Bringing Literacy to Life

This week the children have been exploring dramtic play. Louise used one of our favourite stories "The Spooky Old Tree" by Stan and Jan Berenstein to act out an imaginary adventure. However, Louse adapted the story and related it to our local landmarks. So the children explored Peel Forest and Mt Peel / Tarahoa. We utilised Maui's ropes to problem solve and help with taking the responsible risks needed on the spooky journey. 

The tamariki were familiar with the rythm of the thier favourite story.."one with a rope, one with a stick and one with a light." They drew on their past knowledge and this helped them lead the story and make decissions as the story went along. With the rope, stick, and light they went on an adventure to visit the 'Spooky Kindergarten'.  

The tamariki were intrigued with the torch to see what they could find in the spooky Kindergarten. They found lions and bears! Just like the book, we asked did they dare to carry on looking? 'Yes we dare!" they replied. Using the torch really prompted their creativity in what could see in the story.

 

The next day Louise repeated the story but split the girls from the boys. The girls sat in a circle to tend to the pretend fire and cook the kai. The boys grouped together and walked around the room with Archie, the Chief,  leading the chanting, "We are hunting,  we are hunting!"  Only to return to the girls to say "There is no food!"
This prompted Archie the next day to gather the stick and  to rein-act the role of 'chief' with Charlotte joining him.  This shows how children need to go back to things to make sense of things.

 Bringing literacy to life helps children to build habits around thinking flexibly and communicating with clarity. We work together for maximum impact.  Ka mahi ngātahi mo te tukinga nui tonu.