Piwakawaka Learning @ Oropi School: Week 8 Term 2...

So this week we have been following our interest in Authorship and amazing stories have been written.  Some of the children are also showing an interest in 'projects' and we have revisited our 'ocean explorers' dvd which has ignited a big interest in mini projects on sea creatures.



Some children have also been interested in knitting so we have been looking at basic skills here.  We would like to cover some of our trees in knitting like they do in Greerton Village at this time of year...What do you think????  Could take us a while!!!!

Check out our new homecorner props that we have too....

 

Authorship in Piwakawaka...

We also enjoy our malleable activities during our play time....these help to strengthen our muscles for writing!!!

 

The new children are becoming acquainted with the Oropi Guinea Pigs...

Week 8 Term 2...

Last Friday the Guinea pigs were our big attraction.  Fridays are our Art day and so we do things a little different.  We start the day with a mat time instead of rolling into our play learning.



The Guinea pigs are very popular and help the children to learn about and understand the needs of living things.  Elise brought in a big bag of grass for them and so they were very happy...

 

They live at my house when they are not at school...

 

Week 7 Wednesday...

The paper folding is still a very strong interest during discovery play in the mornings.



Check out the below photos...

 

As we have mentioned before our children are doing a lot of writing during discovery time.  Writing/literacy occurs in play...whether it be at the play dough table or the carpentry shed.  We have seen how much our children 'write' when it is their choice or interest, more so than when they are made to 'write' in a formal situation.  This all reinforces the importance of play and how children will learn/write when they are ready too!!!

 

Check out the below example:

 

This(above) was done during her writing group time....

 

 

 

Below shows a book that she made during her free play time.  There was some adult support but the child was very motivated and focused, quite different from her writing group time.

 

 

This child wrote 7 sentences today as opposed to 1 in her writing group time!!! The story was based on the weather!

Week 7...

A big Thank you to all of you who were able to attend our Matariki assembly last Friday....Piwakawaka did us proud with their beautiful singing!



Thankyou also for the junk modelling that has been coming in and for the donations of spare paper...please keep it coming as we are always grateful for donations!



This week the children have been interested in sewing again and in making pom poms.  Some of the boys especially are back into their interest of paper aeroplanes.  It has developed into an interest in Dinosaur folding too!!!  Very tricky business but great to see them being independent and having a go!!

We are also very busy at writing our own books in Piwakawaka..look at all of this Literacy that is occurring through our play based learning. 

 In fact we are learning soooo  much when we play we almost hate to stop.  We play every morning for the first hour and wow look at what we accomplish in this time!!!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Week 6 Term 2...

This week the children have been making Pom poms...a follow on from our weaving and sewing.  We love how our play based learning leads into different interests and urges.



Tomorrow is the Cross country at Kaimai school and Friday is our Matariki Assembly.



Check out the below photos to see what we have been up too.



Thank you to the families who have provided junk modelling and also thanks to the parent helpers that we have had in today!!!

 

Betty comes into our Room on certain days to work with children in smaller groups too focusing on language and social skills.

 

End of week 5...

The end of week 5 saw The Cross Country on Wednesday and well done to all of the children for giving it a go!!!!

 

On Thursday we said farewell to Maisie, Logan and Ngakau...we had a little celebration party where we made our own treats...check out the below photos....

 

So another busy week for class Piwakawaka.....don't forget our Matariki Assembly next Friday Afternoon at 2 O'clock in Kiwi Room!  Hope you can all make it!!!

 

Finally we  desperately need some junk modelling as our 'making area' is at an all time low.  Remember we love your recycling so bring it in!!!!!