This week our Blue Butterflies began exploring their new topic of interest ‘Community Helpers’. To begin their learning journey the Butterflies children were asked by their educator ‘what are community helpers’ roles in our community and how do they help people?’ (1/8). This question prompted the Butterflies to think about people who help them with children sharing how firefighters help stop fires and save people from fires. Doctors help us when we get sick and the nurses who also help the patients get better. Children also linked and shared how they have family members in these community roles who help people.
Through free play drawing activities children were encouraged to join an activity where they could draw their own ideas of community helpers and what they look like (1/8). The Butterflies interacted with each other explaining who they had drawn and what the person they had drawn about their role in the community.
The Butterflies also learn about community helpers through exploring their cognitive, thinking, and problem-solving skills through a community helpers memory game.
Through our All children being safe program children engaged in discussion in a large group about safe and unsafe places. Children recalled what danger is and, in an emergency, we call 000 for help to reach a firefighter, policeman or a paramedic (2/8). Our preschoolers have also been engaging in a firefighter safety program learning about fire fighters and how they help people in our community (2/8). Through music the children sang along to songs such as ‘the wheels on the fire truck’ extending their vocabulary and language skills through music.
The Butterflies also learnt about the role of the teacher through a video titled ‘Let’s meet the teacher’. Through digital technology the butterflies were amazed to learn that teachers are community helpers too and assist the younger members of our community to grow and learn (3/8).
The Butterflies continued to explore different scenarios about community helpers also setting up a collage experience where children could make a collage of their teacher’s roles (4/8). To conclude a busy week of learning our preschoolers also recalled their fire fighter program and children were provided with a costume, fire trucks, helmets, and more promoting opportunities for imaginative and role play (5/8).
What the Blue Butterflies have learnt this week:
* Through learning about community helpers this encourages children to show an interest in their own community and leading to a sense of belonging in their community.
* Teaching children and promoting safety how and who to ask for help.
* Providing role play opportunities and allow them to role play being different community members.
* Incorporating music into play experiences in the early years has a positive influence on children’s early development assisting children to get moving and inspire their creativity. Songs about community helpers assisted the preschoolers to learn through an exciting and creative way. Next week (week beginning 8th August) the Blue Butterflies will continue:
* Continuing our firefighter’s program and learning about firefighters and their role in our community.
* Learning about safe places in our community exploring visual images of buildings and identifying places such as school, garden, hospital and more.
Links to Early Years learning Framework:
1.1 - Children feel safe, secure and supported
3.1 - Children become strong in their social and emotional wellbeing
3.2 - Children take increasing responsibility for their own health and physical wellbeing
5.1 - Children interact verbally and non-verbally with others for a range of purposes
5.5 - Children use information and communication technologies to access information, investigate ideas and represent their thinking
Links to National Quality Standards:
1.1.2 - Each child’s current knowledge, strengths, ideas, culture, abilities and interests are the foundation of the program.
3.1.1 - Outdoor and indoor spaces, buildings, fixtures and fittings are suitable for their purpose, including supporting the access of every child.
3.2.2 - Resources, materials and equipment allow for multiple uses, are sufficient in number, and enable every child to engage in play-based learning.
Further reading and links for families:
Fire NSW Website
Educational Fire Safety videos for children by Fire and Rescue NSW
Triple Zero Challenge (000) game for children
Article: Preschoolers learn about emergency services
Winter Fire Safety for families
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