As the weather cools, waring (wombats) emerge from their burrows to bask in the sunshine, while bulen-bulen (superb lyrebirds) dazzle with their courtship dances. It is a wonderful time of year as it coincides with the changing colours of autumn.
In March, children in the Barrawarn (Magpie) Room, Gowrie at The Harbour, learned all about Iuk Season, which is the Aboriginal word for ‘eel’. “The children watched a video on eels and how they lay eggs and migrate out to sea,” says Room Leader, Cerri. “We looked at how the eels move, and we even made up a little song about them and migrating to the sea.” The children enjoyed painting eels on some cardboard in the yard, with some even getting their hands a little messy. Now, we have entered Waring Wombat Season, and the children are again exploring the seasons through play. The educators have thoughtfully and deliberately provided resources to support the children’s engagement and facilitate learning experiences such as habitat making with clay and natural resources, using ICT and books to learn about wombats, dramatic play with puppets, and more.
Within our programs at Gowrie, First Nations perspectives are embedded in our pedagogy with educators intentionally using local Language in daily Acknowledgement of Country and throughout their teaching and learning with children. “Reconciliation starts here,” says Educational Leader, Philippa. “We understand the weight of our role in connecting with First Nations people to listen, learn, and share the knowledge that is imparted on us with children,” she says.
By incorporating First Nations perspectives into our programs, the children can learn about and reflect on our shared histories, fostering a community of togetherness. Philippa says that children are naturally curious and enjoy exploring, wondering, and discovering the natural world. “First Nations perspectives can be linked to all areas of play and learning, from storytelling, to song, movement, building cubbies, drawing and mark making, and imaginative play,” she says.
According to the Kulin People, there are seven seasons, each reflecting the movements of the stars and a change in the weather, which align with the life cycle of plants and animals. The seven different seasons are described as:
You can learn more about the Wurundjeri seasons at Inspiring Victoria.
Since opening earlier this year, our team at Gowrie Oberon Kindergarten, co-located with Oberon Primary School, have developed a Buddy Program with the school where Foundation and Grade 3 students visit the kindergarten regularly, and kindergarten children visit the school in return.
Learn More about Buddy Program Gives Oberon Kindergarten Children a Head Start Before Prep
At Gowrie Docklands Kindergarten (GDK), children from one group had begun building their own Melbourne landscape, and it became the starting point for another group's exploration of what Melbourne means to them.
Learn More about What Melbourne Looks Like Through Children’s Eyes
Senior secondary students from 13 government schools spent five weeks finding out what a career in early childhood education looks like day to day, through the second phase of the Introduction to Early Childhood for School Students program.
Learn More about Introduction to Early Childhood for School Students Program a Big Success
In July, a child in the Room 1 at our Gowrie Docklands Kindergarten site asked the educators why they can’t have real fire at the service. Rather than shutting the idea down, educators used it as a starting point for a longer project.
Learn More about A Campfire in the City at Gowrie Docklands Kindergarten
Earlier this year our Carlton Learning Precinct (CLP) service received a Victorian School Building Authority grant to address acoustic issues in the outdoor areas and the kitchen corridor, where excessive noise had made it challenging for our children and educators to communicate.
Learn More about Gowrie Carlton Learning Precinct Reflects on Its Quieter Spaces