Thursday 27 June 2013

Prep Sumo Wrestling (!!!)

As a special, end of term treat, the Preps got to do Sumo Wrestling in Science/Japanese!

First we watched some information about Sumo Wrestling and learned the rules (even real Sumo Wrestlers aren't allowed to hit, scratch or punch).


Ben measured up each pair of Sumo Wrestlers to check if the contest would be fair... (these two look about right!)


After that, the wrestlers had to stomp their feet really loudly to scare off any bad spirits, and maybe scare each other too!


Then - bow to your opponent...


Get ready, get set....


GO!!! The wrestling begins!
















Wednesday 26 June 2013

Our Prep Visitors


Last week, we were lucky enough to have some special visitors come to our classroom. Preps from St. Margaret Mary's came to learn about our school, which is part of their inquiry unit for this term. The preps spent an hour together during Developmental Play and the Moreland Preps showed our visitors around, explaining how to use all of our equipment and also teaching them a new song. 

Look below to see some pictures of the visit:







'Thanks for coming to visit us, we had a great time!' - The Preps

Tuesday 25 June 2013

The Golden Dragon Restaurant


As part of our Asian Studies, the students set up and ran a Chinese Restaurant. All students had a turn at both running the restaurant and also being a customer. Some of the jobs students had can be seen below, including: working on the cash register, taking people to their seats, cooking, serving the food, delivering tea and cleaning up.

At the start of Developmental Play, each group had a turn to prepare the fried rice with Ben (our Master Chef!) The preps cooked the vegetables and then the added rice and soy sauce to make it extra tasty.

As the food was cooking, other groups set up the restaurant. On each table there were chopsticks (forks for those less confident), a beautiful hand-made bamboo placement, a fan serviette and a dragon decorative piece. 
 


Before anyone could enter the restaurant, the preps had to pay for their meal. Our happy cashiers collected the money and welcomed the guests to the restaurant.



After all of the guest were seated it was time to serve the fried rice and tea. Students all practiced using chopsticks and our waiters ensured that all guests were happy with their meal.




Once everyone was finished, our waiters cleared the tables and cleaned all of the dishes.



What a fabulous 'night out!' Well done Preps. 

Thursday 20 June 2013

The rabbit!

                          
This is us looking at the rabbit we found!
        
"We found a rabbit at our school. He was black and white (Collingwood colours!). He is sneaky. He is naughty. He was eating carrots. We gave him out brainfood carrots. We don't know whose rabbit he is!"

Sunday 16 June 2013

Boop Boop Ditem Datem Watem Choo!


We have been learning lots of new songs in Prep this term. Below are the lyrics
 to one of the current favourites. This song was suggested by the children who went
to Moreland Kinder and we are very glad they remembered it because now everyone
loves to sing: "Boop Boop Ditem Datem Watem Choo!"

We made a series of paintings based on the song today and these will soon be
 turned into a home-reader book. Look out for the Three Little Fishies in
 your reader bags!







Three Little Fishies

Down in the meadow in a little bitty pool

Swam three little fishies and a mama fishie too.
"Swim" said the mama fishie,
"Swim if you can!"

And they swam and they swam all over the dam.


Boop boop dit-tem dat-tem what-tem Chu!

Boop boop dit-tem dat-tem what-tem Chu!

Boop boop dit-tem dat-tem what-tem Chu!

And they swam and they swam all over the dam.

"Stop" said the mama fishie, "or you will get lost;"

But the three little fishies didn't wanna be bossed.

The three little fishies went off on a spree;

And they swam and they swam right out to the sea.


Chorus
And they swam and they swam right out to the sea.
Whee!" yelled the little fishies, "Here's a lot of fun!

We'll swim in the sea till the day is done.
"
They swam and they swam, ‘til it was nearly dark;

Until all of a sudden they saw a shark!


Chorus

Until all of a sudden they saw a shark!
"Help!" cried the little fishies, "Gee! look at all the whales”
And quick as they could, they turned on their tails!
And back to the pool in the meadow they swam;

And they swam and they swam back over the dam.


Chorus 
And they swam and they swam all over the dam

Saturday 8 June 2013

Moreland Mail Kids Edition: Preps Soccer Clinic


In the June 7th edition of Moreland Mail, you can find pictures of the Preps participating in the schools soccer clinic run by Brazilian Soccer Schools. Carlos taught the preps how to defend, kick, knee and headbutt a soccer ball. At the end of the lesson the Preps were very eager to use their new found skills in the playground. Here is snippet from Moreland Mail:



If you haven't already, download Tiqbiz onto your tablet or smartphone to see more photos of our preps. Tiqbiz allows you to directly download our newsletters and it's very easy to use. If you are having difficulty with this program please see our technician Daniel, who is more than happy to help get it up and running.


Jobs, Jobs, Jobs: Learning about working at the Circus!

On Friday, we were lucky enough to have Simon from Westside Circus come and visit us to talk about his job. Westside Circus is a community arts organisation that aims to improve people's physical, emotional health and wellbeing through the development of team building, confidence, self-esteem, creative problem solving, perseverance and physical fitness.

Simon showed the preps how to do different tricks and we were even lucky enough to be able to have a go ourselves! 

Here are some pictures:

Simon juggling with scarfs

  And spinning a plate on a stick

And now it's the preps turn!






 Simon's son helping his friends with their spinning skills


We had such a great time learning about Simon's job at the circus, and are looking forward to learning about other jobs that people have in our community!

Wednesday 5 June 2013

Thank you for your help!


A big thank you to the group of parents who helped clean up our Making Table and organise all the resources and materials. They worked hard on Friday morning to get it done and it looks AMAZING now! Our challenge now is to teach the class to keep it that way!!


Another big thank you goes to all the parents and helpers who have listened to students read so far this year. Our goal is to read 1000 books before the end of the year, and we are certainly going to make it... we have just reached 500! To the people who have listened to reading so far - thank you. It is a real gift to the learning and development of the students in our class.