Cycle 2 Newsletter

Message from School's desk :

Dear Parents,

One of the key areas of development we emphasize in the early years is the strengthening of fine motor skills. These small muscle movements in the hands and fingers are essential for everyday tasks such as writing, dressing, feeding, and self-care. Supporting fine motor development not only builds independence but also lays a strong foundation for future academic success.

At school, we incorporate a variety of fun and engaging activities to help nurture these skills. Children enjoy working with playdough, threading beads, using tweezers, drawing, painting, and completing puzzles—all of which help enhance their hand-eye coordination and dexterity. We encourage you to continue supporting this development at home with similar hands-on activities. Together, we can ensure our young learners grow with confidence, creativity, and strong foundational skills

Warm Regards,

Kanakia International School- CBSE

Subject Feature - Music and movement-Music and movement are essential components of early childhood development, supporting a wide range of growth areas in a fun and engaging way. Through dancing, clapping, and playing instruments, children develop gross and fine motor skills, coordination, and body awareness. These activities also enhance cognitive development by promoting memory, language, and early literacy skills through rhythm, rhyme, and repetition. Emotionally, music and movement provide young children with a way to express themselves, build confidence, and explore their feelings. Socially, group songs and dances encourage cooperation, turn-taking, and cultural appreciation. Additionally, music fosters creativity and imagination, allowing children to explore new ideas and experiences in a safe, joyful environment. By integrating music and movement into daily routines, educators and caregivers create rich learning opportunities that support holistic development in the early years.

Learnings in Nursery

English

Topic: - Standing Line

Activity: Finger tracing.

To introduce the concept of a Standing Line, the teacher provided each learner with an art sheet featuring bold vertical lines. Learners were first encouraged to trace these standing lines using their fingers and bottle caps, helping them understand the straight-up direction of a standing line through touch and movement. In the next step, the same sheet was used for a playful extension activity where learners were asked to arrange small toys along the standing lines. This helped reinforce the concept in a fun and interactive way while also supporting fine motor development and spatial awareness.

Topic: - Slanting Line

Activity: Tracing with earbuds.

To introduce the concept of a Slanting Line, the teacher provided each learner with an art sheet featuring slanting lines. Learners were encouraged to dip earbuds in paint and carefully trace along the slanting lines. This creative and hands-on activity helped them understand the direction of slanting lines while also developing fine motor control and hand-eye coordination in a fun and engaging way.

Topic: - Introduction to sleeping Line

Activity: Finger tracing

To introduce the concept of a Sleeping Line, the teacher provided each learner with an art sheet featuring bold, horizontal sleeping lines. The children were encouraged to trace the lines using their fingers, helping them to understand the direction and form of the sleeping line through a tactile experience. This hands-on activity allowed learners to build their fine motor skills, eye-hand coordination and muscle strength while becoming familiar with basic line patterns in a fun and interactive way.

Topic: - Introduction to letter 'Ss'

Activity: Tracing

Learners were introduced to the letter S through a multi-sensory approach. To reinforce letter formation, the teacher demonstrated tracing the letter S in the air and on the whiteboard. As a hands-on activity, children were then given sand trays and encouraged to trace the letter S using their fingers. This tactile experience helped strengthen their letter recognition and fine motor skills in a fun and meaningful way.

Math

Topic: Big and small.

Activity: Sorting

The teacher conducted a recap of the concept Big and Small using a PPT presentation, helping learners visually compare the sizes of different objects. For the activity, learners were given a set of big and small circle cut-outs. They were encouraged to sort the circles based on size, identifying and grouping the big and small ones separately. This interactive task helped strengthen their understanding of size comparison while enhancing their observation, hand-eye coordination and motor skills. This task aided in developing the basic mathematical foundation of our young learners.

Topic: Tall and short.

Activity: Tall and short birds (paper sticking)

To reinforce the concept of tall and short, the teacher facilitated a hands-on activity in which learners drew tall and short lines on a white art sheet. They then transformed these lines into imaginative bird figures by creatively adding square cut-outs. This engaging exercise helped students grasp the concept through direct observation and comparison of the tall and short birds. Additionally, it promoted fine motor skill development and encouraged artistic expression.

Theme

Topic: Myself- Name recognition.

Activity :Dot Painting with Earbuds(Table Names)

To reinforce name recognition and fine motor skills, each learner was given their individual name sheet. The children were encouraged to create beautiful dot prints on their names using earbuds dipped in paint. This engaging and creative activity helped develop hand-eye coordination while making learning personal and fun. The learners enjoyed seeing their names come to life with colorful dots!

STREAM

Sink or Float? – A Fun Water Discovery!

Our curious little learners had an exciting time exploring the world of science through a "Sink and Float" activity!

With wide-eyed wonder, the children experimented with different objects like spoons, leaves, blocks, balls, and crayons to see whether they would sink to the bottom or float on top of the water. They made predictions, observed carefully, and shared their findings with big smiles and even bigger excitement! This hands-on activity helped enhance their observation skills, language development, and early scientific thinking, all while having loads of fun!

ZUMBA

The nursery learners recently enjoyed an energetic and fun-filled Zumba session! Set to lively music, the session encouraged active participation as learners moved and danced to the beats. Through simple, rhythmic movements, the activity helped develop their gross motor skills, including balance, coordination, and body awareness. The cheerful atmosphere kept the learners engaged and excited, making it a joyful experience that combined fitness with music and movement in a playful way.

YOGA

Topic: -Stretching.

The nursery learners participated in a calming and refreshing yoga session focused on basic stretching exercises. Guided through gentle movements, the children practiced simple stretches that helped improve their flexibility, balance, and body awareness. The session created a peaceful environment, allowing learners to relax, focus, and connect with their bodies. It was a wonderful experience that supported their physical development while promoting mindfulness and a sense of well-being.

Library

Topic: The Story of Miss Moppet by Beatrix Potter

Activity: Storytelling through shadow play

Learners had a magical time exploring storytelling through shadow play in our kindergarten class! The session beautifully combined science, creativity, and performance to make learning fun and meaningful. Learners explored not just storytelling, but also teamwork, creativity, and performance skills — all in one joyful activity.

Learnings in K1

English

Topic: Slanting lines.

Activity: Chalk and Board.

Today, our K1 learners participated in an exciting hands-on activity to explore the concept of slanting lines. Using chalk and a blackboard, the learners practiced drawing lines that tilted either to the left or to the right, much like a slide or a rooftop.

The activity helped them observe how slanting lines differed from standing (vertical) and sleeping (horizontal) lines. As they carefully moved their hands from top to bottom at an angle, they developed important prewriting skills such as fine motor control, hand-eye coordination, and spatial awareness. Through such engaging and playful exercises, our young learners built a strong foundation for future writing and drawing skills — all while having a lot of fun.

Topic: Bumpy pattern.

Activity: Tracing

Our young learners had a wonderful time participating in a bumpy pattern tracing activity aimed at strengthening essential early writing skills. Using different colours, each child carefully traced curvy, wave-like dotted lines, focusing intently as they guided their hands across the paper.

This hands-on activity offered more than just fun — it played a crucial role in developing fine motor skills, enhancing hand-eye coordination, and building the muscle control needed for writing. By practicing these curved patterns, the children gained confidence and precision, important steps toward forming letters and numbers in the future. At this early stage, activities like pattern tracing lay a strong foundation for future academic success, while also nurturing patience, perseverance, and a love for learning. Every curve they traced today brought them closer to becoming confident, capable writers of tomorrow!

Topic: Zigzag lines

Activity: Walking on Zigzag.

our young learners explored the concept of zigzag lines through a fun and engaging floor activity. A large zigzag pattern was created on the floor, and the children excitedly took turns walking along the path, carefully following its sharp turns and angles. As they walked, the learners developed important early skills such as balance, coordination, and spatial awareness. This activity also helped them to understand the unique movement of zigzag lines — quick changes in direction, unlike the smooth flow of curves or the steady path of straight lines. By physically experiencing the zigzag pattern, the children strengthened their motor planning and body control, both essential prewriting skills. It was delightful to see their focus and excitement as they moved confidently along the path, laying the groundwork for future activities like tracing and drawing zigzag lines with their hands. Every step they took on the zigzag path brought them closer to mastering the foundational skills needed for early writing and creative expression.

Math

Topic: Circle

Activity: Hoola hoop

K1 learners had an amazing learning experience exploring the concept of the circle through a dynamic and engaging activity. Hula hoops were laid out on the floor, and the children eagerly jumped from one hoop to another, experiencing the shape in a fun and physical way. As they hopped and moved, the learners developed important gross motor skills, improved their balance, and enhanced their body coordination. This active experience not only reinforced their understanding of the circular shape but also supported their overall physical development. It was wonderful to see their energy, focus, and joy as they combined movement with learning, laying a strong foundation for both academic and motor skill growth.

Topic: Square

Activity: Ice-cream stick squares.

Our young learners had a delightful time exploring the square shape through a fun, hands-on activity using ice cream sticks. Each learners thoughtfully arranged the sticks to create squares, focusing closely on the four equal sides and four corners that make this shape unique. As they engaged in the activity, the learners strengthened key skills such as fine motor control, hand-eye coordination, and spatial awareness. They also expanded their vocabulary by using terms like "sides," "corners," and "equal," deepening their understanding of basic geometric concepts. This activity not only made learning about shapes exciting and meaningful but also laid a strong foundation for future skills in mathematics, art, and writing.

Theme

Topic: Sense organs-Tongue

Activity –How does it taste?

As part of their learning about the five sense organs, the learners tasted salt, sugar, and lemon, experiencing the different flavors of salty, sweet, and sour.

Through this simple yet engaging experience, the learners not only on learned about the function of sensory organ-tongue but also strengthened their ability to identify and describe different tastes. They used words like "salty," "sweet," and "sour" to express what they felt, building both their sensory awareness and vocabulary. It was a joy to watch the learner's reactions as they tasted each item — from big smiles for the sweetness of sugar to funny faces when tasting the sourness of lemon! Activities like these make learning about the sense organs memorable, fun, and meaningful.

Topic: Sense organs-Ears

Activity – What can I hear?

In this fun and interactive activity, our K1 learners explored the concept of sense organ-auditory. Using a variety of instruments like drums, shakers, and triangles, the children listened carefully to the different sounds each object made. This activity helped enhance their listening skills, auditory discrimination, and understanding of the world around them. By actively engaging with sound in a controlled environment, learners not only deepened their sensory awareness but also built early scientific thinking skills. It was truly inspiring to observe our young learners as they concentrated on identifying and appreciating the diverse sounds, reinforcing the importance of active listening in both learning and daily life.

Library

Topic: Red, Blue and Yellow Too!

Activity: Roleplay

Learners explored the story “Red, Blue and Yellow Too”, a delightful tale that introduced the magic of rainbow colours.

The session came alive with a roleplay activity, where learners eagerly volunteered to become colourful animals representing each colour of the rainbow. Through this fun and engaging experience, children deepened their understanding of colours and animals in a joyful and memorable way.

STREAM

Clay Fun with Playdough Mats!

Our little creators had an exciting and tactile experience with the Clay Activity using Playdough Mats! Using their imagination and tiny fingers, children rolled, squished, and shaped colourful clay to complete fun scenes on themed mats. This hands-on activity not only sparked creativity but also helped strengthen fine motor skills, hand-eye coordination, and spatial awareness.From building shapes, animals, sunglasses and popsicles, each child added their unique touch to the mats. It was a joy to watch their ideas come alive with vibrant clay! A wonderful blend of learning and play—this clay-tastic session brought lots of smiles, laughter, and creativity into the classroom!

Learnings in K2

English

Topic-Introduction of two letter words.

Activity: Flash cards and clay.

Our young learners were introduced to two-letter words through the use of colourful and engaging flash cards. This activity is a fun and effective way to help children begin recognizing simple word structures such as "am," "as," "at," "an," if " “in" , “it “, “is”, “or”, “on”. Using flash cards allowed learners to visually connect letters and sounds, which built early reading skills and strengthen their vocabulary. The interactive nature of the activity kept learners excited and involved, turning learning into play. By mastering these small but important words, learners gain confidence in their reading abilities and take meaningful steps toward becoming independent readers.

Math

Topic:- Introduction to number name-'one/two'

Activity: Playdough and pom pom activity.

This week, our little learners were introduced to the number names "one" and "two" through a fun and hands-on play dough activity! Using colourful play dough, learners formed the numbers as well as the corresponding number words, helping them connect the numeral with its written form in a tactile and engaging way. This multi sensory approach not only reinforced number recognition but also strengthened fine motor skills and spelling awareness. By shaping each letter and counting small objects like balls or shapes, students gained a clearer understanding of quantity and the written representation of numbers. It was a joyful and creative experience that turned early math learning into a playful adventure!

Topic:- Introduction to tens and ones.

Activity: Bundling

Our young mathematicians have begun exploring the foundational concept of tens and ones as part of their early place value learning! Through interactive activity of bundling using popsicle sticks learners discovered how numbers are made up of tens and ones. This hands-on approach helped them visually and physically break down numbers—for example, understanding that the number 23 is made of 2 tens and 3 ones. These engaging lessons not only made math meaningful and fun, but also built a strong base for future math concepts such as addition, subtraction, and number comparison.

Theme

Topic:- Hobby.

Activity: Flashcards.

This week, our learners were introduced to the topic "My Hobby" through a creative and interactive flash card activity. Each flash card featured different hobbies like reading, painting, dancing, gardening, and playing sports, helping children learn new vocabulary and express their personal interests with confidence. This activity encouraged learners to think about what they love to do in their free time, while also developing their speaking and comprehension skills.

Library

Topic: The Story of Miss Moppet by Beatrix Potter

Activity: Storytelling through shadow play

Learners were introduced to the science behind shadows, including how they are formed and what materials are needed for shadow play. They discovered the roles of light, opaque objects, and screens in creating shadows. Learners then became storytellers themselves! They made their own shadow puppets, used voice modulation to act out characters, and presented mini shadow plays.

STREAM

"Room on the Broom"!

Our young learners had a spellbinding experience during a special STEM activity inspired by the beloved story Room on the Broom. After diving into the magical tale, the children put on their thinking hats and turned into little engineers as they set out to design and build their very own mini brooms!

Using materials like popsicle sticks, paper, and pipecleaners, the students explored concepts of design, structure, and balance, all while letting their imaginations soar. This hands-on activity not only reinforced elements of the story but also helped build fine motor skills, creativity, and problem-solving abilities.

Special Days!