Dear Parent(s),Greetings! "While we try to teach our children all about life, our children teach us what life is all about" ~ Angela Schwindt Thus, our activities are designed to make learning fun and help in the holistic development of children. Let's take a sneak peek into the awesome month of November. Theme – Aquatic Animals The month of November immersed the children in the enchanting world of aquatic animals. They were introduced to captivating creatures such as fish, crabs, jellyfish, sharks, sea horses, and dolphins. The features of these animals were discussed during 'Quality Circle Time.' The children enjoyed mimicking various animal moves, like 'moving like a seahorse,' during these sessions. Various theme-related rhymes, such as 'Sticky Sticky Starfish,' 'Holding up a seashell,' 'Three little fish,' 'Hey ho the Seahorse,' and '12345 once I caught a fish alive,' were recited by the children alongside the educator. The 'Show and Tell' activity provided an opportunity for the children to enhance their public speaking skills. They showcased props related to the theme and shared a few lines about them. Verbal Linguistic Language development lays the foundation for reading and writing skills in children as they progress through school and helps them to communicate, express, and understand. The children practiced the phonic sounds and words related to letters 'Qq,' 'Rr,' and 'Ss.' They can now recognize letters 'Aa' to 'Ss' and tell their phonic sounds. They also enjoyed listening to theme-related stories like 'Herman the Hermit Crab' and 'The Tortoise and the Rabbit.' Their vocabulary was enriched through audiovisuals, stories, real objects, and practice sheets. Logical/Mathematical It's fascinating to observe and recognize the interconnectedness between various activities and the world of mathematics, especially in early childhood development. The examples you provided highlight the integration of math into everyday experiences and learning processes. Counting through Physical Activities: Jumping, clapping, and climbing stairs are not just physical activities; they also involve counting. This introduces children to the concept of numbers and helps develop their counting skills. Geometry and Beyond: Recognizing, forming, playing with, and combining shapes not only teaches geometry but also has applications in visual art, architecture, and science. This interdisciplinary approach enriches the learning experience. Storytelling and Logical-Mathematical Intelligence: Following a story about the movement of aquatic animals involves creating mental imagery and applying logical-mathematical intelligence. This enhances problem-solving skills through activities like matching, sorting, and recognizing shapes like the 'heart.' Introduction to Numbers and Quantification: The identification of the number '7' and understanding quantification are crucial early steps in numerical literacy. This lays the foundation for more complex mathematical concepts later. Sensorial Learning: Exploring the concepts of 'rough and smooth' provides a sensorial learning experience. This tactile understanding can contribute to a child's overall sensory development. Colour Recognition and Observation: Introducing the colour green and encouraging children to identify green-coloured objects enhances their observational skills. This simple activity integrates colour recognition into daily experiences. The holistic approach to education, where math is seamlessly woven into various aspects of learning and play, not only makes the learning process more engaging but also emphasizes the interconnected nature of knowledge. It fosters a well-rounded understanding of the world and prepares children for future academic challenges. Naturalistic Intelligence It is imperative that children learn the importance of taking care of our planet today as they are going to inherit it tomorrow. Our activities for the month of November were designed with this very goal in mind. The children 'created' their own ocean and then observed the effects of pollution, oil spills, and disposing of garbage in it. The importance of keeping our water bodies clean was discussed in class, and the children had valuable inputs to share on the same. Our young explorers learned the connection between food and its source through a vegetable garden, discovering winter veggies like radish, spinach, turnip, and peas. Simultaneously, they acquired life skills by keeping their belongings in order, fostering responsibility and practical habits. This hands-on experience provided a holistic and enriching learning opportunity for the children. Visual-Spatial Our young artists attempted a variety of activities to boost their imagination. Indeed, we could see them inventing ways and thinking differently while experimenting with colors. ● The little ones were delighted to make a tea light holder for Diwali. ● Integrating the monthly theme of aquatic animals with Visual-Spatial skills, children created jellyfish, crab, shark headgear, and turtles alongside the educator. Musical Intelligence Music stimulates the brain in a very powerful way because of our emotional connection with it. Music can create joy and make the ambiance blissful and peaceful. It can also improve long-term memory and lead to better brain development. Learning music can enhance a child’s social and cognitive skills. Indian Music Indian classical music inculcates a sense of structure and rhythm in one’s brain. Children welcomed each other with the song ‘आओ आओ संगीत बनायें’; later, they practiced singing the ‘Shake the Shaker’ song, wherein they enjoyed shaking the shakers along with singing. They also learned the Diwali song ‘मन में दीप जलाये’. Western Music “Music is to the mind as air is to the body”. - Plato Practice makes us all perfect. Children practiced singing a new song related to the monthly theme, Aquatic Animals, titled 'Deep in the Sea' to the tune of a guitar. They also learned the festival song, "Festival festivals, here they come. Dance Dancing is a fun and exciting way for kids to stay active while developing crucial social and emotional skills. Learning specific routines, like 'मेरी दुनिया' for Grandparents Day, adds purpose and cultural connection. It enhances body posture, balance, and coordination, fostering teamwork and boosting confidence. Overall, dancing is a holistic activity that promotes physical fitness and personal growth in an enjoyable way. Montessori Practical life activities are the first activities the child is introduced to within the Montessori environment. In the month of November, children practiced the following activities: • Spooning - to help the children develop practical life skills. • Number rods – It helped the children quantify and identify numbers from 1 to 7. Imaginarium It's wonderful to hear that the children in Imaginarium are engaging in a variety of activities that promote both free and structured play. This approach is beneficial for their overall development, allowing them to explore different areas of interest and develop a diverse set of skills. Here are some key benefits of combining free and structured play: Holistic Development: By participating in activities like pretend play in the kitchen, constructing structures with blocks and Legos, and exploring a flower shop, children are likely honing various skills. These may include cognitive skills, creativity, social skills, and fine motor skills. Interest Exploration: Offering a mix of play opportunities allows children to discover their interests and passions. This exploration is crucial for helping them identify what they enjoy and where their strengths lie. Social Interaction: Activities like playing in the kitchen corner or exploring a flower shop involve social interaction. This helps children develop essential social skills such as communication, cooperation, and problem-solving as they play and learn together. Creativity and Imagination: Pretend play fosters creativity and imagination, enabling children to think outside the box. This kind of play encourages them to create scenarios, stories, and worlds, which is essential for developing their creative thinking skills. Multiple Intelligences: The concept of multiple intelligences, as introduced by Howard Gardner, suggests that individuals have different strengths and learning styles. Offering a variety of learning corners caters to these multiple intelligences, allowing each child to engage in activities that resonate with their preferred learning style. Balance and Well-Being: Balancing free play with structured activities helps create a sense of balance in children's lives. While structured activities provide guidance and skill development, free play allows for spontaneity, self-expression, and a break from more directed tasks. In conclusion, Imaginarium's approach to incorporating various learning corners and play activities aligns well with promoting holistic development and catering to the diverse needs and interests of the children. This method not only enhances their cognitive abilities but also contributes to their emotional, social, and physical well-being. Clay Modelling Children expanded their repertoire of actions, including squeezing, stretching, crushing, shredding, flattening, rolling, etc., to create various objects such as an octopus, a diya, a ring, and a snake using clay. Bodily Kinaesthetic Intelligence During early childhood, movement is an essential activity for all children, serving as the vehicle to obtain experiences. It helps enhance their gross motor skills, fine motor skills, eye-hand coordination, and much more. Our little learners, along with our educator, acquired fitness skills through various activities: • They enjoyed locomotor drill. • Exercises included warming up, stretching from head to toe, rolling on the back, teddy roll, bow pose roll, and long sitting while touching the toes. Storytelling In the picturesque town of Maplewood, teacher Ms. Anderson utilized the power of storytelling to engage her students. The tale 'I am a Leaf' celebrated the beauty of autumn, while 'The Tiny Seed' delved into the wonders of plants and seasons. Through these stories, the educator not only enhanced the children's language skills but also sparked a love for reading and nurtured their imagination. The impact was profound, as the children eagerly embraced lessons about nature, forming a lasting connection to the world around them. Drama Using drama in the initial years of education is a crucial means of expressing a person's feelings in a healthy manner. It helps improve a child’s imagination, enables independent thinking and action, and enhances social awareness. Self-introduction was conducted with appropriate expressions, and the children found it genuinely amusing, enjoying copying the expressions. EYP Play Area Free play is a crucial avenue for children to develop essential social skills. Interacting and collaborating with peers during play teaches them negotiation, turn-taking, and resource sharing. Effective communication emerges naturally, fostering the growth of vital social abilities. Additionally, play serves as a platform for learning empathy, respect, and cooperation, laying the groundwork for positive and harmonious relationships Interpersonal Intelligence Events and Celebrations EYP - Children’s Day celebration -2023 Children’s Day is celebrated in remembrance of India’s first Prime Minister, Jawaharlal Nehru, popularly known as Pandit Nehru, who was born on the 14th of November in the year 1889. Our children had a memorable experience as they enjoyed a wonderful treat at school during the breakfast break and went back home happy and overjoyed. Birthday celebration- Show & tell Birthdays indeed hold significant importance as they provide individuals with a day to feel cherished and surrounded by love from those around them. For children, birthdays are especially exciting as they eagerly anticipate celebrating with friends and teachers. In addition to the joy of festivities, birthdays offer an opportunity to reinforce basic etiquettes for social gatherings. To enhance the celebratory spirit, children were encouraged to participate in 'Show and Tell' by sharing a few lines on the theme of 'Aquatic Animals.' This not only added an educational element to the celebration but also allowed the children to showcase their knowledge and creativity. The theme provided a platform for them to speak confidently, exhibit props, and engage with their peers in a fun and interactive manner. In essence, celebrating birthdays in this manner not only brings joy and a sense of specialness to the individual but also integrates learning and social skills development in a festive and enjoyable environment. Assembly –Nursery D- Diwali The students of Nursery D presented a wonderful assembly on the occasion of Diwali. They showcased a mesmerizing dance performance that filled everyone's hearts with joy. Our little ones promoted awareness of 'Green Diwali' by discussing the harmful effects of bursting crackers on the environment and animals. Our honorable Principal, Ms. Guneet Ohri, and Academic Head, Ms. Bhawna Singh, graced the event with their presence. Principal Ohri encouraged the students and reminded them to celebrate a green Diwali, reducing pollution by saying NO to crackers. LEAP Learn >Engage >Acquire> Perform Think beyond the magic and get beyond the imagination! To unleash the creativity of our children, we conduct LEAP activities every month wherein children perform various brainstorming tasks to enhance their higher-order thinking skills and ingenuity to be future-ready. Below are the activities performed by the students this month: • Complete the picture - The children enhanced their visual thinking skills by observing the incomplete picture. They tried to comprehend the picture and completed the given task. • Unplugged coding- Children were required to comprehend the given pattern and make their body movements according to it. This activity enhanced their body movements, spatial abilities, and predicting skills.
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February 2024
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