This week, the children delved deeper into the line of inquiry 3 by having a hands-on pancake-making and tasting experience.The children first reviewed the ingredients for making pancakes namely: pancake flour, milk, eggs and some honey. The children observed with excitement as the ingredients were measured, mixed and beat into pancake batter. They carefully watched the batter scooped into the hotplate and cooked. They were called upon to have an even closer look. The most exciting part came when the children were invited to taste the pancakes! Eventhough they were eager to have their share, they waited patiently to served. Some showed their preference by asking for a drop of honey for a topping whilst others said , ” I don’t like it.” They had this with milk for snack.This experience provided a meaningful opportunity for the children to connect their learning about animals and the products we get from them with a familiar everyday food. More importantly, it encouraged curiosity, observation, communication and learning through a real-life experience.
Building on this hands-on exploration, the children also had an exciting opportunity of using a pencil for the very first time. They were first shown how to hold a pencil and then invited to complete a simple matching exercise as part of our assessment to see how much they had acquired through Line of Inquiry 3. Although the activity was new to many of them, they approached it with enthusiasm and did their very best. There were a few scribbles on some of the sheets, which was natural as the children are still developing their pencil control and fine-motor skills. What was particularly encouraging was that, even when their marks were not always clear on the paper, the children were still able to accurately communicate and identify what they were expected to do. We heard them say statements like “Cow give milk”, “Bees have honey”, “Chickens have eggs”, “Sheep give wool.”This showed that their understanding was developing, even as their ability to record their thinking on paper is still emerging. It was wonderful to see them take on this new challenge with such determination.
Our little athletes then took part in the much-anticipated Sports Festival, with the exciting “Pawsome Helpers Run,” where they raced with great enthusiasm and determination. They also delighted us with a fantastic dance performance, “Helping Paws,” dressed in their outstanding costumes. One of interesting thing of the day was seeing their mums, dads and other family members join in with some of the activities.
Some children found it difficult to wait before joining their parents on the other side, and a few tears were shed. With reassurance and support, however, they soon returned to enjoying the excitement of the festival. The biggest smiles came at the end when every child received their well-deserved medal, proudly posed for photographs and celebrated their achievement. It was a wonderful celebration filled with teamwork and joy.
It has been a memorable week!
