Vet

Our KGG Vet Area is a great way for the students to explore and take advantage of all the benefits of play. Observing their actions in the vet role play is an ideal way to assess their understanding of how to care for and respect animals as well as several emergent languange and maths skills. Students created injections for the animals and medicine out of ripped up pieces of paper. In addition, they made several signs for the vet's surgery, so they may respect their patients. Students created appointments lists, prescriptions and detailed vets notes.

Students ideas fueled the creation of the vet corner, but the actual visit of a veterinarian took their interest to the next level.

Our New Unit

"quick! the wolf needs an injection!"

what do I need?

"there's a long 'e' sound in tweet"
parakeets discussing phonics in large group time

gettin' wild in the Himalayan Mountains

Organising Theme: Sharing the planet

Central Idea: Animals need our care and respect

Key Concepts: Connection, Responsibility, Causation

Teacher Questions:

• What do animals need?
• How do people care for and respect different animals?
  
• Whay are animals important?

Already a great unit for this age group, the diamonds take their inquiry to another level once again with "Sharing the planet". We have already created a Himalayan Mountain habitat and Vet's Surgery in our classroom as requested by the students. We have also had many students' pets in our class such as birds, rabbits, turtles and dogs. The utmost respect has been shown to the animal guests, as students insist that they sit with us during large group time to "learn with us". Be sure to check back often to get updates on how this wonderful unit unfolds.

Laughing Healthy in the New Year

With a fresh New Year and the success of last year's 'Health and Fitness Week', KGG has been engaging in several different health exercises in the mornings. We contribute about 10-15 minutes each morning to enjoy the benefits of different types of yoga.

Of particular note, we have been participating in laughter yoga, where we set aside some time to strictly laugh-even when nothing is funny. This is a technique that was developed in India, and it's a good way to ensure you are breathing properly in order to get sufficient oxygen to your brain.

Here is some more information found on Squidoo:

Research studies have shown that when you laugh you use your stomach muscles along with chest , neck, and facial muscles. The muscles that are involved in laughing are tense while aiding you to produce that laugher. After you are spent, and you are all laughed out, not only the muscles that aided in the production of the laugh, but all the surrounding muscles relax. Leaving you feeling physically relaxed.

The results of the studies also support the theory that laughter can produce feelings of well being. These good feelings are due to a decrease in stress hormones that come with the action of laughing. For example, levels of harmful stress hormones such as, epinephrine, cortisol, dopac, and growth hormone were shown to be much lower in a group that were exposed to humor that resulted in laughter, then the group that was left without the stimulation of humor.

Laughter also appears to have a positive effect on the immune system. Along with other health benefits such as, lowering blood pressure, killing some forms of viral cells that cause various types of cancer, and in some cases even been known to reduce different forms of body pain.

So, here's to a healthy 2007, one where we can all laugh and learn together.