Free play in the yard for kindergarten kids by using loose parts….
kindergarten
Best supporters ever!
In kindergarten swimming open class on March 11, 2016 kids not participating in the class fully support the rest of the team!
Henry from Taiwan in our kindergarten
These days we have a visitor in our school. His name is Henry and he is a student from Taiwan. Henry will be with us for six weeks and so we have the opportunity to learn many things about his country and culture.
Few days ago, he prepared a very interesting presentation, in order for our children to get to know Taiwan.
We saw Taiwan on the map and he told us it looks like a leaf! We saw its flag and photos of his city.
After that, we tried together to speak Taiwanese! We translated many words from Greek to Taiwanese and he wrote the name of every children using Chinese ideograms.
Our kids were excited and many of them proved to be quite talented in Chinese writing.
Henry thank you, you are most welcomed in our school !!
(by Stavroula Gaoutsi, kindergarten teacher in Athens)
What is in a TV?
Dorothy Snot kindergarten kids open a number of TV monitors to find out what’s in there!
Creating a loose parts’ springboard!
Andreas, a kindergarten kid, had the brilliant idea to create a springboard using loose parts, particularly old tires arranged in a pile and a pallet, serving as a ladder).
First step was to collect all the items needed for his idea. Second one was setting up his construction and testing, while the final step was…. the actual game!
In a few minutes, all pre-K and kindergarten class formed a long queue in order to jump off this makeshift springboard!
Its one more time I see waste material (items with no practical use from an adult’s point of view) to become the center of children’s outdoor play. Kids only add imagination and ingenuity- so easy for them!
(from Chrysa Vaitsi, cross-class projects’ coordinator in Athens school)
Shopping in the local store
Process-based learning
Free play in class is an important part of the day, for any play-based preschool.
Through play, children imagine, create, disagree, negotiate, learn to solve problems, explore materials – but also develop their relationship with other children.
The decision of our kindergarten kids to construct a privacy box for their medical corner, gave them the opportunity to master all the above, plus to connect play with maths.
Children got divided into groups and began to work. First, paid a visit to the local carpenter to pick their wood.
Then, returned to school and started to work….
- grouped pieces of wood according to height, shape and size
- measured the length of the room and distances between the woods
- chose the proper pieces for their construction
- picked the rest of the staff needed, such as screws, nails and glue
- calculated the quantities
- chose the right tools.
While doing the above, class entered into assumptions, cooperation, testing, made mistakes and worked together to produce a certain result. But mostly, enjoyed the process!
(by Stavroula Gaoutsi, kindergarten teacher in Athens)
Kindergarten kids set up their class
In our school children rights are much respected!
So, teachers do not arrange class for elder kids – children do! They come first day in school to find out a mess, waiting for them to sort it out…
Life-derived Learning 