Category: Emergent Play - Sparkling Mindz

Shapes in my World

29/10/2024

Where do you find shapes around you?

Take a few seconds and look around.

What do you see? Maybe a square wall or a rectangular window. You might even see a cone-shaped hat!

Guess what, our three-year-olds from Sparkling Mindz Global school, found shapes in their food!

"See this sandwich, it's a square!"
"No, It's a triangle!" said another.
"No... See, my hand is like a triangle."

Oh, how true!

All the things around us can be broken down into simple shapes.

Here is a glimpse of the things they created using the simple shapes!

"This is a person!" said E, arranging shapes together and lying on them, replicating it.
"This is a rocket space shuttle," declared A as he stepped on it and pretended to fly to places unknown!
"This is a house," giggled P and T as they took shelter under a large square shape and sat on a chair.

What else did they create, you ask?

E stacked two circles to make a colourful burger.
T pretended to fold a circle to create a sandwich with veggies inside,
P and A arranged them into a tall clock, a robot and a Mantis just by rearranging a couple of shapes.

Just by rearranging a couple of shapes, their imagination came to life. With just a shape over their heads, they felt safe from invisible rain. A few twists and turns, and they brought the world to their fingertips. Stay tuned to find out what else our Preschoolers explore through the year!

Shapes, shapes! Oh, how shapes shape our lives.

Contributed by Maanasa, Learning Facilitator at Sparkling Mindz Global Preschool.

#sparklingmindzglobalpreschool
#inpiringconfidentlearners
#playbasedlearning
#reggioemiliainspired

Cultivating Empathy, One Small Visitor at a Time

26/10/2024

The recent floods brought an unexpected visitor—a small crab, missing one of its pincers, who found its way to us.

Before we knew, we had our preschoolers crowding around the crab, wonder in action. Instantly, the children’s curiosity sparked a wave of questions and ideas:

“Can we give it food?”
“Why is it opening its mouth?”
“What if we give it an egg?”—“No, he won’t like egg.”
“Then let’s give him a potato!”
“Maybe we should ask H Sir what crabs eat.”
“It has green eyes!”
“We want to take care of him.”

One child chimed in, “I like to eat carbs.” Another giggled, “You like to eat this crabs, huh?”
“Can we put it in our turtle pond?” someone asked. “Because it likes to swim!”
“I’ve only seen pretend crabs.”

Together, they gently carried the little crab to their turtle pond, believing this would be the perfect home. With wide smiles and hands held tight, they watched over their new friend, buzzing with excitement as though they’d accomplished something truly special and their collective joy filled the space.

In moments like these, nature’s disruptions become opportunities for empathy, connection, and joy. Despite the floods changing our routines, they can’t wash away the children’s sense of wonder. This little crab, with its missing pincer, is more than a visitor—it’s a reminder of how young hearts can learn resilience, kindness, and care for the world around them.

Contributed by Grace Veronica, Learning Facilitator and Preschool Coordinator, Sparkling Mindz Global Preschool.

#sparklingmindzglobalpreschool
#inspiringconfidentlearners
#empathybasedlearning
#wonderbasedlearning
#facilitatordiaries
#problemstoprojects

Imagination Unfolding!

15/9/2022

“I put some thoughts in my head,
I take a cloth in my hand,
spread, wrap,
Spread, wrap,
Shake it all about,
I get new ideas, I get more ideas,
And that’s what is all about”

This our preschool song sang to the tune of Hokey pokey.
One sunny morning, our preschoolers between the age of 4 - 5 years old, were invited with the above song to the lawn laid with colourful dupattas. Looking at which their imagination train took off and here's what followed.

Ar got deeply involved in attempting to wrap the dupatta around his neck trying to imitate tying a scarf.
Ana joyfully laid the white cloth on the grass, and called it a picnic mat, and with a blink of an eye she shouted "Who wants a ride", as she started to pull along the two edges of the cloth. One of them sat and Ana pulled along. Not very far she changed her mind and transformed herself to a vampire as she seeked help from me to tie the white cloth around her neck.
In the background, Li was rotating himself in circles, when asked, he said "I am making the smoke go, I am exhaust fan".

HOOH…HOOH... came the sounds, Yu and Ru are being the ghost. While talking to me, Yu changed his mind and is a chef now offering some healthy lollipops made up of mutton and rice.
I then walked to Ar who is no longer wearing a scarf, and is busy trying to get off the dupatta which is stuck on the wall high up. When asked what happened, he explained that spinning the dupatta and throwing it upwards resulted in this.

Aa walks up to me and says I am wearing "Siree" (kannada word for Saree) and gets busy covering her head. Looking at this one of the Calves (3-4 years old) passing by picks a dupatta and says that she wants to wear a saree too:)
I approached Ru who is making sounds like a whirring engine, when asked he said he is the driver for the helicopter. This thought became a collaborative play as the others started to be the passengers and made place for themselves by arranging chairs.

This is a glimpse of how our Cubs imagination unfolded into different shades, reflecting what's on their mind.

At Sparkling Mindz, imagination is an integral part of a child's learning, we believe that by providing space for their imagination to grow enables children to see things in newer ways, aiding them to see various perspectives and becoming better innovators and problem solvers. Along with it creating a space for children to authentically express themselves.
What are your thoughts on it? How would you like to tickle your imagination muscle today?

#sparklingmindzglobalpreschool
#inspiringconfidentlearners
#imaginationunfolding
#21stcenturylearning
#everychildcan

Contributed by Neha Nair, Learning Facilitator at Sparkling Mindz Global Preschool

'Tis the season to be jolly, fa la la la la la la!

24/6/2022

'Tis the season to be jolly, fa la la la la la la!

No no, not Christmas but jolly because our preschoolers are in school!

With wonder in their eyes,

They have embarked,

On a magical exploration train,

Soaking in all the sights and colours,

Experiencing play through all their senses,

Making new friends and playing together,

Challenging themselves every step of the journey!

#sparklingmindzglobalpreschool
#inspiringconfidentlearners
#reggioemiliainspired
#21stcenturylearning
#socialemotionallearning

That Time When Our 2 Y/O Saw The Rain!

3/8/2021

A bunch of 2yr olds were on the school terrace when it started to rain. We all took cover and started singing a rain song. Just then-

A: Ma'am it's raining!
Me: How do you know that? Can you see it?
A (and others in chorus): We can hear it.
Me: Why can't you see it?
A: Is white, no color (perhaps indicating transparent)

Suddenly the rain pours

A: Is loud.
Me: What does that mean?
T: It means it is coming fast, fast
R: I can even see it now!

Suddenly it stops.

A: Ma'aaam, it stopped
Me: How do you know that?
T: No sound
Me: Do you think it will come back to play with all of you?

They all laugh and giggle and we continue our song.

Children feel closely connected with nature and puzzle over natural phenomena and try to make sense of it all! They feel joy in feeling like they have control over it and they can predict and understand it.

Do any of you have children's rain stories to share?

Written by Sreeja Iyer, CEO & Co-founder, Sparkling Mindz Global School & Preschool

#inspiringconfidentlearners
#sparklingmindzglobalpreschool
#natureplay
#reggioemiliaapproach
#playbasedlearning
#21stcenturylearning
#socialemotionallearning

Oh! The Places We Go, an Annual Day Showcase 2020 - 2021

22/5/2021

This year's annual day was extra special to us. As we like to say at SM, "No virus can stop us!", no virus did stop us from learning and growing this year.

Our 1st, 2nd and 3rd graders came together to express themselves in a different way this year, a special way where both them and we facilitators journeyed along many different paths through our minds. Yes, you heard it right- our minds.

Now, here is Ms. Poorva Agarwal giving you a brief about the process. So here we go.

Our 1st, 2nd and 3rd graders were introduced to Dr. Seuss' book, 'Oh, The Places You'll Go', and they went along the character on his journey through his mindspace. They, individually and as a class explored this together and reconstructed their mindspaces in the form of a narrative poem in classic Dr. Seuss style.

The videos you're about to watch are rendered using children's illustrations and their voice.

Watch out for some amazing twists in the story and some cool illustrations as well as voice acting. Sit back and enjoy the show.

Which all places did you go to in your mindspace watching these videos? Do let us know in the comments.

Our school parents came together to watch children's work on the 22nd of May. Out of all of the heartfelt responses they shared post-watching the final videos of their children's versions of Dr Seuss' 'Oh, The Places You'll Go' poem, we handpicked a few of them, which you are about to watch.

#noviruscanstopus
#sparklingmindzglobalschool
#annualdaycelebrations
#ohtheplacesyoullgo
#drseussinspired
#reggioemiliainspiredlearning
#playbasedlearning
#funplacesforchildren

A Paper Mache Adventure By Our Preschool Facilitators!

27/4/2021

Inspired by the nature, Reggio-Emilia system, and wanting to use less of the non-degradable materials, our facilitators decided to take things into their own hands and create bowls using paper.

So they got together on a Saturday morning, during the weekly training session, and embarked on an adventure to creating paper mache!

Once the torn papers were soaked for the weekend, on Monday post class, they got back together to continue their journey towards creating bowls. The soaked papers were mashed with flour, oil, fevicol and water to create the below, and put out to dry.

At Sparkling Mindz Global, it's not just the children who have fun learning and creating, but the facilitators too; making mistakes, learning through them, co-creating a safe, happy and creative environment for each other and growing together as a community!

#reggioemiliainspiredlearning
#sparklingmindzglobalpreschool
#inspiringconfidentlearners
#facilitatorlearningdiaries
#learningneverstops

Contributed by Sruthy Krishna, Learning Facilitator at Sparkling Mindz Global Preschool.

I Wonder What Mud Roti Tastes Like!

9/3/2021

It was a serene evening when the sun was setting and it was time to wind down and leave school for the day. I was intrigued by a couple of kids busy making a cauldron of mud and water mixed together, cheerful as their hands, clothes and feet were covered with mud.

It took me back to my childhood memory of playing hours in the sun and led me to wonder what they were up to. So I went closer and asked, looking at them busily toiling and moulding the mud, "What are we making here?"

N looking at me says without a blink, "I'm making chapatis and lollipops!"

Being pulled into his imagination, I continued, "Oh, I wonder how it taste like?"

"It is brown chapatis because it is made of chocolate and it tastes chocolaty", was the response I received without a second further spent in the imagination.

I was struck by the thought of how play goes beyond what it seems like outwardly, to a process that involves imagination, thinking, connections and logic, innovation, reasoning, motor skills and a lot, lot more.

Play revels the inner creator in kids. They blend culture with passion and create a world of their own. A world where chocolate chapatis are the norm and they can make as many of them as they want with abandon.

Here at SM we believe that play is just not an act but a deep learning process that a child involves in with all their senses and enriches with learning.

Contributed by Grace Veronica, Learning Facilitator at Sparkling Mindz Global Preschool.

How do we sing our Welcome Song while we are about to wind up???

6/2/2021

While discussing on the take homes (homework) from the weekend, Aaditya, our 5 year old Joey, raises his hand and says in a rush, "Maaammm, we forgot to do welcome song!!", and puts both his palms cupping the both sides of his temples.

Welcome Song is sung usually in the morning when we all come together where we wish each other good morning, welcome each other, and overall bring the energy of the group up! Today, as we all got into a mood of wanting to share with each other the take homes from the weekend, we got carried away.

"Oh no! What do we do? It's almost time to wind up for us today...How do we sing a welcome song now?", they were asked by their facilitator.

With this question came a bunch of surprised, curious and funny expressions.

Children then started to wonder about how to sing a welcome and wind up song together, which sparked their curiosity and they started to come up with their own various versions of a song we called 'Welcome-Wind Up Song'. As it was time for our wind up for the day, they were left to think more about it as their take home that day. The below video was the result, as they were left to think about it as their take home.

"What is in a song?", after all that's just entertainment right? Also, why should we worry about a child wanting or reminding about a song that was missed? At SM, for us every single thing that children explore has learning in it.

"Children have a 100 languages to learn from and learn with and we intend to keep it that way. " - Sreeja Iyer, CEO, Sparkling Mindz Global

Each of them will take this richness of learning as an experience away with them into their lives as they grow, learning just the alphabet or numbers without the purpose, the songs, the stories, the clay, the mud, the sunshine is moot! If there was ever a time to create changemakers, it is today and if there was ever to create changemakers that care let's start with caring about the whole being that they are so they can then shine that light to others and their world too.

Contributed by Sruthy Krishna, Learning Facilitator at Sparkling Mindz Global Preschool, edited by Sreeja Iyer, CEO, Sparkling Mindz Global.

#sparklingmindzglobalpreschool
#inspiringconfidentlearners
#everychildcan
##reggioemiliainspiredlearning
#youngachieversacademy
#emergentlearning

Our Joeys Learned to Daydream!

1/2/2021

Children love to daydream, children grow when they daydream. All the gadgets, technology, onslaught of media and the constantly on culture has robbed them of the stillness and the purpose of daydreaming. The joy of letting our mind wander and make random connections, the very well from which creativity feeds is being robbed off our children.

We also saw that it was something the children were yearning for. Little voices of boredom and big parent voices of constant TV watching or needing someone to engage them were clear indicators that children needed a more mindful tool for themselves. And just like that, we embarked on the daydreaming mission.

Little voices of boredom and big parent voices of constant TV watching or needing someone to engage them were clear indicators that children needed a more mindful tool for themselves. And just like that, we embarked on the daydreaming mission.

This is our story of how our children learned to daydream.

The 5 to 6 year olds' just had a daydreaming hour!

This was done to help them learn to engage themselves comfortably without finding the need to have someone or something around to engage them.

Post the daydreaming session children reflected and spoke about how they felt as they dreamed.

S says, "I was dreaming about the stars and was feeling calm and comfortable"
T "I saw a shooting Star that sparkled on me and I was feeling curious to learn about it, I also heard a bird chirping in my heart and I love birds"
Pr "I felt like people sitting around me and I saw lot of colors in the sky and I felt happy because I've never seen a colorful sky like that"

San an animal lover said that, he imagined going to an aquarium and saw a leopard seal that made him feel shocked looking at its hugeness.
Av was curious about animals and said that he had created new animals in his head.
Sa was able to think about what she could do when she gets home and agreed that she does not know how she felt.

Ar, swam into the ocean with Sharks, touched it and it felt soft.

When children learn to spend time with and by themselves, they learn to start valuing their ideas, wonder about their thoughts and learn to plan things ahead. Most importantly, they start to learn to listen to their own voice and pay attention to their feelings thus, building and eventually mastering an essential skills of self-sufficiency.

Contributed by Grace Veronica, Facilitator, Sparkling Mindz Global Preschool

#reggioemiliainspiredlearning
#sparklingmindzglobalpreschool
#inspiringconfidentlearners