GIGI BYTES-EDITION 11

FROM OUR DESK

Play Therapy for Preschoolers

Play therapy is a highly effective approach used to support the emotional and social development of preschoolers. At this young age, children may not have the vocabulary to express complex feelings such as fear, frustration, anxiety, or sadness. Play becomes their natural way of communicating. Through guided activities like pretend play, storytelling, art, sand play, and sensory experiences, children are able to express their emotions in a safe and supportive environment. Play therapy helps build self-confidence, improve communication skills, enhance problem-solving abilities, and develop emotional regulation. It is especially beneficial for children facing challenges such as separation anxiety, difficulty adjusting to school, behavioral changes, or social struggles. By recognizing the power of play, parents and educators can nurture emotional well-being and help children grow into confident, resilient, and secure individuals.

Swapnali Medhekar

Center Head

Kanakia Kids,Mira Road

CLASSROOM CONNECTION
Our preschool classrooms were filled with meaningful interactions, gentle guidance, and joyful learning moments. Teachers created a nurturing environment where children felt safe to explore, ask questions, and express themselves freely. Each day, curiosity was encouraged and every child’s unique pace of learning was supported, promoting social, emotional, and academic growth.

NURSERY

ENGLISH

Learners were introduced to the letter ‘Xx’ through engaging, hands-on activities such as a tear-and-paste craft and a creative Christmas tree drawing. These activities supported their understanding of the letter’s sound and formation. Structured letter-writing practice and enjoyable recap exercises further enhanced phonemic awareness, letter recognition, fine motor development, and early writing confidence.

Expressive storytelling sessions featuring “The Little Helping Hands” and “Buns and the Whispering Wind”, supported with visuals and interactive discussions, fostered attentive listening, thoughtful responses, empathy, curiosity, and effective communication skills, while nurturing a spirit of inquiry.

MATH

Learners engaged in a colour-sorting activity where they grouped various shapes according to their colour. This hands-on task strengthened their observation skills and supported the development of early mathematical concepts such as sorting and categorising.

The concept of the number 10 was introduced through counting sets of ten fingers and other concrete manipulatives, allowing learners to understand number value in a meaningful and tangible way. Rainbow tracing of the number 10 further reinforced number recognition while enhancing fine motor development and pencil control in an enjoyable and engaging manner.

THEME

The Transport theme concluded with a creative and enriching session as learners took centre stage in an exciting transport-themed role play. They confidently portrayed various modes of transport, including buses, cars, and aeroplanes. During the show-and-tell segment, learners named different vehicles with enthusiasm, supporting their language development, listening skills, and self-expression.

A cut-and-paste workbook activity further strengthened their fine motor skills, hand–eye coordination, and ability to follow instructions. The theme was reinforced through the story “The Busy Day of Benny the Bus,” which helped learners revisit and consolidate key concepts in an engaging and meaningful way. With imaginative costumes, hands-on experiences, and active participation, the learning process was both enjoyable and memorable.

JR.KG

ENGLISH

This week, learners practised writing two-letter words such as if, in, is, and it on loose sheets to strengthen word recognition and writing skills. They revised vowels on the whiteboard and practised writing Aa to Zz neatly in their notebooks to improve letter formation and presentation. Learners also revised two-letter a and i family words to support early reading development.

A dictation activity featuring two-letter words (am, an, as, at, if, in, is, it) was conducted to enhance listening and spelling skills. Additionally, learners revisited the story “Journey Through Time – Modes of Transport” through an interactive discussion. The teacher asked thought-provoking questions and encouraged children to respond and narrate the story in their own words. This activity strengthened listening skills, comprehension, vocabulary, and confidence in verbal expression.

MATH

Learners enjoyed exploring numbers through engaging, hands-on activities that enhanced their numeracy skills. A colour-by-code activity encouraged careful colouring of a rocket while following instructions. Writing numbers from 1 to 40 strengthened number recognition and built writing confidence.

Through exciting backward counting on the whiteboard and number-name dictation, learners sharpened their number sense, listening, and spelling skills. They also practised sequencing through “what comes after” activities and explored the concepts of bigger and smaller, further developing their observation and comparison abilities.

THEME

Over the past fortnight, learners participated in meaningful activities that deepened their understanding of transportation. They completed workbook activities on pages 66 and 52. The “Odd One Out” activity enhanced observation, categorization, and critical thinking skills, while “Circle what runs on the track” helped learners identify vehicles that move on tracks, strengthening their understanding of transport and classification.

Learners also engaged in a recap of the modes of transportation through interactive discussions. They explored vehicles related to roadways, railways, airways, and waterways, and discussed their uses in daily life. Through active participation, questioning, and sharing ideas, learners reinforced their understanding of how different vehicles are used for travel and transport. These experiences supported communication skills, observation, and conceptual understanding in a collaborative learning environment.

SR.KG

ENGLISH

During the sessions, learners revised opposites to refresh and reinforce their understanding. They then created drawings to demonstrate the positional words in, on, and under, helping them grasp these concepts through visual representation. Learners also completed a BME (Beginning, Middle, End) chart for the story “Jia’s Piggy Bank Story,” where they discussed the sequence of events before forming smaller words from bigger words to strengthen their phonics skills. In the following session, they practised writing words with final blends and were introduced to the concept of This and That. By the end of the lessons, learners were able to recall opposites, use positional words correctly, identify the beginning, middle, and end of a story, and independently form new words—demonstrating noticeable growth in language understanding and literacy skills.

MATH
Mathematics helps learners develop number sense, logical thinking, and problem-solving skills essential for everyday life. During math sessions, learners revised and practised writing before, after, and between numbers. They reviewed shapes such as the triangle, cone, and pyramid, strengthening shape recognition. Learners practised writing numbers from 50 to 1 and from 1 to 90 in their notebooks. They also revised arranging numbers from biggest to smallest and smallest to biggest. Key concepts such as full and empty, and long and short were reinforced, along with revision of subtraction. By the end of the lessons, learners demonstrated improved number sense, sequencing ability, shape recognition, and understanding of basic operations, building a strong mathematical foundation

THEME
During theme sessions, learners explored engaging, real-life concepts through interactive and hands-on activities. They were introduced to the uses of currency and where money comes from, building early financial awareness. Through a creative activity of making a piggy bank using paper cups, learners understood the importance of saving money. They also revised concepts related to money and technology, including its uses and misuses, and were briefly introduced to ideas about law, justice, and the finance ministry in a simple, age-appropriate manner. These experiences encouraged curiosity, creativity, practical understanding, and meaningful real-life connections.

READING PROGRAM

Nursery

As part of the reading program, learners explored “Fox on the Box” through an engaging audio-visual app. The teacher introduced the story using vibrant visuals, followed by shared sentence reading. Learners delighted in discovering new words, which strengthened their reading, listening, and vocabulary skills while building confidence.

Jr.Kg

During the reading program, learners actively participated in a guided recap of the story “The Land of Zond.” Through question-and-answer sessions, they recalled the sequence of events, characters, and key details, strengthening listening skills, comprehension, and memory. Learners were encouraged to share their thoughts and narrate parts of the story in their own words, building confidence in speaking and language use. Following the discussion, learners completed a three-letter word activity in which they observed pictures and wrote the correct names beneath each image. This hands-on task reinforced phonics awareness, letter–sound correspondence, vocabulary development, and early writing skills. Overall, the session nurtured a love for reading while supporting language development and fine motor coordination.

HORTICULTURE

Nursery

During Horticulture sessions, learners explored the different parts of a flower, such as petals and pollen, through hands-on observation. By carefully examining real flowers, they developed curiosity, sharpened their observation skills, and gained an early understanding of plant life. The activity also fostered respect for nature while making learning interactive and meaningful.

Sr.Kg
Learners enthusiastically participated in a horticulture activity where they planted seeds and saplings with great excitement. They learned about the importance of plants, how to care for them, and the basic steps involved in planting. This hands-on experience nurtured their love for nature, sense of responsibility, and environmental awareness. Watching them gently plant and water their saplings was truly a joyful and meaningful learning experience.

MUSIC

Nursery
Topic: Bon Voyage – Transport: Roadways and Railways

Our Nursery learners enjoyed a lively and engaging session as they explored different modes of transportation through the cheerful Transportation Song. Singing along with actions, children identified and named vehicles such as bikes, buses, cars, trains, and planes while moving rhythmically to the music. The integration of visuals, actions, and new vocabulary enhanced their listening and speaking skills, making the learning experience both meaningful and memorable. This fun-filled activity supported early language development and helped children understand how we travel from one place to another in everyday life.

Jr.KG
Topic: Different Musical Instruments

Junior KG learners enthusiastically explored a variety of musical instruments, including the keyboard, chime, maracas, triangle, moon tambourine, djembe, and xylophone. Through hands-on experiences, they discovered how each instrument produces unique sounds and rhythms. By playing together in groups, learners developed listening skills, coordination, and an understanding of beats and tempo. These interactive sessions fostered confidence, creativity, and a growing appreciation for music in an enjoyable and engaging environment.

Sr.KG
Topic: Musical and Non-Musical Instruments

Senior KG learners actively explored and differentiated between musical and non-musical instruments. They engaged with instruments such as the keyboard, chime, maracas, triangle, moon tambourine, djembe, and xylophone, learning to identify distinct tones and rhythmic patterns. Through guided practice and group activities, children strengthened their listening skills, timing, and teamwork. These enriching experiences deepened their musical understanding while nurturing creativity and confidence in a joyful and supportive learning setting.

ART

Nursery

Our little artists enthusiastically explored the exciting world of Mixed Media while preparing for the upcoming Annual Art Exhibition. Learners experimented with different materials such as crayons, paints, paper cut-outs, and textured objects to create beautiful artworks.

Through printing, colouring, pasting, and simple painting techniques, children discovered how combining materials can make their artwork more creative and expressive. The activity encouraged imagination, sensory exploration, and fine motor skill development.

Nursery learners confidently created vibrant and joyful pieces, showcasing their creativity and growing artistic abilities.

Jr. KG

Jr. KG learners explored various art techniques as part of their preparation for the Annual Art Exhibition. Under the theme Mixed Media, children combined materials like coloured paper, paint, natural textures, and recycled items to create unique compositions. They experimented with techniques such as collage making, simple printing, and creative colouring. This hands-on experience enhanced their observation skills, creativity, and confidence in expressing ideas through art. Each artwork reflects the learners’ imagination, effort, and excitement as they proudly prepare to present their creations.

Sr. KG

Sr. KG learners creatively engaged in the theme Mixed Media, exploring a variety of techniques and materials to prepare for the upcoming Annual Art Exhibition. They experimented with collage, painting, printing, texture art, and basic sculpture elements. By combining different art forms and materials, learners developed problem-solving skills, artistic confidence, and fine motor coordination. They thoughtfully planned and executed their ideas, transforming simple materials into expressive artworks. The exhibition highlights their creativity, innovation, and growing understanding of artistic techniques.

Events

Sports Day
Our kindergarten’s Sports Day, themed “The Circus,” “Community Champions,” and “The Helping Hand Hustle,” was a vibrant celebration filled with colour, laughter, and excitement. The school grounds were beautifully decorated with bright displays and lively music. Children participated enthusiastically in fun, age-appropriate races that promoted movement, coordination, and confidence. The day was filled with cheers, giggles, and proud moments as learners displayed sportsmanship, energy, and determination. Beyond physical activity, the event fostered cooperation, confidence, and a love for movement, leaving every child with happy memories and a sense of achievement.

GIGI’s Birthday Celebration
Our school was filled with excitement and cheer as we celebrated GIGI’s birthday. The foyer was beautifully decorated for this special occasion that the children eagerly awaited. The celebration began with a joyful birthday song, followed by fun games and engaging activities planned to suit their age group.

The event reinforced values such as sharing, kindness, gratitude, and friendship. Children experienced the joy of celebrating together and making someone feel special. The day concluded with bright smiles and cherished memories, making it a heartwarming celebration for all.