GIGI BYTES-Edition-13

FROM OUR DESK

Fostering Learning Outcomes Together

As we progress through the preschool year, we focus on developing key skills that form the foundation for your child's academic success and overall growth. These core areas include literacy, numeracy, social-emotional development, creativity, and physical development. Here’s how you can support your child at home

1. Language and Literacy- Encourage daily reading, storytelling, and letter recognition activities to strengthen vocabulary and early reading skills.

2. Numeracy- Engage in counting, sorting, and simple pattern activities to build a strong math foundation.

3. Social and Emotional Growth- Foster empathy, cooperation, and self-regulation by encouraging your child to express feelings, resolve conflicts, and practice sharing.

4. Creativity- Support imaginative play, drawing, and building to enhance creative thinking and problem-solving.

5. Physical Development- Encourage activities that develop fine and gross motor skills, such as drawing, cutting, climbing, and outdoor play.

By nurturing these learning outcomes together, we build a strong foundation for your child’s future success.

Swapnali Medhekar

Center Head,

Kanakia Kids, Mira Road

SUBJECT FEATURE

Children’s Council: Nurturing Leadership and Confidence

At Kanakia Kids, our learners are taking initiative into leadership and collaboration through the Children’s Council. This initiative aims to empower our young learners by giving them a voice in their classroom community. By participating in the council, the learners are learning valuable life skills, developing a sense of responsibility, and gaining confidence in their abilities.

The Children’s Council participate in classroom activities and events, share ideas, and provide feedback on their learning experiences. Through guided discussions, our learners learn to express their thoughts and listen to their peers, fostering respect and understanding. Teachers play a supportive role, helping to facilitate conversations and ensuring that every child’s voice is heard.

NURSERY

ENGLISH

Language and Literacy

During this week's English session, toddlers were introduced to the sound /r/ through a phonics story and pictures. They traced the letter 'r' in foam and drew a rat, reinforcing their understanding of the sound /r/. These activities supported letter recognition, fine motor skills, and creativity. Additionally, the learners explored sight words such as "I," "me," "he," "we," "be," "the," and "she" through puppets and storytelling. By interacting with these sight words, they began recognizing them, boosting their early reading and laying a strong foundation for literacy.

MATH

Mathematics and Spatial Awareness

In this week's Math session, our little explorers went on a treasure hunt for the hidden number 3, sharpening their counting skills and strengthening their number recognition. They also explored the concepts of "up" and "down" through a fun game of Simon Says, where they actively followed directions, making learning both engaging and dynamic.

THEME

Theme Exploration

On their exciting school adventure, nursery learners explored key school spaces, including the library, classroom, canteen, staffroom, and principal’s office, using interactive flashcards. This activity enriched their vocabulary and deepened their spatial awareness as they confidently identified and named each room.

Jr.Kg

ENGLISH

Language and Literacy

This week in Jr.Kg, learners explored the letters 'r' and 'm' through engaging stories and flashcards. They practised writing 'r' to strengthen letter formation and fine motor skills. Additionally, they built simple words like “am,” “an,” “as,” and “at,” enhancing their phonological awareness and early reading abilities. In Literacy Circle, the story “The Mud Hut” captivated the children’s interest, where they focused on words like “can,” “dig,” “mud,” and “dad,” improving vocabulary and reading comprehension.

MATH

Mathematics and Shape Recognition

Learners explored the concept of 'before numbers' and revisited tens and ones using the frame method. They also delved into shape recognition by creating robots with rectangle cut-outs, adding details with sketch pens and googly eyes. This activity enhanced their creativity and fine motor skills. Additionally, they practised backwards counting from 20 to 1, wrote numbers 18, 19, and 20, and completed pattern recognition exercises by colouring patterns in their worksheet books.

THEME

Theme Exploration

This week, learners deepened their understanding of doctors' and nurses' roles, gaining insight into their responsibilities and collaboration. They explored medical tools and their uses. In connection with the Holi festival, they participated in a creative blow painting activity using straws, paint, and droppers, which introduced them to the artistic side of Holi while enhancing their creativity and understanding of colour dynamics.

Sr.Kg

ENGLISH

Language and Literacy

Mastering the days of the week enhances children's understanding of time, helps establish routines, and aids in recalling daily tasks. Learners practised writing the days of the week and applied long vowel rules to decode words. Through categorization activities, they developed their phonics, reading, and writing skills.

MATH

Mathematics and Numerical Skills

Learners developed logical reasoning and number sense by exploring the concept of "few and many" using concrete objects and flashcards. They further enhanced their numerical skills by writing numbers 1-60, practising skip counting by 5, and solving worksheets, which boosted their cognitive abilities and problem-solving skills.

THEME

Theme and Social Awareness

Exploring the neighbourhood fostered social awareness among learners. They learned about community spaces, their importance, and the rules to follow in those places. Recap sessions with worksheets strengthened their understanding of supermarkets and malls, improving their knowledge of community roles and responsibilities.

Play Lab

Creativity and Problem-Solving

During the Playlab session, nursery learners freely explored various materials, sparking creativity and curiosity. Hands-on activities encouraged problem-solving and offered a playful learning environment. Playlab continues to be a space where children learn and grow through exploration and fun, nurturing both imagination and development.

HORTICULTURE

Nursery

Horticulture enhanced our learners' connection to nature as they collected and examined various leaves through magnifying glasses. This hands-on exploration sharpened their observational skills while fostering a sense of curiosity about the natural world.

Jr.Kg

In the horticulture session, learners participated in a "Float and Sink" and "Heavy and Light" activity using a water-filled tub, petals, leaves, and various concrete objects. This hands-on exploration sparked their curiosity about the natural world while enhancing their observational and critical thinking skills. Through this activity, learners understood the weight and the physical properties of natural objects. It also encouraged inquiry-based learning, fostering problem-solving abilities and reinforcing concepts of comparison and categorization.

Sr.Kg

During horticulture class, learners sowed coriander seeds, understanding the process of germination and learning responsibility in plant care. Gardening promotes stress relief, mood improvement, and healthy habits, enhancing their environmental awareness.

STREAM

Nursery

During this session, Nursery learners enhanced their time awareness by exploring the basic concept of day and night. They identified the presence of sunlight during the day and darkness at night, reinforcing their environmental observation skills. Through discussions, they connected specific activities to each time of day, such as going to school in the morning and sleeping at night, fostering their cognitive development as they learned to distinguish between daily routines.

Jr.Kg

In this session, Jr.Kg learners developed weather recognition skills by identifying and naming different types of weather, including sunny, rainy, windy, cloudy, and snowy. They practised adaptability by understanding how to dress appropriately for various weather conditions, such as wearing a coat in cold weather or a hat on a sunny day. This hands-on learning promoted decision-making skills as they made choices about appropriate clothing for different weather scenarios.

Sr.Kg

Sr.Kg learners deepened their environmental awareness by exploring the importance of animal habitats. They identified different habitats, such as forests, ponds, and nests, and recognized how animals rely on these environments to survive. The session emphasized responsibility and conservation skills by teaching learners simple actions they can take to help protect these habitats, fostering a sense of environmental stewardship.

MUSIC

Nursery

We began the class with an engaging body warm-up, followed by our special roller coaster vocal exercise to energize the students. Next, we listened to the "Community Helpers" song, where we explored the roles of various community helpers such as firefighters and police officers. The students actively participated in learning the chorus, making the session both enjoyable and educational, while reinforcing their understanding of community roles through music.

Jr. Kg and Sr. Kg

The class started with a fun, interactive body warm-up, where students imitated different animal movements to get energized and engaged. This was followed by our roller coaster vocal warm-up, which the students thoroughly enjoyed. We then listened to the "Community Helpers" song, focusing on learning the chorus, allowing students to connect with the theme through music and reinforcing their knowledge of community helpers.

ZUMBA

Nursery

This week, our Nursery students kicked off their day with a fun Zumba warm-up to the lively "Ula Ula" dance. Each move was carefully broken down, helping them develop coordination and rhythm while staying active. The session, part of their *Physical Development* domain, ended on a joyful note with a playful laughing game, making fitness a fun and engaging experience for our little learners. This activity also contributed to their *Social-Emotional Development*, fostering a positive group dynamic.

Jr.Kg

Our Jr. KG students had an exciting Zumba session, dancing to the upbeat rhythm of "Come On, Come On." The steps were simplified to help them grasp new movements like crisscrossing and heel touches, promoting physical fitness as part of their Physical Development domain. Additionally, the session enhanced their Cognitive Development by improving their ability to focus and follow instructions through step-by-step learning.

Sr.Kg

Sr. KG students brought energy to their Zumba session with the "Hooray" dance. They practiced shaping movements from their core while learning to distinguish between left and right directions, focusing on their 'Physical Development' domain. Dynamic steps like criss-cross and heel touches were introduced, enhancing their coordination and directional awareness. The session also supported their 'Cognitive Development' by refining their spatial reasoning and ability to follow multi-step instructions.

EVENTS

Janmashtami Celebration

Janmashtami was excitedly celebrated as learners dressed as Radha and Krishna, bringing the festival to life. The traditional Dahi Handi event allowed them to connect with the cultural significance of Janmashtami while enjoying joyful celebrations.

Ganesh Chaturthi

Ganesh Chaturthi is a celebration that introduces children to Indian culture and instils values like devotion, environmental respect, and creativity. Through interactive storytelling and activities, learners explore the qualities symbolized by Lord Ganesha, such as wisdom, humility, and perseverance, shaping their character and fostering kindness and patience.
During the celebration, students engaged in storytelling sessions about Lord Ganesha's birth and performed traditional dances. The event also included the Ganpati Aarti, where students and teachers offered prayers and sang devotional songs together.