Playing in Autahi

Learning Through Play

In Autahi we spend parts of the day discovering and playing.  At this time of the day you can see children making potions, building enclosures, creating with material, constructing with cardboard, blocks, bamboo, drawing and writing letters to the School Witch (see the blog post about her to find out more!) observing and drawing and so much more.  

What we are learning while at the potions table:

• Science concepts like different combinations create different reactions (oil and water, mixing colours, cornflower and water, water and sand)
• Key Competencies like relating to others (we are turn taking, listening, sharing)
• Using creative thinking to come up with ideas about what our potions are doing.
• Practising oral language and discussing and describing what we are doing.

What we are learning at the observation table:

• Things change over time (tadpoles to frogs, caterpillars to butterflies).
• Looking closely, noticing and trying to document this through drawing, labels and through discussion.
• Building vocabulary through discussing what we are seeing.

What we are learning at the building mat:

• Gravity exists and things fall down.
• Spatial awareness and design.  Will this fit here? What do I need to change? Does this make the shape I want?
• Persistence and Perseverance.  It didn't quite work, I need to try again and make some changes.
• Sharing, compromising and negotiating!

What we are learning at the making table:

• Hands-on skills like cutting, sticking and manipulating.
• The process of design--coming up with an idea, trialling it, changing it, trying something new!

As you can see, there is a lot more going on here than just playing! When we have the opportunity to let them explain to us there is quite a lot of rich language, discussion and passion behind all of this!

And sometimes you need a quiet tranquil place to have a little chill out and mend the soul!