Canada Water Highlights April 4th

Baby Room Adventures This Week!

Modern Languages: French Colour Play with Playdough

During circle time, we took a fun, hands-on approach to learning French colours with the help of soft, squishy playdough.

As the children rolled, pressed, and shaped their dough, they practiced new words like rouge (red), bleu (blue), and vert (green). It was so lovely to hear them repeating the colours aloud, weaving French vocabulary naturally into their play. This activity not only supported their early language development but also gave them space to express themselves and work collaboratively.

STEAM: Magical Worms Come to Life

This week, our little scientists dove into a sensory-rich science experiment that had everyone giggling with excitement! Using shaving foam and vibrant paint, the children set out to create what they affectionately called "magical worms."

With wide eyes and curious hands, they mixed the soft, fluffy foam with splashes of colour, watching in awe as it transformed into swirling, wiggly patterns. As the foam spread and twisted into worm-like shapes, the joy on their faces said it all—pure magic in motion! This playful activity sparked wonder, creativity, and a big dose of messy fun.

Regional Learning: Pizza Making – Italian Style!

Our journey through Southern Europe took a delicious turn this week during Cookery Club, where the children made their very own mini pizzas as part of our Italian theme.

From spreading rich tomato sauce to carefully sprinkling cheese and choosing their favourite toppings, each child took pride in creating their personalised masterpiece. As they worked, we chatted about Italy’s famous foods and how cooking is an important part of Italian culture. The best part? Tasting their warm, homemade pizzas at the end—yum! It was a fantastic blend of culinary fun, teamwork, and cultural learning.

Excursion Fun: Discover Children’s Story Centre

Our little adventurers had a wonderful day out at the Discovery Children’s Story Centre in Stratford!

They were completely captivated by interactive stories, gathering together in the cozy reading space to listen and imagine. Afterward, the excitement moved outside to the garden, where the children climbed, slid, and explored with confidence and joy. There were big smiles all around as they encouraged one another on the climbing frame and shared moments of laughter. It was a day full of imagination, discovery, and togetherness—a perfect outing for our curious little learners!

Springtime Reading & Nature Walks

With spring in the air, we took a lovely stroll to the nearby pond and made the most of the sunshine. We began with a peaceful story time on the grass, soaking up both stories and the scenery.

Then, things got active with some lively animal role-play! The children pretended to hop like rabbits, stretch like cats, and gallop like horses. There was so much laughter and energy as they ran, played, and explored nature in their own imaginative way. These simple outdoor moments are such a beautiful way to combine learning, movement, and seasonal fun.

Specialist Teacher Spotlight: Sporty Minis

This week’s Sporty Minis session was full of action and giggles! The children practiced rolling hula hoops, aiming them onto cones, and weaving carefully through obstacle courses.

Their balance, coordination, and spatial awareness all got a great workout—and so did their imaginations! From running like animals to pretending to be honking cars, the session was packed with playful movement and lots of laughter. It was a perfect combination of physical play and creative expression.

Preschool Adventures This Week!

Languages & Communication: Exploring Italy

This month, we’re diving into the wonders of Southern Europe, and this week, our journey began in Italy! To bring the Italian culture to life, we introduced the children to some simple Italian greetings like Ciao! (Hello) and Grazie! (Thank you). They got creative making their own postcards from Italy, imagining what they might write to friends and family while on a holiday.

Beyond the well-known favorites like pizza and pasta, the children also discovered new Italian words such as pomodoro (tomato), formaggio (cheese), and prosciutto (ham). Through conversation and role-play, they had a fun and interactive way to build their vocabulary—who knows, maybe they’ll impress someone on a future trip to Italy!

Exploring Southern Europe

As part of our Southern Europe theme, we introduced the children to countries like Spain, Italy, and Greece, discussing the Mediterranean climate and cultural similarities across these regions.

Our focus on Italy this week took us on an exciting journey through its iconic landmarks, language, and traditions. The children painted Italian flags, learned interesting facts about the country, and even built their own "ginormous" pizza! Engaging activities like reading stories, crafting, and constructing famous structures helped bring Italy to life in the classroom.

Outdoor Adventures: A Trip to the Discover Children’s Story Centre

One of the highlights of the week was our magical trip to the Discover Children’s Story Centre in Stratford!

The children explored interactive storytelling exhibits and creative play spaces inspired by beloved children’s books like Poppy and Sam and The Tiger Who Came to Tea. They had a blast engaging in hands-on activities that nurtured their love for books, storytelling, and imaginative play. From running around adventurous playgrounds to participating in storytime sessions, it was an unforgettable day of fun and learning.

Celebrating International Children’s Book Day

To mark the beginning of the month, we embraced International Children’s Book Day by encouraging our preschoolers to dive into the magical world of reading.

A standout moment was exploring a special interactive edition of Peter Pan, filled with pop-ups and sound effects that transported the children straight to Neverland. Inspired by the story, they brought the adventure outdoors, role-playing scenes from the book and even building their own pirate ship in the garden!

STEAM: Welcome to ‘Da Vinci Club’

In honor of the legendary Leonardo da Vinci, we introduced our very own Da Vinci Club, where children explore creativity, science, and engineering through hands-on activities.

This week’s focus? Italian architecture! The children designed and built structures inspired by famous Italian landmarks, using rulers, simple shapes, and paper to sketch their ideas before constructing them with blocks. They experimented with different heights, sizes, and balance—just like real architects!

Specialist Teacher Highlights

• Molly’s Mindful Movement: Miss Molly’s spring yoga session had the children exploring different poses, movements, and relaxation techniques. Through simple exercises, they learned how to calm their minds and bodies—a great way to reset and unwind.
• Sporty Minis with Coach Terry: This week’s focus was on balance, agility, and coordination. The children practiced essential movement skills that will help them build strength and confidence in their physical abilities.
• Lucy Sparkles Music Session: Fridays are always a treat with Hannah Sparkles! The children had a fantastic musical morning, singing along to piano melodies and experimenting with their vocal ranges. They took turns leading songs, building confidence, and having fun expressing themselves through music.

This week has been full of exploration, creativity, and excitement, and we can’t wait for more adventures as we continue our journey through Southern Europe! 🌍✨