Science and experiments is always an exciting theme! This year we tried to do simple but effective experiments with concepts that the Crew could easily grasp. We also used this week to start assessments on the children to see where they are at with all their skills and development which we will be continuing into next week. 

Experiments for the week:  

I couldn’t think of a better experiment than a volcano reaction! Bicarbonate of soda with a little food colouring and of course vinegar! While the first group of children were busy at Fun Fit Sports I could hear the group of children inside screaming as the excitement of their volcano’s going over, it was quite funny! 

Using tissue paper rolled around a pencil and then scrunched up, we called this experiment ‘The Growing worm’ Each Crew member had to drop water onto their worm with a pipet and as the water dropped onto the worm we watched him move and grow bigger. Paper absorbs water. 

Next experiment we explored was using oil, water and food colouring. Not only was this a pretty experiment to watch but it also taught the Crew that oil is thicker than water which makes it float and the water sink. 

Another cool experiment that we did was on a plate of water with a lit candle in the middle. As we put a glass over the candle, the flame slowly goes out and the water starts to get sucked up into the glass.  

Amongst some of the assessment work that we did this week, we covered number recognition. A colouring in worksheet with the instruction to colour slowly and carefully using lots of different colours. The Crew has to complete a name writing activity where they had to trace over their name and then write it themselves underneath it. 

We practiced cutting skills and tracing skills. We complete a free drawing where we wrote little notes on what the children were drawing and they also completed a body image activity. 

This week we also focused on 3 specific letters of the alphabet, ‘s’ ‘a’ and ‘t’. We wrote it down on the board and named a few items that started with these 3 letters. We complete tracing worksheets with each of these 3 letters and formed them in playdough. Next week we will be concentrating on the letters, ‘p’, ‘i’ and ‘n’. 

Fun Fit Sports this week we practiced some ball skills as well as hand eye co-ordination. Catching a big ball is easy but catching a smaller tennis size ball is a little more tricky! The Crew also played a little cricket which is quite a favourite amongst the class. 

Cooking this week, the Crew helped Chef Thembi in the kitchen with helping prepare their snack. On Thursday when the Crew had French toast they had to go to the kitchen and dip their own bread into the egg and watched their French toast cooking on the pan. Great job in the kitchen Crew! 

Thank goodness this week we got to participate in yoga again! With all these holidays we have missed yoga so much! Teacher Nicole is so much fun! This yoga session was a little different. The Crew got to plat TETRIS! This game engages several cognitive skills such as memory, matching and pattern recognition. It also promotes problem solving and thinking patterns. The aim of the game is to fit all the pieces in to fill up the board. It was a super fun activity and everyone worked nicely together as a team. Go CURIOUS CREW! 

Next week’s theme: Occupations and people who care for us. 

We’ve had a blast!