversations about the world around us. We have especially enjoyed watching the children work together, share ideas and engage in open-ended learning through play. 💚

This afternoon, our service was filled with love, creativity and connection as we welcomed families to celebrate Mother’s Day together.

The children were so proud to share special experiences with their loved ones — from creating beautiful crafts and exploring sensory invitations, to imaginative play and moments of calm connection. Nail painting, decorating keepsakes and storytelling through play all provided opportunities for children to express their love and appreciation in meaningful ways.

Thank you to all the mums, grandmothers and special people who joined us for our Mother’s Day Afternoon Tea. We loved celebrating with you and creating memories together.

On ANZAC Day, we take a moment to remember and honour those who have served and sacrificed.

Earlier this week, the children created a ‘laurel wreath’ together as part of their learning about remembrance. Through thoughtful discussions, they explored the meaning of poppies and the phrase “Lest We Forget,” and worked collaboratively to decorate the wreath with layered leaves and poppies.

Today, as our community pauses to reflect, we share the children’s beautiful wreath as a symbol of respect and remembrance.
Lest We Forget.

🦋 Our Butterfly Enclosure Has Arrived!

We are very excited to share that our butterfly enclosure has arrived at kindy! Today, the children began learning about the life cycle of a butterfly, exploring the stages from egg, to caterpillar, to chrysalis, and finally butterfly through group discussions and story time.

Over the next two weeks, the children will be invited to observe the butterfly enclosure closely, helping them connect their learning to real-life experiences. They will be encouraged to describe the changes they notice, ask questions, and share their ideas with their peers—supporting the development of both their scientific understanding and communication skills.

We look forward to watching this wonderful transformation together! 🦋

To extend children’s cutting skills, fine motor development, and their growing interest in bugs, educators introduced a “Bug in a Jar” learning experience.

Children practised using scissors to carefully cut out pictures of familiar insects and paste them onto a jar template. This hands-on activity supported hand–eye coordination, control when using tools, and the development of concentration and persistence.

The experience also encouraged curiosity and engagement as children explored the fascinating world of bugs through play-based learning.

During Show and Tell, the Whales children shared photos from their aquarium visits, sparking rich discussions about marine life.

Inspired by their experiences, they created ocean artworks using oil pastels and practised fine motor skills by cutting out sea creatures. Reading Commotion in the Ocean by Giles Andreae further supported vocabulary development and deepened their understanding of sea life. 🌊🐠

The Whales have been exploring early coding using Bee-Bot, our programmable robot 🐝🤖

Using a numbered mat, the children entered simple commands to move Bee-Bot forwards, backwards, left and right, carefully sequencing steps to reach their chosen number.

This hands-on experience supported number recognition, counting and early problem-solving, while also introducing foundational coding concepts in a fun and engaging way.

The Whales children engaged in imaginative play using dolls, exploring illness, care, and helping roles. Building on this interest, we introduced a hospital role-play area to support empathy, communication, and social development.

This experience aligns with the EYLF, particularly Outcome 1 (Children have a strong sense of identity) and Outcome 4 (Children are confident and involved learners).

At Dee Why Kindergarten, we recognise that January 26 can mean different things to different people. We acknowledge that for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, this day is important and is often known as Survival Day.

We acknowledge the Gai-Mariagal people as the Traditional Custodians of the land on which we learn, play, and grow. We respect their continuing connection to the land, sea, and community, and we value learning together with care and kindness.