2020 Newsletter Term 03 | Issue 04

This term the Elouera class has started to explore identity and sense of self. We began by thinking about “what makes a face?” and looking at photos of our classmates and our own faces. This week we have been experimenting with self-portraiture. Using a mirror the children studied their face, practised expressions and pointed out their features. Then through guided drawing, the educators helped them label each element of their face and the children drew them.

Malaguzzi, the founder of the Reggio Emilia philosophy, believed that the self-portrait was an intimate, bold declaration of identity and that in their self-portraits the child offers themselves as both subject and artist. When we look at a child’s self-portrait we see the child as they see themself. Self-portraits are about more than creating art, they are about telling stories, communicating and exploring a sense of self.

– Corinne, Debbie & Sarah

Sharing experiences and special items from home provides the children with the opportunity to speak in front of small groups and working towards presenting to the whole class. This experience develops public speaking skills along with the ability to answer questions from the group. As part of our recent Book Week celebrations the children brought in their favourite stories to share. In small groups they discussed their favourite pages, characters and pictures with each other. In these groups they are learning the skills of conversation, the ability to take turns and listen to the speaker.

– Amanda & Teresa

The weather is warming up and the children at the Farmhouse are in the garden planting seeds in the vegetable garden. We have been working with making compost during the winter months and it is ready for the garden. The children worked collaboratively to make holes in the soil and planting the pea seeds ready for spring. Working with nature teaches children about the cycle of life. They learn about seasons, nutrition and where food comes from. We take fresh produce into class to use for cooking and morning tea. Using the concept of paddock to plate.

– Jenny, Jo & Angela

Spring is in the air and we have been taking our time to look more closely at what is happening in our own garden.  Children have seen the buds of flowers, leaves on the trees and lots happening in the vegetable patch.  We are so lucky to have a beautiful outdoor environment we can explore and sometimes the best time is just sitting beside the native bee hive waiting to be lucky enough one will land on you and watching the busy bees at work.   There has been lots of drawing, writing and counting influenced by the simple question “What can we see in the garden?”

– Dawn

Learning in the outdoors 

In a Montessori School, the outdoors in an extension of the inside spaces. The children learn about growing and harvesting vegetables, flowers and fruit. They experience a variety of trees, leaves and plants of all shapes, sizes, colours, smells and textures.

The children help to take care of the outdoor environment by sweeping, digging, planting, watering, cloth washing, window washing and raking. There are also big artworks available outside and opportunities to use natural materials in art work.

When taking time to do yoga and quiet activities outside, children have a greater sense of the natural world around them. They learn to listen to birds, take time to look at plants and feel the wind and sun. Gross motor skills can also be developed through running, climbing, skipping and hopping.

– Elizabeth

This past fortnight we have been busy with a good turnover of group lessons, outdoor lessons, bushwalks, and project based learning. Additionally, we marked Maria Montessori’s 150th Anniversary with discussions on her global influence and celebrated book week with a bushwalk while in themed costume.

Furthermore, students have been immersed in a variety of Montessori learning material within the classroom, while also taking advantage of our surroundings to engage in relevant curriculum topics. For example, lessons on Indiginouse culture and structures, anatomy of plants, and native zoology research.

– Harshitha, Toby, Phillipa & Thomas

On Wednesday we had book week, and if you don’t know what book week is, it is a day when we all dress up as our favourite character and bring in our favourite book. For example, one of our students dressed up as Mr. Tickle and two people dressed up from Percy Jackson Talia, Annabeth, Star Wars characters plus many more. It was the best day!

We are still loving sushi day and can’t get enough of it, we are enjoying it more now we are using reusable containers instead of non-reusable plastic containers.

We ordered new sports equipment and we’re having a lot of fun with it. We have ordered new soccer balls, AFL balls, bean bags and target practice, activity mats, balance beams, vortexes and we are waiting for more items.

Sadly, in music class we’re not singing anymore because of COVID-19, but it’s still fun playing with just instruments. After a few weeks of our two split music classes, we all came to together as a group to practice the song we have been playing on the instruments, so far, we are sounding great.

By Darcy and Claudia

– Laura & Jessica

Dear Families,

This past fortnight the children have continued to enjoy the sunshine up on the oval. A big hit this past fortnight has been the group game “Yes, no, wait”. The children communicated clearly with one another and taught those that were not familiar with the rules. Through this the children have showed a great sense of teamwork and the importance of understanding one another. As a build on to this we are going to create a new wall of fame in our FMOSHC room that embodies the idea of compassion and kindness. Stay tuned to see what is to come!

The children have also enjoyed getting creative and expressing themselves through musical statues and our very own FMOSHC dance talent show. The children organised and performed an on the spot dance routine and had the audience hold up signs to encourage them. The children have also enjoyed working on their Teddy Bear skipping skills, attempting to see who will be the first to make it up the stairs and say goodnight!

To celebrate International Orangutan day the children participated in a group discussion. The children and educators all shared and learnt facts about our furry orange friends! The children also participated in a Quiz about Orangutans to put their knowledge to the test!

If you would like more information about Primary OSH Care or our centre and how to enrol, please visit our website www.primaryoshcare.com.au

From Sarah, Ella and all the OSHC staff at Farmhouse Montessori OSHC Centre