Exploring Mandalas

Exploring Mandalas!

 A mandala is far more than a simple shape. It represents wholeness, and can be seen as a model for the organizational structure of life itself--a cosmic diagram that reminds us of our relation to the infinite, the world that extends both beyond and within our bodies and minds.

 We have been exploring pattern and talked about a center point around which the pattern revolves.

 

We have explored creating mandalas with light and colour.

 We have created a collaborative Mandala.

 We have created our mandalas on rocks.

We hope to create a Mandala with the children that represents themselves within the circle.

or perhaps some clay Mandalas. 

Watch this space!

2014 Muddy Adventures!

HOW TO CREATE A MUD KITCHEN...

POURING TO SHARE...

COOKING UP A STORM...

GRINDING...

SHARING...

WORKING TOGETHER....

COLLECTING INGREDIENTS...

CO-CREATING....

ADDING SOME SEASONING...

SELECTING THE FINEST INGREDIENTS....

Take some fresh spices, some grinders, and some sauce bottles.

Add some pots and pans neatly and accessible on a low shelf.

Make it look inviting, with a few pots, pans and spoons set up as an invitation to play... 

Add a sink for washing up, a bench for cooking on, and an oven to cook in.

Add a sprig of garnish, some empty dishes for preparation...

A spoonful of sand and a dash of fresh herbs from the garden...

A placemat, some eating utensils, and a fresh, garden smelling table decoration...

And then you have..... A FABULOUS MUD KITCHEN!!!!

At kindy, We Love Logs!

We Love Logs! 

Our logs have been very useful and versatile at kindy, just look at this beautiful bed for 'baby'.

A log with some cushions to sit with a friend and give your baby a cuddle, a bottle, or nappy change. As you can see they're well loved!

We've even used our logs in our dining space outside as a social place to sit and eat with friends. The children really enjoy sitting on the low stumps too.

We've also used them as train tracks, creating an interesting 3D exploration through a tunnel.  

                                              

Play dough inspiration

A dessert bar with play dough.

 We set up glass jars with cotton wool...

 and pom poms...

 and paddle pop sticks...

 muffin cases , muffin trays...

 Glitter....  and then created desserts..

though the week we added Plasticine as well as different things to create cakes and candy.

 This became the most social table at preschool.

Dramatic play. Restaurant

Wok in the Box ?

 Just add bottle caps and wool as noodles....

 Make the space irresistible
Add literacy and numeracy props
cash registers , money, order books , pens, papers.

 and then play!

Guest blog post from our fantastic TRT  

Cath who helped  create an exciting water play experience!

A quick Introduction for those of you who have not meet me, I am Cath and I have been doing relief teaching at il nido on and off over this year. And for those that have not worked or been to il Nido it is a great place to be – they really encourage children to explore, lead the play experience, express who they are, learn in a way that works for them, they are challenged, supported and there is always fun! Whenever I turn up I can’t wait to have a look around and see what is happening, often I don’t know what something is and frequently it changes from one child to the next what a creation could be! There have been water fountains, secret gardens, superhero caves, musical explorations; marble runs made from recycled material and so much more. It is engaging, inviting, exciting and you never know what is going to happen next! For an educator this is a great place to be!

-Cath Aimers 

So down to business! If you heard giggles of glee on Wednesday the 27^th of November this might just be why.

In Australia 37 Degree days …. means… hats, sunscreen, shade and water play…..so what to do…how to make it interesting and fun?!

After setting up a few things around the yard it was decided that a hanging sprinkler would be perfect for the kids to run through and play with! Charmaine helped work out some resources and it was time to create! After starting with an old plastic tube and putting some holes in using a screw driver we hung the tube up under the shade shelter and realised that too much was pouring out the end and not enough through the small holes. With team work Sarah another staff member worked out that blu tack would plug one end. By this stage the children were getting involved as they arrived for the day and were watching team work being modeled by the staff, they naturally started asking questions and helping with the hose and cutting the rope to hold it up.

It took quite a while to get it just right, a few different children helped problem solve of how to get the water to run through, after taping the connections, lowering the rope, raising the hose and removing the spray hose connection it was ready!

The children spent a lot of time running through, catching water with their buckets, washing items, wetting their hats, trying to use their mouths to catch the rain. In this play experience children used many different skills all at once from team work to negotiation, problem solving and sharing. A great sensory experience, it made sure children were cool, they were learning through play and it was such a joy and wonder to watch. I think I even saw a few staff run through too.

Written by Cath Aimers (TRT).

More mechanical play worlds!

Maybe I should have added this post onto 'From Trash to Treasure', but this is so much more.....

 Crates are our most valuable resource! They have been turned into towers, engines, cars, machines, baby beds, chairs, teenage mutant ninja turtle houses and so much more.

We use them to intertwine hoses and add funnels to create a water machine or for children to explore gravity!

This was part of a bicycle that we found on the side of the road . The wheels were added to our climbing frame . There is a handle which is part of the inner rubber tubing of the stationary bike.  Keep watching for what we do with the rest of the bike!

Stay tuned!

 We hope to add interactive parts to our bicycle and create a mechanical tree!