Sun, Sand and Fun - 26th April 2021

Today our Joeys ventured into the Possums outdoor area where they gathered around the sandpit. Our Joey's were quick to get their hands and feet into sand. We extended our Joey's learning by adding shovels, buckets and trucks. An invitation to create sandcastles was made to our Joeys which Emilia, Aarav and Ahilya were eager to take on. "We need bucket", said Aarav. "I get it", said Ahilya acknowledging her peer. Emilia joined the two and assisted by digging sand out and placing it in the bucket all the while saying, "all the way to the top!". Our Joeys were seen digging, raking, pouring, scrunching and shoveling the sand with different tools as well as their hands and fingers. Our younger Joeys used their senses to explore by scrunching sand in their hands and kicking their feet and toes into the send as if fascinated by the texture of it on their skin. Some enjoyed just shoveling sand and watching it slowly fall back in the pit. They repeated this process demonstrating curiosity and exploring cause and effect.
Link to Pedagogical Documentation
EYLF Outcomes
Outcomes: 3: Children have a strong sense of wellbeing Elements: 3.2 Children take increasing responsibility for their own health and physical wellbeing. Children are able to combine their gross and fine motor capabilities as they manipulated the resources in the sand pit (digging, pouring etc)
Outcomes: 4: Children are confident and involved learners Elements: 4.4 Children resource their own learning through connecting with people, place, technologies and natural and processed materials. Children are able to extend their learning through social interactions with their peers and Educators.
Interpretation
Our Joeys have demonstrated growing interest in sensory based experiences as they gather around the sandpit upon entry to the play area. Learning was facilitated as different types of resources was added into the learning area allowing each child the opportunity to extend on their gross and fine motor capabilities. Children's social skills, communication and thinking skills were developed through an invitation to create sandcastles, allowing a small group of children to work together and communicate with one another about the resources they needed to create sandcastles. Follow Up: Continue engaging the children in sensory experiences. Sand Castles, water and shells To extend on children's social and collaborative skills an experience on creating sandcastle