Canada Water School Highlights - 30th May 2025

Preschool Weekly Highlights: Discovering India and More!

This week at Hatching Dragons, our preschoolers continued their exciting journey through India—exploring cultural treasures, delicious foods, and vibrant art forms. Through engaging activities, arts and crafts, stories, and play, our little learners are deepening their understanding of the world around them.

🗣️ Modern Languages & Communication: French Lesson – Family Members

Our pre-schoolers enjoyed another session in French, focusing on family members as they build their own family trees. Talking about family is a wonderful way to share personal experiences and strengthen early language skills. With each new word, children grow in confidence—connecting their home lives to the learning environment.

🕌 Regional Education: Exploring India’s Temples

This week, our preschoolers were transported to the grandeur of India’s temples—from the Shore Temple and the Lotus Temple to the awe-inspiring Taj Mahal, one of the New Seven Wonders of the World!

Children examined the intricate architecture, spotting shapes and patterns, and discussing how these structures resemble things they know. They even deconstructed the Taj Mahal into separate shapes using paper cut-outs—rebuilding towers, doors, windows, and rooftops to bring their learning to life.

To see how we bring cultural learning into the classroom every day, learn more about our Weekend School programme and discover how we make learning an enriching adventure.

🎨 Sari Patterns Printing

Building on last week’s exploration of traditional garments like the sari, this week we focused on textile printing techniques. Through collaborative art projects, the children created beautiful patterns inspired by nature—florals and geometrics—on different fabrics, from silk to cotton. They also discovered how sari designs vary across different regions of India, enhancing their appreciation of cultural diversity.

🕌 Excursion: BAPS Shri Swaminarayan Mandir

A highlight of our week was an inspiring trip to BAPS Shri Swaminarayan Mandir, a traditional Hindu place of worship in Neasden. Respectfully exploring the temple, our preschoolers learned about Hindu values, gods, and rituals—like feeding, dressing, and caring for deities.

They were captivated by the temple’s beautiful sculptures, crafted using traditional methods and materials, and left with a deepened respect for cultural heritage.

🚜 Farming and Farm Produce

Continuing our focus on farming and agriculture, the children learned about different types of farms and the journey of dairy products—from the farm to the table. They explored the process of how that lovely cup of milk for snack time arrives in their cups, connecting everyday experiences to the wider world.

🥖 The Story of Bread (STEAM)

Our little bakers discovered the journey of bread—from tiny seed to delicious loaf! In this engaging activity, children explored each step: sowing seeds, harvesting, milling flour, baking, and finally, enjoying bread in all its forms—from pita and pretzels to challah and baguettes.

They were fascinated by modern farming machines like tractors and combine harvesters and even felt how smooth the flour is after being ground. These hands-on experiences bring agriculture to life in the most delicious way!

To discover how Hatching Dragons can support your family with flexible childcare solutions, explore our Workplace Nursery Scheme —perfect for working parents balancing careers and family life.

🧘 Specialist Teachers

Mindfulness with Miss Molly

Miss Molly’s yoga and mindful exercises brought smiles and calm to our preschoolers this week. After a lively dance session to get hearts pumping, the children explored different feelings—using yoga poses to express emotions like joy, sadness, and excitement. Each pose opened discussions about how feelings make us feel and why—an invaluable tool for social-emotional development.

Sporty Minis

Coach Terry led a dynamic session with frisbees, focusing on hand-eye coordination, aim, and spatial awareness. Through a variety of physical games, the children developed essential movement skills while learning to navigate space safely and confidently.

🌱 Nurturing Confident, Curious Learners

At Hatching Dragons, we believe in nurturing every child’s unique potential through multicultural learning, creativity, and hands-on experiences. Our carefully crafted curriculum blends language, arts, and physical development—preparing children for life, not just school.

👉 Ready to see our holistic approach in action? Learn more about our Weekend School programme and give your child a head start on their educational journey.

Babyroom Newsletter: Rounding Up Our Journey to East Asia

At Hatching Dragons, we believe learning should inspire curiosity, cultural appreciation, and creativity. This week, our babyroom learners have had a magical time exploring the vibrant cultures of East Asia and beyond, all while nurturing their early language skills, imagination, and sense of community.

Modern Language and Communication: Meet the Family in French

Our little linguists embraced a journey into the French language with a playful exploration of family words. Using a beautiful family tree filled with images of their own loved ones, the children made meaningful connections as they learned to say maman (mum), papa (dad), frère (brother), and sœur (sister).

Through repetition, encouragement, and interactive activities, they built confidence in speaking and expanded their vocabulary—celebrating the people who are most special to them while developing their early language skills in a fun and engaging way.

Interested in experiencing how we blend language learning into every day? Book a tour of our Canada Water nursery to see our multicultural classrooms in action.

Regional Education: Discovering Farming Life in India

Our young learners were transported to the lush landscapes of India to explore the country’s rich agricultural traditions. Using animal toys, colorful farm images, and hands-on activities, the children planted seeds, matched toy animals to their homes, and discussed how farmers care for them.

These interactive experiences connected the children to real-world farming practices, sparking conversations about food, nature, and community life. This is just one of the many ways we weave cultural exploration into our early years curriculum.

Excursion: Exploring Culture and Community at Shri Swaminarayan Mandir

To wrap up our vibrant learning journey through India and East Asia, the children had the incredible opportunity to visit the Shri Swaminarayan Mandir in London. This excursion provided a rich sensory experience—from the intricate carvings and peaceful atmosphere to the sounds of traditional prayers.

The children were fascinated by the vibrant colors, cultural symbols, and stories shared during our guided tour. This visit brought to life many of the themes we've been exploring, such as family, festivals, and traditions, deepening their appreciation for diversity and community.

Specialist Teachers

Sporty Minis with a Mindful Twist

In our latest Sporty Minis session, movement met imagination. We started with calming, animal-inspired stretches—cats, hedgehogs, and giraffes—before moving into crab walks, hopping, and energetic runs that built strength and balance. The highlight? Using frisbees as “cars” weaving around, and aiming them into hula hoops on the floor!

This joyful session blended mindfulness, motor skill development, and pure fun—an essential part of our holistic approach to early childhood education.

Mindful Movement: Celebrating Our Helpers

We concluded our “People Who Help Us” theme with a lively and engaging mindful movement session, celebrating the brave work of firefighters. The children donned helmets and pretended to put out fires—using big, strong puffs of air to blow bubbles away!

After dancing to the upbeat “Stop and Shake” song, we ended with a peaceful moment of relaxation—lying quietly under the soft glow of sensory lights, like stars in the sky. This was the perfect conclusion to an exciting week of creative and active learning.

Discover More

From language learning to cultural discovery, every day at Hatching Dragons is designed to spark curiosity and confidence in our little ones. Interested in giving your child a multicultural learning experience?

👉 Book a tour of our Canada Water nursery
👉 Learn more about our holiday childcare programmes

We can’t wait to welcome you and your child to the Hatching Dragons family!