Kindergarten News: Nursery Rhymes and Sky-Inspired Wonder

This term in Kindergarten, we have been on a magical journey of learning through our Nursery Rhyme and Inquiry focus. Our two featured rhymes — ‘Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star’ and ‘Hey Diddle Diddle’ — sparked our curiosity and inspired deep thinking as we explored the world above us and what we can see in the sky.

We began by enjoying rhyme-based read-alouds and rich storytelling experiences, including the much-loved book "How to Catch a Star" by Oliver Jeffers. This story captured the children’s imaginations and led us to wonder:

• “What do we see when we look up at the sky?”
• “Why can we see the moon and stars at night but not during the day?”
• “Where do stars go during the day?”
• “How do stars get into the sky?”
• “What are stars made of?”

These questions guided our inquiry and helped the children become little scientists, artists, and storytellers all at once.

Through hands-on learning and investigations, we discovered that stars are made up of dust and gases, and that some stars can be hot while others can be cold. We were fascinated by how stars shine and how far away they are. These discoveries came to life through a range of creative and sensory learning experiences.

As part of our art and literacy connection, the children created their own Starry Night artworks using salt and watercolours. They also explored oral language by sharing their wishes, completing the sentence:

“If I could make one wish, I would wish for…”

Their responses were thoughtful, imaginative, and full of heart.

We also looked at the work of Vincent van Gogh and studied his famous painting The Starry Night. Inspired by his swirling skies and glowing stars, we created our own versions of this masterpiece. We even repurposed old CDs to create colourful, swirling galaxies filled with sparkle and imagination.

A Magical Real-Life Sky Moment

We were incredibly lucky to witness something very special in our skies recently — the amazing Aurora Australis! After noticing the beautiful colours in the sky across Tasmania, we discussed what we saw and how the Aurora made us feel. We then enjoyed the story Aurora: A Tale of the Northern Lights which inspired rich conversations and wonder. Following this, the children created their own Aurora artworks using chalk pastels, blending soft colours to recreate the glowing lights dancing across the night sky.

Creating Our Own Moon

In continuing our sky-inspired inquiry, the children began working together to create their very own moon! Using paper mâché techniques, they collaborated to layer, glue, and shape the surface of their moon. This shared project sparked conversations about the moon’s texture, size, and how it appears in the sky. It has been a wonderful way for the children to connect their creativity with their growing scientific knowledge.

Learning Highlights This Term:

• Oral Language Development: Sharing thoughts and ideas, making predictions, exploring vocabulary through storytelling and discussion.
• Concepts of Print & Literacy: Engaging with nursery rhymes and picture books, developing rhyme awareness and comprehension.
• Art and Design: Exploring colour, line, and texture through process art inspired by The Starry Night, the Aurora, and our own moon and galaxy creations.
• Science Inquiry: Learning about stars and moons — what they’re made of, how they shine, and how we see them in the sky.
• Creative Thinking & Expression: Imagining wishes, creating galaxies, interpreting the night sky in expressive ways.
• Collaborative Learning: Working together to build a moon using paper mâché, developing teamwork, patience, and problem-solving.
• Fine Motor Development: Painting, drawing, gluing, blending pastels, and manipulating paper mâché materials.

This term has been filled with wonder, creativity, and deep curiosity. The children have looked to the sky with awe and imagination, and we are so proud of how they have expressed their learning in so many different ways. We can’t wait to continue exploring their big questions and brilliant ideas.

Kellie, Rhiannon, Kali, Melinda