Westminster School Highlights - August 23, 2024

An Exciting Week of Learning and Adventure at Preschool

This week, our preschoolers had a blast exploring some beautiful spots around Westminster!

We took them on fun trips to St. John’s Garden, Victoria Tower Gardens, and Horseferry Playground.

Victoria Tower Gardens, right in the heart of Westminster, is such a peaceful park, nestled between the Houses of Parliament and the River Thames.

The kids had a fantastic time wandering through the open spaces, learning a bit about the history of the royal gardens and the Houses of Parliament.

They especially enjoyed playing in the sandpits by the river, dancing along with the chimes, splashing in the water play area, and having a picnic with an amazing view of Parliament.

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Dragon Flights

Phonics Fun

This week, we worked on the letters "g" and "h."

The children practiced writing these letters, sang some catchy phonics songs, and played with building simple CVC (Consonant-Vowel-Consonant) words, which really helped boost their early reading skills.

Exploring Australia

Our journey through Australia continued, and the kids loved it! We shared more cool facts about the country’s famous landmarks and unique wildlife.

They were really into the book, ‘Why I Love Australia,’ and they even made their own emus using paper plates! Learning about these amazing animals sparked their creativity and curiosity.

Staying Active

Our little ones stayed active with some fun physical activities. During our Yoga session, the kids combined storytelling with different poses.

They played a guessing game where they had to figure out which animal a pose represented, like guessing the frog when someone did the frog pose.

It turned exercise into a fun, imaginative adventure!

Learning New Languages

Mandarin Lessons with Xiaoxi

Xiaoxi led a Mandarin lesson where the children reviewed vocabulary related to cities, like how to say "city," "restaurant," "zoo," "shop," and "hospital" in Mandarin.

They also practiced animal names, learning how to say "elephant," "bird," "monkey," and even "rubbish!"

Cultural Exploration – Chinese Ghost Festival

The children dove into the traditions of the Chinese Ghost Festival.

They had fun painting lotus lanterns and learning about the customs and stories behind this special cultural celebration. It was a great way for them to explore another culture while expressing their creativity.

Blue Dragons 

Outdoor Adventures

This week, our Blue Dragons had a wonderful time visiting Vauxhall City Farm.

The children were completely immersed in the farm’s lively environment, getting up close with a variety of farm animals, plants, and flowers.

They learned all about the different characteristics of the animals and were especially excited during our animal singsong session, where they tried to mimic the sounds of their new animal friends.

We also enjoyed a lovely picnic, taking in the beautiful weather and the sights of the city park.

Educational Circle Time & Activities

Our little learners focused on understanding the weather this week.

We sang an interactive song called Hey Mr. Weather Man, where we explored different types of weather in both English and Mandarin.

The children loved learning how to describe sunny, rainy, and windy days in both languages! We also introduced the days of the week through music during our circle time.

These fun, interactive songs are helping the children get a better grasp of the world around them.

This week, the Blue Dragons review phonics letter "a."

The children practiced sounding the letter and pronouncing words that start with "a" and took part in tracing activities.

We also tried mark making the letter using different resources.

Regional Focus - Australia 

Our journey through Australia continued with even more fascinating facts about the country’s iconic landscapes.

The children got to experience the feel of Australia’s famous red desert during a sensory activity.

They played with the smooth, red sand and used it to weigh objects on a scale.

Physical Activity

Taking advantage of the beautiful weather, we spent plenty of time in the garden.

During our circle time, the children chose and practiced daily yoga poses like the tree pose and bridge pose.

They also sharpened their fine motor skills by participating in a baby-bathing activity, where they used bath brushes to help clean baby dolls.

It was both fun and great for their development!

Language Learning

Dong led a fun Mandarin lesson this week where the children reviewed vocabulary related to colors, fruits, and transportation.

They learned how to say "red," "bus," "airplane," and "apple" in Mandarin, along with animal names like "sheep," "horse," "bunny," and "chicken."

These sessions are helping the children build their language skills in a fun and interactive way.

Cultural Exploration

In our effort to broaden the children’s understanding of the world, we conducted doctor role-playing activities.

The children eagerly put on doctor uniforms, explored different medical tools, and learned about how each one is used.

This interactive process not only boosted their social skills but also enhanced their cognitive abilities.

Baby Dragons

This week, our baby dragons had a fantastic time filled with learning, creativity, and fun! Here's a glimpse into their week:

Our Makaton session was a big success!

We introduced the signs for 'happy' and 'sad,' and it’s incredible to see some of our baby dragons already using these signs so well.

In addition to learning about emotions, the children began learning the names of their body parts.

To make this learning experience even more engaging, we sang a variety of body part nursery rhymes, including classics like "Head, Shoulders, Knees, and Toes," "If You’re Happy and You Know It," and "One Little Finger."

The little ones absolutely loved these songs and eagerly joined in with the actions. It’s such a joy to watch them develop their communication skills, express their feelings, and gain a better understanding of their own bodies.

We also enjoyed had a wonderful storytime reading Ten Little Fingers and Ten Little Toes.

The book beautifully highlights how babies around the world might differ in many ways, but they all share the joy of ten tiny fingers and ten tiny toes to play with, tickle, and wave.

It’s a heartwarming celebration of each baby's unique qualities and the common joys they share.

Looking Ahead to Next Week

We have another fun-filled week coming up!

We'll be having fun Math activities, unique physical fitness activities (think: Mandarin Yoga!), diving into a colourful world, and having brand-new field trips!

So, if you want to be part of our exciting activities and amazing excursions, make sure to increase your hours below!