Connecting with Community to Extend our Learning

Our early learning programs are supplemented by opportunities for the children to participate in incursions and excursions. Throughout the year a selection of experiences are planned both within the Early Learning Centre (ELC) and out in the wider community. There are times when we invite an expert to come in to the centre to implement a workshop with the children where they share their knowledge or resources. This may be a music or drama experience, a workshop on reptiles or Australian animals, or a creative opportunity. There are also times when the children venture outside of the ELC on an excursion to engage in rich, hands-on learning in the wider community. All of these opportunities are carefully designed to connect with and support the children’s current learning and inquiries.

Children from the Waratah and Blue Gum Rooms visited the Collingwood Children’s Farm to learn more about farm life.

This week our youngest learners in the Waratah and Blue Gum Rooms ventured out of the ELC on their first excursion for the year. An interest and inquiry into animals and farm life led the children to further explore their learning through an excursion to Collingwood Children’s Farm. The children explored the various areas of the farm observing a range of animals and the farmers at work. A hands-on experience milking the cow and feeding the pigs was certainly a highlight, as was the bus trip! The children will take this first-hand observation and learning and use it in follow up discussions and experiences in the classroom in the weeks to come.

The children in the Wattle and Banksia Rooms are looking forward to an upcoming excursion to the rock pools at Rickett’s Point, Beaumaris. During this experience, the children will explore the exposed rock pools while the tide is out. The children are sure to make many exciting discoveries in the rock pools including crabs, fish, star fish and octopuses. There will be opportunities for the children to document their discoveries through drawing. This experience will provide the children with the opportunity to extend and consolidate their learning in relation to sea life and aspects of sustainability and ecology.

Such experiences provide incredibly rich opportunities to extend the children’s learning, connect with experts and engage with the local community. They expose the children to a range of new and different experiences and help them to make sense of the world in which they live.

 

Ms Sarah Bethune, ELC Coordinator