GIGI BYTES EDITION- 5

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Developing Math & Reasoning Skills Through Play

Young children build essential math and reasoning skills best through play, where learning feels natural and fun. In the preschool environment, activities like counting blocks, sorting objects, building puzzles, and playing with shapes all support early numeracy and logical thinking. These playful experiences help children develop number sense, recognise patterns, understand sequencing, and solve problems creatively. Even simple games that involve taking turns and following rules promote critical thinking and decision-making. By engaging in these hands-on, meaningful activities, children begin to build a strong foundation in math, without even realising they are learning. Families can reinforce these skills at home by involving children in everyday tasks like setting the table, organising toys, or comparing items at the store. Through play, children are not only having fun, they're also developing the cognitive tools they will use for years to come.

Swapnali Medhekar

Center Head

Kanakia Kids

CLASSROOM CONNECTION

This week, our little explorers dived into a world of creativity and imagination! Through hands-on building, painting, and playful activities, children engaged in joyful learning experiences. Circle Time was full of songs and movement, giving learners the space to express themselves freely. Small group activities encouraged sharing and friendship, while individual tasks built independence and confidence. Each day ended with smiles and a sense of accomplishment, making learning fun and meaningful.

NURSERY

ENGLISH

Our young learners joyfully revised the S, A, T, P, I, N, C, K, E sounds through a variety of fun, hands-on, and interactive activities. One highlight was a Word Wall Game, where children matched beginning sounds to corresponding pictures. The classroom buzzed with excitement as the game promoted active participation and built confidence. A colourful recap PowerPoint presentation made the revision session even more engaging and helped reinforce the phonics sounds visually and aurally.

At the Literacy Centre, learners completed a vibrant worksheet activity, colouring the beginning sounds of different pictures. They also enjoyed a Picture Talk on the theme “At the Park”, where they observed a lively park scene and answered thought-provoking questions, enhancing both observation and early communication skills.

MATH

The learners had an exciting time revisiting the numbers 1 and 2 through a series of engaging workbook activities. They practised counting and matching objects to the corresponding numerals, while also identifying and colouring the numbers 1 and 2. To make the experience more hands-on, they counted real objects like blocks, adding an interactive element to their learning. These activities not only reinforced number recognition but also helped strengthen counting skills, fine motor control, focus, and logical thinking.

THEME

This week, Nursery learners explored the theme of "Likes and Dislikes", focusing on personal, social, and emotional growth. Using visual prompts like food pictures, they shared preferences by answering questions such as “Do you like chocolate?” and “Do you like spinach?”.

In an interactive role-play activity, children expressed their choices, building language skills and confidence. They connected over similar interests and learned to respect differences. A fun Show and Tell activity allowed them to match body part flashcards with their own bodies, further enhancing their self-awareness.

JR.KG

ENGLISH

Our young learners engaged in hands-on activities that combined fun with foundational literacy development. These tasks supported both early reading skills and the development of fine motor skills. They reinforced letter–sound associations through drawing and interactive games. Learners also practised recalling, recognising, and writing sounds independently, improving their listening and phonemic awareness.

To build reading fluency, they revised common sight words and revisited known blends. They were also introduced to new blends, learning how individual sounds come together to form meaningful words. Additionally, pattern practice helped enhance their observation skills and build concentration, supporting overall cognitive development.

MATH

In math, they practised missing numbers, number dictation (2, 4, 5, 8, 10, 12, 14), and completed workbook activities to reinforce counting skills.

Children wrote numbers from 1 to 15 in their notebooks and worked on number sequencing tasks. For a fun twist, they wrote backwards numbers on the whiteboard, enhancing both memory and fine motor coordination. These engaging activities made math enjoyable and helped build a strong foundation in both numeracy and emotional understanding.

THEME

This week’s theme recap was filled with joyful learning. Children revised their emotions using fun worksheets, helping them identify and express different feelings effectively.

They revisited the topic of personal hygiene through worksheets and flashcards, reinforcing healthy habits in everyday routines. To deepen their understanding of the sense organs, learners expressed creativity through themed drawing activities, blending science with art in a meaningful way.

SR.KG

ENGLISH

This week, learners explored the story “The Magic Shell” using a BME chart to understand story sequencing and structure. They practised rhyming words through fun games, enhancing sound recognition and vocabulary.

The concept of Magic ‘e’ was introduced, and children wrote words with the long vowel 'e' sound in their notebooks. They also learned ‘i’ family words using flashcards and charts, boosting their phonics skills. These activities supported story comprehension, phonics, and sight word recognition, laying a strong foundation for reading fluency and spelling.

MATH

This week focused on recapitulation, helping children reinforce their understanding through revision and fun activities. Learners revisited key concepts like patterns, missing numbers, and before/after/between numbers.

They engaged in playful, hands-on tasks that boosted their confidence and helped them connect previous learning with new knowledge. This process strengthened both their memory and problem-solving skills.

THEME

As part of the theme recap, learners practised spelling the names of five internal organs and five fruits, enhancing their vocabulary and spelling skills.

They also revisited our Picture Talk session on healthy vs. junk food, promoting better understanding of good eating habits. A reinforcement worksheet further helped consolidate their learning. These activities supported self-expression, memory recall, and language development in a fun and engaging way.

READING PROGRAM

Learners enjoyed reading “The Bear” from the Fitzroy Reader series using the SAAR app. They practised fluency and comprehension by reading aloud and discussing the story.

To reinforce sight word recognition, children identified and circled sight words within the text. This boosted their reading confidence and word recognition skills.

STORY TIME

Children were captivated by a sensorial story, brought to life with puppets and a puppet theatre. This engaging storytelling session took them on a journey to discover the five senses, helping them better understand how we explore the world around us. The interactive format encouraged imagination and deepened their sensory awareness.

HORTICULTURE

Nursery

This week, learners focused on exploring the parts of a plant, with a particular emphasis on leaves. Armed with magnifying glasses, they examined the textures, shapes, and colours of various leaves, which sparked curiosity and prompted engaging discussions about plant life and the importance of leaves. This hands-on activity not only nurtured early scientific thinking but also expanded their plant-related vocabulary, enhanced their observation and concentration skills, and deepened their connection to the natural world.

Jr.Kg

Our little gardeners had a delightful time with a carrot planting activity. Under the teacher’s guidance, children filled tray pots with soil, placed carrot cuttings inside, and gently covered them. This engaging, hands-on experience helped learners understand the planting process and sparked their interest in nature. It also nurtured responsibility, patience, and a love for the environment.

Sr.Kg

In gardening class, learners had a hands-on experience planting marigold seeds, stepping outside the classroom to connect with nature. They learned about soil composition, plant parts, and basic plant care, gaining real-world knowledge mindfully and engagingly. This activity sparked curiosity and built appreciation for the environment.

ACTIVITY TIME

During activity time, preschoolers engaged in two creative literacy activities. In the Earbud Dabbing Activity, they used cotton earbuds dipped in paint to trace the letters S, A, and P, boosting fine motor skills and letter formation. In the Tear-and-Paste Activity, they tore colourful paper to decorate cut-outs of the letters t, p, n, c, and k. Both activities strengthened letter recognition, finger strength, hand-eye coordination, and confidence. The joy on their faces showed how learning and creativity came together in each fun masterpiece.

Creativity blossomed as learners illustrated “The Perfect Garden” and “My Favourite Toy” in their journals, strengthening their fine motor skills and imagination.

A playful “Sight Word Parking Lot” game turned reading into an exciting challenge. Children drove toy cars onto words they could read, making literacy both interactive and fun. These activities supported early literacy, focus, and independent thinking.

PLAY LAB

In the Playlab, learners explored literacy and numeracy through exciting, play-based activities. They practised letter recognition using games and built simple words with blocks. On the math side, they practised counting, number identification, and solved basic puzzles, building logic and reasoning skills.

Block-building activities fostered creativity, teamwork, and problem-solving as children created unique shapes and structures. These hands-on experiences supported fine motor development and encouraged learning through exploration. The Playlab continued to be a nurturing space where children’s confidence, curiosity, and love for learning could grow.

STREAM

Nursery

Nursery learners explored how natural pigments from flowers and leaves transfer onto paper. By striking flowers with a hammer, they observed how force changes the flowers' appearance and transfers the pigments, learning about cause and effect. They also had fun exploring Force and Motion, discovering the concepts of push and pull by experimenting with various objects to see how they influence motion.

Jr. KG

Jr. KG learners identified different types of weather, such as sunny, rainy, windy, cloudy, and snowy. They also learned about dressing appropriately for different weather conditions. The children explored the solar system, recognising planets like Earth, Mars, and the sun at the centre. They understood that planets vary in size and are far apart, expanding their vocabulary with words like "planet," "sun," "moon," and "stars."

Sr. KG

Sr. KG learners explored constellations in their STREAM session, learning to recognise patterns of stars like the Big Dipper and Leo. They understood that constellations are star patterns in the night sky. The children also learned about gravity, the force that pulls objects toward Earth, and created a drawing of a world without gravity to visualise the concept.

ART

Nursery

This week, Nursery learners explored basic 2D shapes like circles, squares, triangles, and rectangles, identifying them in the classroom and linking them to real-life objects. Through drawing and artwork, they practised recognising, naming, and using these shapes. Additionally, they were introduced to using a paintbrush, experimenting with different strokes and swirls. This activity enhanced their fine motor skills, hand-eye coordination, and creativity, as they created beautiful patterns and designs.

Jr.Kg

This week, Jr. KG learners explored sand art on the light table, using their fingers to create patterns on a glowing surface. This activity enhanced their fine motor skills, concentration, and creativity. They were also introduced to 2D geometrical shapes like circles, squares, triangles, and rectangles, practising drawing and overlapping them to create new designs, boosting their creativity and fine motor skills.

Sr.kg

This week, Sr. KG learners practised using scissors, focusing on holding them correctly and cutting along straight and curved lines. They enjoyed cutting out simple shapes and patterns, which boosted their confidence, independence, and fine motor skills, while improving hand-eye coordination and patience.

They were also introduced to organic shapes, exploring free-form shapes found in nature like leaves, clouds, and stones. Through drawing and colouring these shapes, the children enhanced their creativity and understanding of the difference between geometric and organic forms, creating unique artworks inspired by nature.

MUSIC

Nursery

Nursery learners explored Tambourines and Maracas, introducing them to rhythm and coordination. Through activities like imitation and free play, they practised shaking and tapping, boosting fine motor skills and auditory awareness. This playful experience fostered creativity, teamwork, and confidence while laying a strong foundation for musical growth.

Jr.Kg

Learners explored rhythm and beat with Bongo drums and Maracas, developing hand-eye coordination and timing. Through activities like imitation, call-and-response, and free play, they built confidence, creativity, and motor skills. This playful approach made music learning fun while enhancing social interaction and musical abilities.

Sr.Kg

Learners explored Tambourine, Bongo, and Maracas to deepen their understanding of rhythm, coordination, and musical expression. The tambourine helped with hand-eye coordination and timing, while bongos introduced basic drumming patterns. Maracas and tambourines allowed learners to explore steady rhythms, improving fine motor skills and auditory discrimination. Through guided practice, imitation, and creative play, learners built confidence, teamwork, and social skills while enhancing their musical abilities in a fun, supportive environment.

SPORTS

Nursery

In Nursery, children took part in the Jumping into Hula Hoop Rings activity, jumping through the hoops and running to touch the ice-cream cone. This fun game helped build balance, coordination, and gross motor skills while promoting active participation.

Jr. KG

Jr. KG learners participated in the Overhead Passing the Ball Game, where they passed the ball above their heads to friends. This activity helped enhance teamwork, coordination, and motor skills, while also fostering confidence and focus through play.

Sr. KG

This week, Sr. KG learners practised the Balance Beam Game, improving their balance, focus, and coordination. As they carefully walked on the beam, they worked on maintaining posture and body control, boosting their confidence and developing gross motor skills in a fun, engaging way.

Events

International Literacy Day – 8th September 2025

International Literacy Day was celebrated with great enthusiasm! Our Nursery learners engaged in exciting activities, such as hopscotch using SATPIN letters, where they identified letters and voiced their sounds. The day became even more vibrant as children came dressed as their favourite storybook characters. With help from parents, learners created their own storybooks at home, writing simple sentences, illustrating pages, and designing creative covers.

Our Jr.Kg learners enjoyed an exciting activity called “Finish the Sentence.” The teacher began prompts such as “I like to eat…” and the learners eagerly completed them with their own imaginative responses. This interactive game sparked curiosity, encouraged active participation, and boosted their confidence in literacy skills. The session was filled with fun, creativity, and a wonderful sense of accomplishment, making it a joyful celebration of language and learning.

On the day of celebration, Sr.Kg learners brought their books to class and narrated their stories in a language of their choice. The activity fostered imagination, storytelling, and self-confidence, making it a truly memorable event.

Hindi Diwas - 12th September 2025

The Hindi Diwas celebration proved to be a vibrant and enriching experience for our young learners. The event effectively fulfilled its objectives of promoting the Hindi language, encouraging its everyday use, and making learning fun and interactive for children across Nursery, Jr. Kg, and Sr. Kg levels.

Children actively participated in a range of thoughtfully designed activities, including storytelling with story books, Hindi rhymes and songs, and a picture-word matching game based on Hindi Swar (vowels). These engaging and age-appropriate experiences not only enhanced the learners’ listening and speaking skills but also deepened their cultural connection with the language.

ZUMBA

Nursery
Our Nursery learners began the session with an energizing warm-up, followed by a joyful revision of the song “Thunder.” To make the experience more engaging, the children were divided into teams, where each group performed enthusiastically. The activity not only filled the session with happiness but also encouraged confidence and teamwork.

Junior KG
Our Junior KG learners started with a fun warm-up exercise and then enjoyed a lively revision of the Zumba song “Bring the Beat.” Learners were divided into teams, and each group performed with excitement and energy, building confidence, teamwork, and a love for movement.

Senior KG
For our Senior KG learners, Zumba offered a perfect blend of dance and fitness to boost physical development and motor skills. In this session, they practised the songs “Dance Dance Dance” and “Nobody Partner.” They also played the Sleeping Animal game, which strengthened their alertness, focus, and ability to reflect, all while keeping the energy high.