Carnaval

 This week we celebrated Carnaval - this was a new celebration for us and we had so much fun!!

 Carnaval is a party celebration in  South America combining dancing, music and lots of vibrant, upbeat energy. Santiago's family shared some delicious food with us to share at lunchtime and we celebrated by making and wearing colourful masks, dancing the Samba to South American drums and music, throwing water balloons and learning about the traditions of Carnaval. What a joyful celebration - we loved learning about this cultural experience. 

Mesmerizing Milk

 We love exploring with chemical reactions and science experiments. A small group of children explored with some milk, dye and dishwashing liquid. As the fat solids in the milk reacted to the dishwashing liquid it sent the colours swirling about. It was very mesmerizing to observe.

Bean bag numerical catapult

 

It was a little difficult catching the action shots using the catapult, so you will need to use your imagination, to picture the enjoyment the children had catapulting the bean bags up into the air and attempting to land them inside the buckets.

We started off with one bean bag, however the children decided it was more interesting to add a few more and ended up sending several into the air at once.  Perfect opportunity for a little addition and subtraction discussions.

There was also a difference in the weight of our projectiles and the force required to catapult the little bean bags.

We also used the numbers written on the bean bags to discuss and recognise the number.

We also learnt where to stand to avoid getting a bean bag to the  head or other people.

All in all it was a super easy way to teach mathematics and a little physics.

The Cafe

Yesterday, the tamariki enjoyed playing shop so today we thought we could continue the fun. However, to keep it fresh it wasn't a shop... what was it going to be?

At first it was called "Chloe's Café" , then it morphed into Khaos Café before becoming Hazel's café. 

 

Chloe cleaned off the sign and asked for the letters to write Chloe's Café.

First customer Charlotte  was learning how to use her new Eftpos card!

Hunter and Mason had hungry bellies and wanted them filled with delicious treats!

The team organized the café!

Cohen decided that the café was missing tables. That problem was sorted quickly and the table was set!

Next, there was a new area for the café! The children laid out the carpet, sorted the area and the café play continued in the block room. "Just like a real café with this light." Cohen said.

What a beautiful set up, the nature of play morphed throughout the morning as different children came and went. Lots of listening to each others ideas, expressing themselves in character and a beautiful inclusive attitude by all kids for everyone to join and have fun! Now, it's coffee time.

 

Fish out of water!

 There was a real problem down at the sandpit today. Our poor pretend pet fish didn't have a pond! They were dry and unhappy. We had to problem solve to get the water from the water rule into the fish enclosure. Super lucky we have great thinkers who all collaborated to get the job done!

                                               

First Rylee built a mountain to lay the pipes on. 

Many friends came with spades to help. When the pipe was moved, the water was going under the enclosure!

                                                

Olivia was ready at the tap!!

We needed to check if it was working!

Trying again!

Go Olivia and Santi!

It worked! Now for a fish slide. Raphael puts the fish down the pipe to slide into their new enclosure!
"Mumma Mia" He says happily!