Two good books on setting up environment for young children’s learning:
For Outdoor
What do children learn outdoor?
Exploring and investigating
Communication
Being active, free
Taking time out (reflecting)
Construction
The Elements – Snow, wind, rain, sun
Role play
Art ephemra – an art form involving the collection and placement of materials found in the natural environment, artist such as Andy Goldsworthy
Higher-order thinking
Suggested Outdoor areas:
Creative area – wall for painting, weaving, sand, water, music making
Quiet area – hammock, books and a ‘space to be’
Imaginative play area – dress up, building & construction
Environmental area – gardening, digging, growing
An open space – to run, climbing, bean bags, hoops, balls, ride wheeled vehicles
This book also include a checklist and self-evaluation sheet, and solution to common barriers, like bad weather, storage, children wanting to stay outdoor all the time and parents (for childcare centers)
For Indoor
The authors outline hundreds of ways to create healthy and inviting physical, social, and emotional environments for children in child care, drawing inspiration from Waldorf to Montessori to Reggio to Greenman, Prescott, and Olds.
Oma rāpeti, oma rāpeti Oma, oma, oma Oma rāpeti, oma rāpeti Pūhia te kaiakoPako pako pako Ko te tangi ō te pū Oma rāpeti, oma rāpeti Oma, oma, oma
Run rabbit, run rabbit Run, run, run Run rabbit, run rabbit Shoot the teacherBang, bang, bang goes the farmer’s gun Run rabbit, run rabbit Run, run, run
Ma is White
Mā is white, whero is red, kākāriki green Pango is black, pangu is too, A. E. I. O. U.Kōwhai yellow, pākākā brown, kiko-rangi blue Pa-raka-raka is our orange, A. E. I. O. U.Wera is hot, maku wet, makariri cold Ua is rain, mahana warm, A. E. I. O. U.Tahi is one, rua is two, toru number three Whā is four, rima is five, 1, 2, 3, 4 ,5Ono is six, whitu is seven waru number eight, Iwa is nine, tekau is ten, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10
Haere mai a Hana Koko, x 3 Mā runga te rei. Kia hari, kia koa, x 3 Mō Hana Koko!
Come, come, Santa Claus by flying overhead. Be happy, be joyful About Santa Claus.
Tunes of Jungle Bells
Tangi tangi pere Tangi tangi pere Tangi tangi tonu rā Tino pai te harere Ma runga to koneke – hei!
Ring, ring bells Ring, ring bells Ring non-stop all the way The holiday is so good On top of your sledge – yay!
Kapokapo whetu iti (Tunes of Twinkle Twinkle Little Star)
Kapokapo whetū iti Hua ahau he aha koe Runga rawa i te ao Hei tiamana i te rangi Kapokapo whetū iti Hua ahau he aha koe
Twinkle, twinkle little star how I wonder what you are Up above the world so high. Like a diamond in the sky Twinkle, twinkle little star how I wonder what you are
Haere mai te manuhiri
Haere mai te manuhiri, haere mai Haere mai te manuhiri, haere mai Nō runga te manuhiri Nō raro te manuhiri Nō te tū, nō te tā Hei hā !
Welcome visitors, welcome Welcome visitors, welcome the visitors from north the visitors from south from here, from there Hei ha !
Baking is such a good activity for children to explore maths, science and technology. Technology as in intervention by design, or product development, if we just lay out the ingredients for children to explore, they might come up with a new ‘product’.
Single serving recipes
The following recipes is for one, children could follow the recipe to make their own muffin, cake…etc. They learn about measuring, volume, texture, chemical process (batter into muffin), achieving an end product with raw ingredients.
Preheat oven to 350F. Grease a single muffin cup (or use a Reynolds tinfoil liner) and set aside. Add all ingredients in order to a small mixing bowl, then stir until completely combined. Transfer to muffin cup and bake 15-20 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean.
Mix all ingredients together in a ramekin or single serving container sprayed with nonstick cooking spray. Microwave on high for 1 to 1.5 minutes. Allow to cool before enjoying!
4 tablespoons flour 4 tablespoons sugar 2 tablespoons cocoa 1 egg 3 tablespoons milk 3 tablespoons oil 3 tablespoons chocolate chips (optional) a small splash of vanilla extract 1 large coffee mug
Add dry ingredients to mug, and mix well. Add the egg and mix thoroughly. Pour in the milk and oil and mix well. Add the chocolate chips (if using) and vanilla extract, and mix again. Put your mug in the microwave and cook for 3 minutes at 1000 watts. The cake will rise over the top of the mug, but don’t be alarmed! Allow to cool a little, and tip out onto a plate if desired.
EAT! (this can serve 2 if you want to feel slightly more virtuous).
Compliment such as ‘what a good idea!’ or ‘Good thinking!’ make children aware that they are thinkers.
Encourage children to ask questions.
Prevent the urge to correct children’s hypothesis, try to challenge that by offering another project or simply comment, ‘It certainly looks like that, isn’t it?’ This values the response without confirming a mis-conception or damaging self esteem.
Add language:
Words to describe -
Mud – Messy, squishy, oozing, dirty, gooey, brown, lumpy, mushy, fun to play in
Emotional & Spiritual intelligence seem to be the ‘missing’ curriculum, yet it is important for the well-being of a person throughout life. There are two series of books that talk about different emotions to young children and ways to handle it.
Tantrum is just a children’s way to tell us that their needs has not been met, and a lot of times they don’t have the language to tell you what’s wrong, we need to tell them what that emotion is and how to handle it.
The first series is written by a therapist, Cornelia Maude Spelman:
The second series is good with slightly pop up illustration for the sensory experience, and it’s an easy read for younger children:
As for introducing spirituality to young children, spirituality is a bit abstract, and different people interpret it differently. Some choose to tell stories from the Bible, some choose to tell stories with a moral, like the Fables of Aesop, the Jataka’s Tale. One book tells the importance of living in the moment:
