Dear Mums and Dads,
We have had so much fun learning all about healthy foods and our five senses. With Matariki soon to be upon us and many of your little ones showing a growing fascination with stars, planets, and the moon, we have decided to begin our next exciting project: SPACE!
We will also be enjoying special Matariki experiences such as weaving, storytelling, and preparing and sharing kai as we reflect on this special time of year.
Our Learning Programme
Dream Team (led by Paris)
Paris will support children in developing early literacy and numeracy skills, with a focus on letter formation, phonological awareness, and sound recognition. Through playful, hands-on experiences, children will extend the learning introduced during group meeting times with fun, space-themed activities.
Art Team (Sue, Kerryn, and Marianne)
Alongside opportunities for free creative expression, the Art Team will guide children through exciting space-inspired art experiences. A key focus will be on exploring scraping and layering techniques to create vibrant, textured planets and galaxies.
Outdoor Play (led by Genna)
Genna will provide a range of outdoor learning experiences connected to our “Space” theme. Children will explore planting, caring for, and harvesting vegetables, linking this to our Matariki celebrations and baking experiences. These activities will also extend ideas introduced during group times. We also have some exciting new space-related play equipment to enjoy!
Meeting Times (led by Marianne)
During group learning times, Marianne will guide children through an engaging exploration of space, encouraging curiosity, questioning, and shared discussions about stars, planets, and the wider universe.
Literacy
Aimee has some wonderful phonics games with a space twist, and she also has some amazing storybooks to share about space!
Links to Te Whāriki 🪐
Through play and by following their interests, children develop working theories about the natural world
(Exploration – Mana Aotūroa, Te Whāriki 2017).
Children are empowered to learn alongside others through group discussions and shared experiences
(Contribution – Mana Tangata, Te Whāriki 2017).
They also develop strategies for active exploration, reasoning, and understanding how knowledge connects to people, places, and things.
How can you support your child’s learning at home? 🚀
- Share books about space from home or the library
- Talk with your child about stars, planets, and the moon
- Look at the night sky together and wonder aloud
- Send along any space-related books, pictures, or resources (fiction or non-fiction)
Thank you for your continued support as we work together on your little one’s exciting learning journey. We also have some ‘little experts’ to call upon for this out-of-this-world adventure!!
We just cannot wait to launch our learning into SPACE!!!
With love,
Marianne and Lynda xxx
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