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Exploring with all of our senses
The tamariki (children) in the Forest Room love to explore using all their senses, so we like to ensure our experiences give them the opportunity to feel, see, touch, smell and taste. Bells, sensory balls, cocoa husks, coffee grinds, sand, essence infused playdough and gloop, and finger painting are some of the favourite sensory experiences we use with our tamariki. Whilst at these experiences kaiako (teachers) support the tamariki and their developing language, talking about what they can feel, see, and smell. Prompting questions like “What does it feel like as it moves in your hands? What happens when you mix/squish/roll it together?” are used to encourage thought, develop working theories and language.
Photo 1: Exploring paint underneath Duraseal
Photo 2: Feeling the sand as he moves it from one tray to another
Photo 3: Exploring the cocoa husks with the diggers, a delicious smell and a crunch sound makes cocoa husks a favourite experience in the Forest.
Photo 4: Feeling and watching the change in the ice as it goes from solid to liquid.