Process Cooking...fun filled learning!

'A little bit like a crazy chef'

Last year we undertook a project around offering children opportunities to be involved in a wide range of process cooking experiences.  The title of our book came about through conversation with Liam while looking at photos of cooking experiences with him.  He stated "I'm a little bit like a crazy chef ah?!" and of course this just had to be the title of our book!  Our cover art is  from Emily who said her artwork was her Dad because "he's a crazy chef!"

After a number of hurdles to get our finished book printed, we were excited to host a cookbook launch and coffee morning for parents to view the results of our year long project last Friday.  Children were excited to see themselves in print too!

The allure of mixing, measuring, experimenting, creating and tasting food is too much for children to resist.  Cooking together is a bonding experience where memories are made...a joy for the senses where sights, smells and taste spark the memory for years to come. 

The learning undertaken throughout the year was immense and we've put together a short slideshow with just a snippet for you to enjoy...

Gardening guru

When you generate excitement look what happens

Nature and butterflies

We were very fortunate and very excited to be able to watch a Monarch butterfly emerge from our chrysalis today.  

We had watched the chrysalis change colour from green to black over a period of days, the children wondered when it would open?

You have to be quick...or you'll miss it!
As the butterfly emerges, it's wings are all crumpled.

The butterfly stretched out it's wings to dry and harden until it could fly away. 

The children were fascinated to watch this beautiful process.

This was an opportunity for the tamariki to have an active engagement in nature and science.

Children develop an understanding as they investigate and interact with real objects and nature.

Children seek answers to their questions, they observe, collect ideas and knowledge, coming up with conclusions as they relate new information to prior knowledge and personal experiences.

Pebble Pit Review

Natural materials are open ended and engage the senses...the pebble pit has become a place of magic where children's imaginations soar!

 
Pebble Pit

Pebble pit review

Cookbook launch

Thank you to all the fantastic whanau who came and supported the cookbook coffee morning today.

We hope you are as happy with the cookbook as we are.

Seeds for the garden on PhotoPeach

The Vegetable Patch

Have you noticed the buzz around the vege patch lately?!  It's all go...no time to veg out around here!  

The children are loving the sun on their shoulders, dirt under their finger nails and happy thoughts of tasty food to come.  There's nothing quite like gardening!

A big thank you to those parents who have helped kick start this project with donations of topsoil, compost and time and energy to prepare the soil...we'll have incredible edibles in no time!  Thank you, thank you, thank you :0)

Nurturing a love of gardening

Nurturing a love of gardening on PhotoPeach

Ko wai tenei?

Ko wai tenei?

What is it?

Our friend Kezia bought in a toanga from the beach but the children wondered what is it?

All of the children contributed their ideas to the discussion:

It's Starfish

Mermaid money. Starfishes are not like that. Are starfish circles?

It’s not mermaid money cause its not gold

It’s real big money but it’s been in the sea so it’s real brown

When I went snorkelling do you know what I saw one of these and do you know what these are little crab shells.

No they’re not they’re mermaid money

No they’re crab shells

No crab shells are actually... they don’t break off

This is a baby crab shell there’s a little

No cause little ones are baby crab shells

This one is umm ahh this one is a little baby eel shell

No its mermaid money. My sister said its actually mermaid money.

“It’s a starfish”

“I know it’s mermaid money” 

“Is it pizza?” 

“These are little crab shells”

Peaceful and Olivia gave it a closer look and Olivia decided that it “Smells yuck. It just smells”

Promoting the development of scientific thinking

Young children are naturally curious and passionate about learning, they seek out problems to solve.  We endeavour to provide children with opportunities to discover and construct their own ideas, ideally through a hands on involvement.  Science for young children offers children the opportunity to ask questions, probe answers, bring in existing knowledge and conduct investigations. Within early childhood we offer children the opportunity to view science as a way of thinking as they try to understand the world.  This allows children to be engaged in the investigative nature of science and to feel the joy of having wonderful ideas.  Knowing the right answers is not one of the primary objectives it’s all about the discovery for themselves and the thinking processes involved!  

Whanau, please note we wish to encourage this investigative journey for the tamariki, encouraging them to bring their ideas to the table and initiate discussion with their peers as to the possibilities—its not about knowing the answers!

M is for Monkey Bars

Gill Connell talks about whole body learning...how important it is for children to play and learn. "A child at play is constantly pushing at his or her boundaries" (G. Connell).

The monkey bars offer....
Climbing, hanging, swinging - building strength in their upper bodies.
Twisting, turning, dangling and swinging - developing flexibility and agility in their shoulders, elbows, wrists and fingers.
Pushing, pulling, tugging and lifting - building strength and developing an understanding of physics.

M is for Monkey Bars on PhotoPeach
If you want to read more, check out Gill's Moving Smart blog:
Moving Smart Blog: M is for Monkey bars

No fishing here!

1 fish, 2 fish, 3 fish, 4! on PhotoPeach