Pre-KG 2024 / 25 Blog 31 Frohe Ostern – Happy Easter and spring movement activities

 Pre-KG 2024 / 25 Blog 31

Frohe Ostern – Happy Easter and spring movement activities

Diese Woche war die Woche vor dem Osterwochenende und unsere Pre–Kindergarten Klasse bereitete sich voller Freude darauf vor. 

Sie bemalten mit Geduld Papiereier, die sie dann zur Freude unserer Besucher an den blühenden Kirschbaum vor die Schule hängten. 

Auch den Eingang zum Kindergarten hat die Pre–KG Klasse liebevoll mit Körbchen und Eiern dekoriert. 

Da der Osterhase bald zu uns hoppelt, übten die Kinder auch das Hüpfen, wozu der ganze Körper in Einsatz kam, was aber mit den Hasenohren garnicht so einfach war. 

Ein anderes beliebtes Spiel in Deutschland an Ostern ist „der Eierlauf“ auf dem ein gekochtes Ei auf einem Löffel in zwei Teams um ein Hindernis getragen wird. Die Kinder brauchen dafür gute Körper Koordination und sie haben den Lauf auch prima hinbekommen. 

This was the week leading up to Easter and the Pre–Kindergarten class prepared for it joyfully by colouring paper Easter eggs which we hung on the blossoming cherry tree outside school. The children also decorated the entrance to the Kindergarten area with nests and beautiful Easter eggs. 

As the Easter Bunny will come hopping to us soon, the children practiced the bunny hop which was not so easy with the bunny ears on. 

Another popular game at Easter in Germany is the „egg run“ where teams compete in a race holding a spoon with a boiled egg. The children needed good body coordination for this game and they did a great job ! 

We also finished our props for the assembly and had another practice session with K1.

I do not want to spill the beans, but the performance will be very active and hopefully the children will show what fabulous performers they are. They really participated well, but as we all know standing on the stage with all the parents and whole school present is a different story. I am sure the children will try their best and deserve big applause in any case. 

The Pre–Kindergarten children also used their hand – eye coordination to experiment with a „Kugelbild“, a rolling ball that does the painting. The children were fascinated and very interested and as this will be one of our interactive art projects, please stay tuned in.

On Thursday the Pre–Kindergarten class joined K1 for active play in the nearby park where they climbed, hung onto the monkey bars, zoomed down the slide and balanced on wooden beams hence using all parts of their body and all their muscles.

They also had a lovely snack picnic with all their friends and it was a really fun and happy time together. 

On Friday there was another exciting physical activity in form of a „posture workshop“ held by Mr. Didier Hartmann and his team, Mr. Alexi and Mr. Max. As the name says, first all the children‘s posture got checked and then they did a multitude of engaging exercises.

There was a lot of movement and fun involved, which does not deter from the special meaning: Many children nowadays spent lots of time in front of the screen and the spine suffers from the sitting, often in the same position.

Please get out and about and include a lot of movement in your child’s daily routine. 

Thank you very much to Mr.Hartmann and his team for his valuable workshop. 

The children ended the week with some more drawings in anticipation of the Easter Egg hunt on Monday with baskets and goodies kindly provided by the PTA.

Ein schönes Osterwochenende mit vielen bunten Eiern und Überraschungen.

Wishing you a happy Easter Weekend with many colorful eggs and surprises. 

With kind regards, Mit herzlichen Grüßen, 

Anita Ursula Mönch 

DSKI Pre–Kindergarten homeroom teacher Playgroup / EY Deutsch & German     

German Saturday School homeroom teacher

Pre-KG 2024 / 25 Blog 30 Hands–On

Pre-KG 2024 / 25 Blog 30

Hands–On 

As the Pre-Kindergarten children continue to learn about their body and their family, they do so through a lot of hands-on experiences. 

The hands are the body parts used in many activities and if you look how often the word „hands” is mentioned in phrases of all languages, you can easily understand why this part of the body has such a special meaning. 

Most people, especially the ones who work in Early Childhood have heard the term „hands–on“. It is frequently quoted and very important for a good reason. 

In the Merriam-Webster Dictionary, „hands–on“ is defined as „ relating to, being or providing direct practical experience in the operation or function of something, involving or allowing use of or touching with the hands, characterized by active personal involvement, gained by actually doing something rather than learning about it from books, lectures etc.“ ( nowadays we would have to add T.V. or digital devices). 

Hands–on learning is learning by doing and it can happen in many ways, in different spaces, using a variety of activities and materials.

Children are natural hands–on learners from the day they are born and these experiences are the key to developing understanding of the world around them. Babies learn by exploring their environment and so do older children and even adults. 

So please give your child lots of opportunities to use the hands and kindly sing the songs from the Pre–Kindergarten songbook with them which features many songs involving Finger play and gestures. 

In Pre–Kindergarten the children show as every day what they can do with their hands from the first moment of arrival when changing their shoes to waving goodbye! 

Please find herewith some charming photos of the Pre–Kindergarten using their hands this week ! 

Washing and drying hands properly 

Stringing and moving beads 

Using finger paint, making signs for the assembly and holding the props

Making cars move along the roller coaster and the table

Holding on to a scooter and filling up the tank

Putting the Lego figurines onto the board

Calling the family and taking pictures of a friend

Colouring a beautiful parrot and cutting it out 

Pushing a stroller with the teddy bear

Scooping up sand and making a cake 

The children also again used playdough ( see previous blog) and all their lunch utensils well.

Amazing, isn’t it ! 

Additionally, we made a special excursion with our friends from K1 and K2 to see the lovely tulips at the tulip field where the children had planted the bulbs with their hands in autumn. We admired their colourful beauty and will soon go to receive the bulbs for replanting. 

And as mentioned earlier, it was time to wave and say goodbye to one of our friends from K1. Nicholas started at DSKI in my Playgroup and now he will move with his parents Sunny and Peter to the US. We will miss them dearly and the whole family will always be remembered by us for their smiles, their kindness and their big heart. 

Auf Wiedersehen, lieber Nicholas und Familie, we wish you all the best and are looking forward to seeing you again some day ! 

I wish you all a lovely weekend with good times and good friendship and lots of hands–on activities. 

With kind regards, Mit herzlichen Grüßen, 

Anita Ursula Mönch 

DSKI Pre–Kindergarten homeroom teacher Playgroup / EY Deutsch & German     

German Saturday School homeroom teacher

PS Please do not miss to attend our informative and important Parents Cafe on screentime next Tuesday !