Reconciliation Week at preschool

This week we celebrated National Reconciliation Week. Our 3 to 6 year olds learned about Aboriginal culture, caring for Country and looking after our oceans. Here is what the week of 25 to 29 May looked like.

Respecting Aboriginal culture

As part of Reconciliation Week, our Butterflies showed their respect for Elders by creating their own didgeridoo, one of the oldest instruments in the world. They learned how didgeridoos are traditionally made and how they are played.

With Miss Laila, the children also listened to the story The Extraordinary Garden and talked about caring for the land.

Caring for our oceans

The children learned about caring for our land and oceans. In small groups they made a fish tank from painted recycled boxes, and created jellyfish crafts from reused materials. These projects joined up our sustainability learning with respect for the natural world.

Free eye screening

The StEPS program (Statewide Eyesight Preschooler Screening) visited our centre to offer free vision checks. Young children often don’t know if they can’t see well, so early screening is a simple way to catch problems before school.

Tracing and early writing

In School Readiness the children practised tracing letters, building pencil control and confidence before writing on their own.

Try this at home

• Look up the Aboriginal name for the land where you live and talk about it together.
• Next time you are at the beach or a creek, pick up three pieces of rubbish together.
• Make a simple musical instrument from a cardboard tube or a box.

Visit Sophie’s Cottage

Sophie’s Cottage Kindergarten is a small, family-run preschool for children aged 3 to 6 at 9 Sophie Street, Telopea, open 8:30am to 4:30pm, Monday to Friday. Families join us from Dundas, Telopea and the suburbs around us.

Most families with a 4-year-old coming 3 days a week pay $0 to $60 a week after government funding. Check your cost with our fees calculator, or book a tour to see our School Readiness Program in action.