Weekly Update April 10th - More Australia and Easter Fun!

Reminders:

• April 20-24 - April Vacation Week - NO SCHOOL - FHS Teachers on study tour in Reggio Emilia, Italy!

• April 27th - NO SCHOOL - Teacher Professional Development Day

• May 12 - Not-a-box event! (details to follow)

The Land Down Under and Easter bunny mysteries!

We read Goodnight, Australia by Adam Gamble and Mark Jasper. This book explores lots of famous landmarks in Australia, such as the Sydney Harbour, Mindil Beach, the Great Barrier Reef, Uluru, the Sydney Opera House, wildlife, and more. Crikey, mates! We experienced a spectacular tour of the wildlife and attractions "Down Under" in this educational and engaging board book.

Last week we read The Easter Bunny is Missing by Steve Metzger. It's the day before the big Easter party, and the Easter Bunny is nowhere to be found. The other animals in the forest try to find a substitute. But just before their party is ruined...the Easter Bunny shows up!

Aboriginal Dot Art: Beautiful Patterns with Deeper Meanings

Last week, we discussed Aboriginal Australian dot art. We practiced using a variety of art tools to make beautiful paintings. This week, we used a template for a kangaroo to make our very own Aboriginal art. We observed pictures of concentric circles, shapes, and pictures all made from dots. We used earthy colors and Q-tips to create our own dot art!

Building Coral Reefs with Playdough and Pasta: A Fun Fine Motor Activity

We started talking about Australia's very famous Great Barrier Reef this week. This coral reef system is the largest one in the world! Last week we practiced making our own coral reefs using playdough and a variety of dried pasta shapes...think spaghetti, penne, rotini, or shells. We pressed the pasta into the playdough to create our own unique “coral reefs.” Each piece becomes part of an underwater world, encouraging imagination and storytelling as they build. This week, we used clay and created coral reefs that we can take home and treasure forever!

Beyond being fun, this activity is wonderful for developing fine motor skills. As the children pinch, roll, and press the playdough, they strengthen the small muscles in their hands. Pushing the pasta into the dough requires control and coordination, helping to build the hand strength needed for writing, cutting, and other everyday tasks.

Building Landmarks: Sydney Harbour Bridge & Opera House with Wooden Blocks

Using wooden blocks, the children explored famous landmarks like the Sydney Harbour Bridge and the Sydney Opera House through hands-on building and imaginative play. With a collection of different shapes and sizes, the children worked together to design and construct their own versions of these iconic structures.

Block building is much more than play; it supports important areas of development. As children balance, stack, and adjust their structures, they are strengthening fine motor skills, hand-eye coordination, and spatial awareness. They are also engaging in problem-solving as they figure out what works (and what doesn’t!) to keep their buildings standing.

This activity also encouraged collaboration and communication. Children shared ideas, worked through challenges together, and took pride in their collective creations.

A Sweet Taste of Australia: Fairy Bread Fun!

As part of our journey to Australia, our preschoolers had the chance to try a classic treat...fairy bread! Fairy bread is a simple and colorful snack made with soft bread, a layer of butter, and a sprinkle of rainbow toppings.

Trying fairy bread was a fun way to explore Australian culture. We talked about how children in Australia enjoy this special snack at parties and celebrations, helping to connect our classroom experiences to the wider world.

This unique snack was absolutely delicious!

Easter Fun: Paper Eggs & Sticker Creations

Last week, using paper egg cutouts as their canvas, the children explored a combination of oil pastels and watercolors to create vibrant, eye-catching designs. First, we made designs on our eggs using oil pastels. Then we painted over our designs using bright watercolors. This process is called watercolor resist! When they painted over their designs with watercolors, the pastel resisted the paint, making their artwork pop with color and texture.

We also had a variety of Easter stickers out at the art table to make cards and fun pictures. Peeling and placing stickers helped strengthen fine motor skills, while also encouraging creativity and independence.