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Outside the box thinking
Outside the box thinking. It’s a popular catch phrase. But, what does it mean for students?
Thinking out of the box literally means shifting a person’s frame of reference. In simple terms, it means to think differently,unconventionally, or from an entirely new perspective.The result of learning to think beyond the established, conventional viewpoint results in truly inventive solutions to all types of problems. And, from an educational perspective, when students learn to think innovatively from a young age, their future is limitless. Of course, learning to think outside the box should never become a chore or be relegated to a child’s “To Do List.”
When it comes to your children you want to give them the best possible start in life. Raising creative thinkers who look beyond the obvious solution is an important skill. The sooner you get them started in the right direction, the faster they will pick up these thinking skills. That in turn means they will reach their professional and personal goals quicker and more easily. Take the time to teach them right from the beginning and encourage out of the box thinking. When we make a new skill a part of our everyday lives it becomes a habit. Provide your children with challenges and call them out when they try to take the easy way out when solving a puzzle or a problem. They’ll thank you in the long run. Not only will thinking outside the box help your children, but it will also help you. Children are amazing problem solvers. You would be amazed at how much they can help see things in a different light compared to adults. You just need to ask.
Swapnali Medhekar
Center Head
NURSERY
Classroom Connection
Children learn best when they feel connected to their teachers. Having a chit chat session where they can share their stories during the virtual class help the learners to get connected with their teachers. Connecting with our learners is an absolutely vital part of the work we do as teachers.
English
As learners develop alphabet knowledge they learn to recognize and name upper and lowercase letters. They also discover that there are sounds associated with each letter.
Recapitulation of Letter Jj was done by playing the phonic sound of the letter Jj with action. Jellyfish activity was done where learners did sponge dabbing. Sponge painting gives a texture effect to the art and makes it very attractive to the learners. Sponge painting builds confidence among the learners as they achieve a sense of achievement of completing their tasks independently.
The introduction of the letter Kk was done along with phonic songs. Learners were encouraged to show the objects related to the letter Kk. Formation of letter Kk was done with fingertip painting which would enhance their eye-hand coordination and build their fine motor skills. Fingertip painting develops their sensory organs and our little learners were very happy while doing this activity.
Math
Kids have dynamic learning capabilities that are enhanced by their observation skills. Basic shapes and colors impact children. They try to understand their surroundings by looking at the different objects around them. All kinds of objects and structures help kids in learning shapes. The teacher introduced shape Square to learners by singing songs. Later different square-shaped objects were shown to our learners to understand the shape. This helped them to understand and ingrain in them a sense of recognizing the shape.
Horticulture
The leaf is one of the most important parts of a plant. Leaves produce food for the plant through a process called photosynthesis. The leaves of different plants vary widely in size, shape, and color. Gardening is a healthy, fun activity for children. Children develop new skills and learn about science and nature from growing their own food. The teacher showed different types of leaves and asked learners to touch, feel and smell some leaves that have an aromatic smell. Some leaves are used in food which gives a good aroma and taste. Some leaves are used as medicines. This project served as an assistant to strengthen their discovery and sensory skills.
Curious Explorer
Crossing Sign: This sign enables learners to be careful about areas where vehicles usually come to a halt. Stop signs often indicate accident-prone areas this learning was inculcated during the session. It is important that our little learners learn to recognize this sign as a safe point from which they can cross the road on their way.
For better understanding, an activity on stop signs was done. Learners were so engrossed in the activity and they had fun doing it. Through this activity, learners got a chance to talk about their previous knowledge of road safety rules and signs. Our little learners were very eager to interact with the teacher and were happy to get the topic.
Citizenship
Good citizenship means to conduct oneself in accordance with the rights, duties, and privileges. Teaching the right manners and etiquette at the right time plays a very significant role in the development of our learners. In order to be a good citizen, we should respect our community helpers as they make our lives better, keep us and our community safe these values were instilled during the session with the help of audiovisuals this helped them to understand ways to became good responsible citizens.
Emotional Quotient
It’s important for the learners to recognize and define how they are feeling. By teaching them about emotions so they learn that things that may seem amorphous or overwhelming actually have a name. Like “You look sad right now,” or “I can tell you are mad.” Name your emotions too by saying, “I am sad that we can’t go visit Grandma today,” or “I’m surprised because my friends have a surprise party for me. For better understanding teacher showed videos to the learners. Individually the teacher asked learners if their friend wants a toy that they are playing with, what will you do. The learners answered they will share. 2nd question teacher asked You want to go to the part but mummy can't take you there since she has some work etc. How will you react? Some learners said they will cry, some said they will get angry. Participating in this activity allowed learners to the outlet of their innate feelings.
Zumba
Zumba is a fitness music, rhythms, and beats. Giving learners an outlet to jump, dance, shake and swing their hips, it's the perfect recipe for fitness fun. Zumba also adds age-appropriate games and activities, helping learners gain coordination, self-confidence, overcome fears, learn about teamwork, and much more. Learners enjoyed the Zumba period as the music started learners tap on their feet. The teacher did different country moves on the music learners enthusiastically followed her.
Virtual Field Trips
Virtual Field Trips are an exciting and educational way to visit places all around the world, anytime. This week our little learners had a virtual trip to National Aquarium. They saw different types of aquatic animals like sharks, dolphins, ray fish, turtles, jellyfish, etc. It provided an opportunity for students to encounter and explore novel things in an authentic setting. The learners were seen as very enthusiastic, engrossed, and excited during the field trip.
National Sport Day
India's National Sports Day is celebrated every year on August 29. Major Dhyan Chand, widely known as the “Hockey Wizard" and “The Magician", was born on August 29, 1905, and National Sports Day is marked to celebrate his birthday. We at olive trails celebrated National Sports Day on 31st August.
August'2021. The teacher first briefed the learners on how Sports are important for the physical and mental well-being of humans. Later games were played, one balloon game and the second a coin collection game. Our little learners had a gala time playing the games.
JR.KG
Classroom connection
Assessing students' prior knowledge allows an instructor to focus and adapt their teaching plan. For students, it helps them to construct connections between old and new knowledge.
English
Writing is a gradual process, letting children organize their thoughts much more before shaping sentences is vital. This week writing of Letters R, S, T through an engaging activity with glitter tape was done where our little learners participated in it with complete excitement.
Math
Kindergartners are usually not capable of grasping abstract concepts, so they tend to think of big and small, heavy and light as synonyms. For them to understand the concrete fact that small objects can be heavy you must find a way to get them physically involved with the weight of objects so that they can see the relationship between weight and size, this was done through an activity wherein they learned that the weight of an object is not always as it appears.
Learners were engaged in a demonstration of the activity of the concept heavy and light where they dropped few objects like toys, lock keys, etc. in two bowls filled with water and learned through play way activity this concept with joy.
Theme
Railways are the prime mode of transportation for freight and passengers in India.Railways also make it possible to conduct multifarious activities like business, sightseeing, pilgrimage along with transportation of goods over longer distances. Learners participated actively in the sensorial sponge dabbing activity making colourful printed fright trains.
Horticulture
Children can learn new skills, have fun, play, and develop self-confidence by spending time in the garden tending plants and growing their own food. Most children enjoy being outdoors and love digging in the soil, getting dirty, creating things, and watching plants grow. Water plants like money plants, water lily, and other decorative plants decoration with gravels were taught.
Curious explorer
Learning about the solar system can allow everyone, especially your children, to gain a greater appreciation for the frailness of Earth. Knowing why your planet is extra special and how you can protect that uniqueness helps keep the planet safe. Learners explored the making of the planets using foam and different colours, which they enjoyed while exploring the activity.
Birthday celebration
Making a day special for learners, making them feel they are special for the day and hence birthday is celebrated with cutting cake activity, playing game and dance on the music which our little learners liked too and a celebrated with fun and gaiety.
Event
Activities take care of physical development too. By preparing a curriculum involving different kinds of physical activities, teachers try to support children in building a healthy and fit body. Children are required to play, run, dance, climb etc, which keeps their body active and muscles strong. Kids participated accompanied parents and participated in an event where learners did activities of making aquarium with sand and clay, drawing sea creatures using shapes and game feed the shark and outdoor games like climbing bridge, where learners had fun at school and were the interested in visiting back soon.
SR.KG
Classroom connection
School connectedness refers to an academic environment in which students believe that adults in the school care about their learning and about them as individuals. A connected school environment also increases the likelihood of academic success. A great deal of research looks at school connectedness. Connected learning is when someone is pursuing a personal interest with the support of peers, mentors, and caring adults, and in ways that open up opportunities for them. It is a fundamentally different mode of learning than education centred on fixed subjects, one-to-many instruction, and standardized testing.
English
Letter writing provides children numerous opportunities to develop children's emergent literacy capacities including making meaning/expressing ideas in texts, fine motor skills, concepts of print, phonological awareness, phonics, and creating and exploring texts. Learners recited ‘o’ and ‘u' family rhyming words and then they wrote in a red and blue line book. At the end of the session, they were able to create new words using their thinking and imaginative skills.
Math
Learning to write numbers is a key skill that helps lay the foundation for handwriting and math skills later in life. Children often learn to write numbers during the preschool and kindergarten years, and the right kinds of hands-on activities will promote number-writing skills, as well as give children time to practice their technique. This week learners had been introduced to the number names 11 – 20. Learners enjoyed writing numbers 1- 60 in math and they seem to be focused and attentive during the session. In another session of Math Learners wrote number names 11 – 20.
Theme
Children love learning with themes. There are many educational benefits of teaching using theme activities it is a fun way to explore new topics with kids. During this week introduction of the Water topic and Water cycle was done. Learning about water is important as it helps our learners to know the role water plays in our lives. Effective engagement along with the range of collaborative discussions was done during the session which made our little learners thoughtful and active.
Role play
Role-Playing is an effective way for learners to make sense of the world around them. Role-play exercises, give learners the chance to assume the role of a person or act out a given situation. This week role play on means of communication was done it gave our learners the time to reflect on and develop their knowledge of a topic, that helped to develop their communication , creative, imaginative, and cognitive skills.
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Gardening is a healthy, fun activity for children. Children develop new skills and learn about science and nature from growing their own food. There is a variety of interesting activities children can be involved in, such as planting, mulching, weeding, and cooking. So, to reinforce these teachers did one activity with learners where they were asked to keep the ready pot, soil, water, and money plant. Learners were very excited to know what they were going to do with plants and pot. The teacher explained to them the importance of indoor plants. Learners were happy to know about indoor plants and many were excited to show their indoor plants. They were very happy to observe the roots of the money plant and then they planted them in the soil.
Citizenship
Citizenship is everything that has to do with being a citizen, just as citizens have rights that are given by the country's government. In return, citizens have duties that they owe to the country. This week in our circle time this was explained using audio-visuals’ importance and the need to respect and honour our community helpers were inculcated as they sacrifice their life, time, happiness to make our lives safe, easy and help our community function better, the responsibility and getting to know our community helpers was fostered during these sessions. Learners were interested to know more about it and enjoyed this new insightful learning as they excitedly shared their experiences and thoughts.
Music
Music often has rhythm. Rhythm is the way the musical sounds and silences are put together in a sequence. Children love music and this week they enjoyed their music session new song learning Ped Lagao Ped Bachoo. wherein the importance of conserving nature was in cooperated through this song. Learners participated actively in the singing and learning of this new song.
Art
Art encourages fine motor skills, neural development, and problem-solving abilities, and that it can be used effectively to teach and understand other key subjects such as reading, writing, math, and science. This week learners enjoyed making a portray. They were overjoyed while doing this activity.
Curious Explorer
Young children learn best through their own curiosity and discovery. By observing their environment and peers, interacting with their surroundings, and obeying their instincts and impulses in a safe, educational space, children are able to craft their own education. This week in curious explorer learners enjoyed making a citrus mat where they had dipped the lemon slice in the colour and made prints on the sheet. This activity helped to develop their fine motors skills and hand-eye coordination. Learners were very happy and excited while doing the activity.
Virtual Field Trip
Field trips are a fun-filled activity. Field trips act as a tremendous refreshing activity that breaks the monotony of the classroom. Students get various opportunities to apply their theoretical knowledge in different places. Olive trails school took the learners on a virtual field trip to the California Science Centre. Some learners were so eager for the field trip that they were even ready with picnic bags and water bottles. Through a virtual tour, we took the learners to California Science Centre. It was all about Life Science. Learners visited the discovery room to discover different enclosures in the world of life discovery room and ecosystem gallery. They got an insight into how their keepers provide all the things necessary for plants and animals to survive in different environments
Birthday Celebration
Birthdays are an extraordinary time of the year, especially for children. It always brings happiness and excitement. One event for which every child wait is their birthday. Olive Trails celebrate virtual birthday with great enthusiasm. Teachers welcomed all the learners to the birthday party. The teacher and learners sang the birthday song while the birthday boy and girl cut the cake. Sr. Kg learners enjoyed the game wherein they had to pick coins with the help of two toothpicks one by one and they had to transfer it to the other bowl in one minute using toothpicks. Our little learners were super excited while playing the game. Then after the game they all dance to the tunes of birthday songs.
Sports Day
National Sports Day marks the birth anniversary of Major Dhyan Chand, the Indian hockey legend. The fun part aside, sports can be a great way to indulge in physical activity that can benefit the health. Learners celebrated “Happy National Sports Day” on the 31st of August. Teachers explained the importance of sports. The teacher played the game (minute to win it) with the learners. In the first game, learners had to tie a thread to the ball, and then they had to arrange a few glasses on the floor. Later using the thread in their mouth, they had to push to throw the glass by hitting with the ball. Learners were so happy to play the game that they were playing it again and again. Learners were super excited when they came to known that they were going to play one more game. Learners kept two glasses upside down on the table and they kept bangle on one glass and created a bridge between two glasses by keeping pencil on it. Learners then picked up one bangle with the help of the other two pencils and passed it through a bridge to another glass. For these games, one minute time was given to them. Teachers explained to learners that how these games help to improve concentration, fine hand motor development, time management, and many more with fun. Learners were looking very happy and fresh after playing these games.
