The Highway Rat

 A few of our friends enjoyed reading a favourite and familiar story called " The Highway Rat." written by Julia Donaldson. 
This book is great as it has lots of repeated sayings and rhyme  in it which makes it easy for the children to remember some of the story and flows well when read aloud.

After the story, we began having a tea party in the family corner which quickly took a turn when Aubree mentioned that, " The Highway rat stole my food."


We had to investigate further... Could the Highway Rat really have been at Uxbridge?

All in character the children tiptoed around kindy trying to find him. 

"I'll get the food."-Hazel

"Quiet...he's coming" -Hazel

"I've got the magic and I'll trip his horse up when he comes."-Lucy

"He takes our food...NOOOO!"-Daisy

We tried to lure him out of the calm corner with food.

We made plans to trap the rat, we put those plans into action and worked collaboratively with many different rat traps blanketing the downstairs carpet. Each with their own storyline of contraptions.

     

Aubree and Lucy put their ideas to paper!

Pictures of the Highway Rat were hidden around the centre. Children began hiding from the Highway Rat outside in the playground. This dramatic play was contagious and creative!        

                                             

                                                            Some elaborate traps...

"This is a water blaster."-Aubree

"This looks like a dinosaur but its the door, the rat goes in and if he falls off he will go into lava"-Leah

                                                    

The next day, that sneaky Highway Rat was still on some of the tamariki's minds.

They drew their own pictures with annotations explaining their ideas:

I wonder where their ideas and creative minds will take us next!
Look out Highway Rat!