“Joy in looking and comprehending is nature’s most beautiful gift.” – Albert Einstein, German Physicist.

The Waratah Room children are currently being encouraged to develop and forge a meaningful connection between the name of their classroom and waratah flowers found in nature. Photographs of waratah flowers have been intentionally positioned beside the children’s easels as a provocation to encourage the children to respond by creating observational paintings.

The children in the Waratah Room are examining the connection between the name of their classroom and waratah flowers.

To further support the emerging inquiry, the children have also been invited to examine a detailed replica of a waratah flower using palette paints reflecting native colourings. The children are responding to the shape and colour of the leaves, stem and flower by means of this ‘language’. As the children’s familiarity with handling brushes, tools and using the different types of paints extends, they are beginning to look more closely at the finer details pertaining to these special blooms.

The children’s words are being captured incidentally throughout such play-based exploration and experimentation as they consider the part they play in the Waratah Room community of learners, as well as which positive contributions they plan to make as members.