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Science and Nature Play!

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Science and nature play enables children to explore the natural world around them. It supports children in forming their own theories about the world through curiosity and exploration.  

 At BestStart Whangaparaoa we are blessed to be surrounded by beautiful beaches and wonderful reserves/parks. Teachers utilise these areas to collect natural resources for children to explore and incorporate into their daily play. It is also a privilege to be able to use these natural environments for centre excursions enabling children to further their explorations outside of a classroom setting. Shells, pinecones, rocks, wood cuttings, leaves, sticks and sand are a few of the natural resources readily available for children to engage with at their leisure. The options for incorporating these resources into play is endless. Our children have shown a keen interested in incorporating natural resources into art pieces, imaginative play as well as construction.  

Science and inquiry are encouraged at our centre through conversations with children about what they are observing/experiencing during play. Science experiments in various forms are frequently incorporated into our curriculum sparking curiosity and inquiry. Creating sand volcanoes is a centre favourite requiring children to measure and experiment with ingredients to observe reactions resulting from their formula. Water based play is also a great resource at our centre used to support children in formulating theories. Teachers use water in its various forms (solid, liquid and gas) often incorporating several objects to encourage children to form concepts of the shape, feel and behaviour of water in its different forms. Science equipment such as droppers, beakers, magnifying glasses and thermometers are tools that float around the classrooms permitting children to utilise these tools in all aspects of play and not just science/nature-based play. Therefore, encouraging curiosity, inquiry, and exploration in all aspects of daily play.