October was filled with curiosity, creativity, and exciting discoveries as our Preschool 1 friends explored nature, experimented with different materials, and expressed their ideas through hands-on, play-based learning. From outdoor adventures to sensory exploration and imaginative storytelling, each experience encouraged the children to develop new skills, build confidence, and grow together.
Outdoor Adventures: Exploring Nature and Movement
Our outdoor playground was full of exciting discoveries as the children transported wood chips and sand using shovels, strengthening their coordination and exploring concepts like quantity and volume. They also discovered a wet spiderweb, sparking curiosity about nature, and practised jumping over wooden plank hurdles, building balance, coordination, and confidence through active play.
Creative Expressions: Exploring Art in Different Ways
Our art experiences encouraged creativity and self-expression as the children used cotton buds to create unique patterns, explored colourful pastels on shiny tin foil, and designed their own pumpkins using pompoms, stamps, and other materials. These open-ended activities nurtured fine motor skills, sensory exploration, independence, and confidence in expressing their individual ideas.
Sensory Exploration: Bark and Cornstarch
Our sensory bin invited the children to explore wooden bark and cornstarch using tubes, trucks, cups, bowls, spoons, and animal figures. Through scooping, pouring, and imaginative play, they developed fine motor skills, sensory awareness, problem-solving, and early mathematical thinking.
The Ping Pong Blowing Challenge
During our Ping Pong Blowing Challenge, the children used their breath to guide a ping pong ball around cups and pool noodle obstacles, exploring how the direction and strength of their blowing affected its movement. This playful activity encouraged coordination, concentration, persistence, and discovery through cause and effect.
Growing Discoveries: Planting Apple Sprouts
One special experience was planting apple sprouts using seeds saved from our apple snack in July. This meaningful connection between our everyday routines and nature encouraged the children to explore how plants grow and what living things need to thrive. It also introduced opportunities to practice caring for plants, develop patience, and observe changes over time.
Imagination in the Spotlight: Shadow Theatre
Our shadow theatre invited the children to create their own characters and stories using light and shadows. As they experimented with shapes and movements, they explored how shadows could change and bring their ideas to life. This experience encouraged storytelling, language development, creativity, and collaboration while introducing early concepts about light and shadows.
September Highlight: Every Child Matters
Looking back on September, we continued our meaningful Orange Shirt tradition by stamping each child's fingerprint onto our classroom shirt. Every fingerprint was unique, just like each child in our community. Together, they created a shared piece of art that celebrated individuality, belonging, and connection. This tradition reinforces the important message that Every Child Matters. We want every child to feel valued, respected, included, and celebrated for who they are.
Growing Together Through Play
From discovering spiderwebs outdoors to creating art, experimenting with sensory materials, planting seeds, and inventing shadow stories, our Preschool 1 friends continue to learn through curiosity and hands-on exploration. Each experience helps nurture confidence, creativity, problem-solving, and meaningful connections with others.
As we welcome more autumn adventures, we look forward to continuing to follow the children's interests, celebrate their discoveries, and grow together as a learning community.
