Pre-KG 2023/ 24 Blog 3
Learning through Cool Play
I was born in Germany and can well remember summer having less than 25 degrees, that is why my parents often vacationed in more southern countries.
If there were 30 degrees in the shade, school was cancelled. Hitzefrei war eines der beliebtesten Wörter in unserer Schulzeit und alle warteten bis das Thermometer auf die magischen 30 Grad kletterte.
With this background, I am still amazed after many years in Japan, about how hot it gets here in summer and for how long. Germany had 12 degrees last week, while we were sveltering in 35 degrees and above in Kobe.
So to keep our little Pre-Kindergarten children cool during their play and learning, we resort to a variety of locations and ideas.
On Monday we had full house and took the opportunity to practice another emergency drill. Like the week before the boys did a fantastic job, climbed properly and sat in a nice line once on the upper level.
We then went for discovery time to the Kobecco Land which boasts a huge ball bath, tunnels, slides, cars, climbing walls and a good variety of wooden toys which the children can use for role play.
Everyone listened attentively to the rules and then enjoyed a wonderful play time in the cool room.
Die Pre-Kindergarten hatten sehr viel Spass in dem tollen und kühlen Spieleraum.
We returned to school with happy children just in time for lunch.
One of the items you really need in Japan to wave away the heat is a (handheld) fan. Long before the electrical ones, Japan used two different types, a foldable one called sensu and a flat one called uchiwa.
You can buy them in many shops and department stores and they come in beautiful and intricate designs.
I found a website with some good explanations, so please have a look.
Uciwa and Sensu - Japanese fans
Uchiwa are also used at summer festivals and a familiar sight for the children, so they were delighted to make their own Uchiwa throughout the week.
They decorated one side with images of recycled posters (yes, from the Fashion Museum which always has the best exhibitions) and the other side with their favourite color and lots of colourful triangles that looked like fireworks.
We also used the area behind K1 for some shaded outdoor play riding different vehicles, digging for treasures and playing pirates on the ship.
To deepen the understanding of their subjects the Pre-Kindergarten children also traced various shapes, first on the new magnetic pads, then outside at the drawing table.
We drew several shapes with our new chalk (kindly donated by Ms.Gregory) and then used ice cubes on sticks to trace them.
The children showed great interest and wonder at the melting ice cubes, this really was the perfect activity on a hot day.
If you would like to do this at home, please fill water in an ice tray, freeze for 1 hour, then insert the sticks and freeze again. You may add food colour to the water, but this may stain the surface you are using.
Please enjoy and stay cool !
Viel Spass mit dem Eiswürfel Malen !
Yours,
Anita Ursula Mönch
DSKI Pre-Kindergarten homeroom teacher
Playgroup / EY German
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