Weekly Update March 23 - G’day Mates-We’re Off to Australia!

Reminders:

• April 2nd - Wear Red Sox gear to school!

• April 3rd - Good Friday - NO SCHOOL

• April 4th - Preschool Prom - Sign up here:(https://www.signupgenius.com/go/805054BAFA62F4-62748028-foxhill)

• 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

Flying All the Way to Australia: A Big Adventure in the Sky!

This week, our preschool explorers took a loooooong pretend airplane ride all the way to Australia! We imagined soaring over oceans before landing “Down Under” to begin our exciting adventure.

We enjoyed reading many books by Australian authors, including Possum Magic and Koala Lou by Mem Fox. We also read books that introduced us to all types of animals that we would find in Australia. These stories sparked lots of great conversations about these animals, and we spent time learning about kangaroos, koalas, emus, and more!

To build on our learning, we played a fun animal matching game, helping us recognize and remember the unique animals that live in Australia. The children had a great time making connections and sharing what they knew. We were very surprised by how many baby animals are called "Joeys"!

Aboriginal Dot Art: Beautiful Patterns with Deeper Meanings

In art, we explored a new technique—dot making! Using q-tips, straws, and sponges, we practiced creating colorful dots. This activity is helping us get ready for a special art project next week inspired by Aboriginal dot art. The children loved experimenting with different tools and colors to create their own dot designs. Aboriginal dot art is a special and beautiful way of making art that comes from the First Nations people of Australia. Artists use lots and lots of tiny dots to create pictures, patterns, and designs. When you look closely, you can see how the dots come together to make something amazing! These artworks are not just pretty—they can also tell stories about the land, animals, and important traditions. Some of the meanings in the art are very special and are only shared within the community!

We also learned abut the Australian Wattle, the national flower of Australia. First, we spread glue all over our paper and carefully followed the lines with yarn. Then, we used our strong finger muscles to crumple bright yellow tissue paper, creating the beautiful wattle blossoms. It was a wonderful way to strengthen our fine motor skills while making art!

Australian Sensory Play and Building Activities

Our sensory play was full of discovery, too. In the downstairs classroom, we explored sand and Australian animals, using our imaginations to create our own “Outback” adventures. Upstairs, we worked hard to build our finger strength using sponges and lemon juicers—squeeze, squeeze, squeeze!

On the rug, we became builders and engineers, using blocks and other materials to create the Sydney Opera House and other Australian landmarks. The children showed great creativity and teamwork as they designed and constructed their masterpieces.

It has been another fun-filled week of learning, creating, and exploring Australia together!