Nursery 1
For this term, the theme is "All About Me,"
Teacher Natasha decided to focus on encouraging pro-social skills and to promote positive relationships within the children!
She devised a lesson where the children made friendship bracelets for one another and state one thing that they like/liked to do with their peers. Throughout the lesson, Teacher Natasha used verbal guidance to encourage the children to use positive words such as, "Thank you!" and "Can I help you?"
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The lesson also promotes their fine motor skills such as their pincer grip as well as their color identification skill on the primary colors, red, blue and yellow!
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Term 1:
APPRIECIATING FRIENDS
In term 2, the theme is "Living Things."
During outdoor walk, the children often spot butterflies fluttering around the bushes and they have been excitedly talking about butterflies in class. Noticing their interest, Teacher Natasha devised a lesson plan where the children can make their very own unique butterfly!
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The children used recyclable materials such as clean toilet rolls and they mixed colors to paint on their butterfly wings.
After their butterflies are formed, Teacher Natasha went through the parts of a butterfly with the children.
The children sang "Fly, fly butterfly," with their butterflies to end off the lesson.
Term 2:
bUTTERFLY PARTS
For this term, the theme is "Environment." To enhance the children's sensory development, Teacher Natasha devised a lesson plan for the children to do Oobleck play. The children were involved in the process of creating Oobleck using cornstarch, water and food coloring.
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The children were able to experience and explore the wet and dry properties of the Oobleck. For example, when you tap the Oobleck, your finger remains dry but if you held it in your hand, the mixture feels wet.
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In addition, knowledge attained from this lesson can be extended and applied to everyday tasks such as hand washing, water drinking and play time where children can try to identify wet and dry objects on their own!
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Term 3:
WET AND DRY
Lesson Overview
The theme for Term 3 is on "Environment," and the topic for this lesson is, "Wet" and "Dry."
Oobleck is a form of sensory play which is highly beneficial and of importance for children to efficiently explore their environment.
According to NAEYC (2013), children "react in different ways because they integrate information obtained through their senses from the environment differently."
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Therefore, Teacher Natasha instantly thought of the idea for this lesson!
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1. Children will be able to carry out the steps to make Oobleck with minimal guidance
2. Children will be able to identify wet and dry ingredients
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3. Children will be able to teach their peers the steps to make Oobleck
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Lesson objectives
Scaffolding
Step 1: Teacher Natasha demonstrates the processes of making Oobleck
Scaffolding describes the process of providing temporary guidance and support to children moving from one level of competence to another (MacNaughton & Williams 2009).
This teaching technique can help increase children’s level of competence in all areas of development.
To begin the process of scaffolding, Teacher Natasha conducted the first step which is to demonstrate how to make Oobleck. For example, Teacher Natasha puts in the wet ingredients such as water and the dry ingredients such as cornstarch.
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Zone of Proximal Development is what the child can do independently and what the child can do with the help of a skilled adult (Levine & Munsch, 2018).
In the main activity, Teacher Natasha laid out the wet and dry ingredients in front of Atiqah and used prompts and hints to help her think of the next step.
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At this point of scaffolding, Atiqah is more confident and competent on the processes of making Oobleck.
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Step 2: Teacher Natasha allows Atiqah to attempt on her own and uses prompts and hints to help her
Step 3: Atiqah teaches her peers while Teacher Natasha affirms her
The technique of scaffolding promotes self-confidence and improve self-esteem among children as they portray independence. In addition, it encourages pro-social skills of helping and having positive interaction.
Atiqah begins teaching her peers what she learnt earlier on with Teacher Natasha. During this step, Teacher Natasha affirms Atiqah through non-verbal interaction such as nodding and provides minimal to no help.
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documenting
Documentation is the process of observing and recording children's development and learning. For example, collecting data on children's works.
This technique helps teachers and even parents understand children's development and learning progress better and devise efficient ways to cater and promote children's learning needs (Parnell & Bartlett, 2012).
Documentation is also an expression of recognition as it values children's speech and work artifacts. It is shown to children that they are embraced and acknowledged, giving them a sense of belonging and self-confidence (Parnell & Bartlett, 2012).
Teacher Natasha is using her phone as a tool to document children's learning progress. As she takes pictures and videos, she is able to record children's dialogues.
Oobleck Fun
(29 January 2020)
N1 class did a lesson on wet and dry! They mixed water, food coloring and corn starch to make oobleck.
What color is Irsalina's oobleck?
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Wow! The N1s did a good job!
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"Oh look, its wet!" - Irsalina
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"My Oobleck is green." - Sarah
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