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Shapes in my World

29/10/2024

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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
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Mixing the Language of Materials

22/10/2024

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Children learn through Hundred Languages!

During ITP (Invitation to Play) in Sparkling Mindz Preschool, they play with hundreds of materials that have their own language. Children, in turn, learn to listen to these languages!

Today was the language of Cotton! 

They explored with various techniques -

An, aged 4, shared, “I am making it like a dough, I am pressing it and pinching it."

Au, aged 5 declared “I'm breaking the little pieces to make a forest."

Pr, aged 3, pounded the cotton with his fist and said “Making a chapati."

Sia, aged 5, stacked and pressed cotton pieces together so it would hold its shape.


Picture
As they did this, J, aged 6, excitedly asked, "Can I have some foam?” and all of a sudden, and a clamour of “Me too!” resounded through the atelier.

But why did they want foam?

“To make curd, Foam and Cotton is white and it will make white curd!”
“To make a cake, I need foam...”
“If we mix foam and cotton, we can roll it.
“I want to experiment!”

And guess what happened?

These experimenters went aboard the explore train. 

Here are some of the things they found- 

“By the time I wiped it, the cotton became so big, like a radish.”
“It turned yellow when I rubbed it!”
“It is becoming slimy like curd!”
“It is becoming sticky."
“I'm pulling the foam from the cotton now!”

In this way, the children learned to listen to the mixed-up languages of two different mixed-up materials, creating a mix-up of multiple experiences too! 

#sparklingmindzglobalpreschool 
#inspiringconfidentlearners 
#playbasedlearning 
#21stcenturyskills 
#reggioemiliaapproach 
#preschoolers​

Contributed by Maanasa, Learning Facilitator at Sparkling Mindz Global Preschool

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1st Grade Toy Market

16/8/2022

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​Imagine running a shop by yourself. What could happen if you ask a group of 5 year olds to run a shop ?

3 toys shops called the Kids toy shop, Galacting Things for boys and girls and Toy shop operated for about 15 min and sold a total of 66 toys and made Rs. 450. Student D kept increasing his prices. Stuent V stared into his bill book entering the details and issuing bills. These mock toy shops meant the world to the dolphins of Sparkling Mindz.

They decided prices, added costs, collected money, gave change and counted items using addition, multiplication and subtraction. They worked on these skills in levels before getting to this mock market and also identified skills they need to learn to be able to go and comfortably operate in an actual farmers market.

Post the mock market student A said she could see the customers were coming too fast and she would like to learn how to add and multiply fast. Student C asked if we can learn about weights. Student D mentioned how we need to know prices before we go to the market otherwise we might be fooled by any cost a shopkeeper might sell at.

This group of students will soon be visiting a real farmers market to purchase, enquire prices and speak to farmers. They know the skills they need, they've decided the amount of work they would like to put in and they’re creating purpose as they go along.

​#sparklingmindzglobalschool
#mathwithmarkets
#funwithmath
#inspiringconfidentlearners
#reggioinspiredlearning
​

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A Melody of Colors in a Medley of Droplets!

17/7/2021

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When we think about painting with liquid paint, our thoughts normally go into paint brush, water, a palette with colors we need to create what we are about to paint.

​Now let's imagine this,  we are given lots of paint but no paint brush? Along with it, a big white canvas. And we are told, "Paint whatever you want!"

What will we do?

A similar situation happened at our Cubs' class today. 
Our 4 to 5 year olds were invited to paint today with a twist: dip only the palms and SPLASH!!!!! 

And the result? A melody of droplets in a medley of colours (below).
Picture

ITP (Invitation To Play) at SM is the first few minutes of the beginning of their day where children are invited to simply let go and play!

From giving a specific set of materials to lots of different kinds of materials, to sometimes no materials, children are given the space to explore from ranges of semi- to unstructured play.

ITP, for facilitators, is also the time when they get to see so much more about their children than what they can see such as, how do they work together, how independently can someone play, what all happens in their imagination, what emotion are they carrying, and so much more.

Play being an important component in the development of young children (especially), in Reggio Emilia learning philosophy itself, the value of play is immeasurable indeed and ITPs are a space of celebration here at Sparkling Mindz!

On this particular day, this first 15 minutes of the starting of their day not only uplifted their spirits, bringing in joy, love, excitement, wonder, and more, but also developing a sense of camaraderie and collaboration between each other too, as there were just 5 bowls full of paint, and 12 children.
And in this particular Cubs' classroom today, there were lots of laughter, wonder, awe, 'what else can I create', 'what does this look like', to a loooooooot more of 'Oh WOW, look at these colors!'

​And merrily they went looking forward to begin day in unison, to learn and grow together.

Is play only for children though? When was the last time you simply...played? Do let us know in the comments below. 
​
Contributed by Sruthy Krishna, Learning Facilitator, Sparkling Mindz Global School & Preschool. 

#inspiringconfidentlearners
#sparklingmindzglobalschool
#playbasedlearning
#reggioemiliainspired
#21stcenturylearning
#socialemotionallearning
#everychildcancreate
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A Paper Mache Adventure By Our Preschool Facilitators!

27/4/2021

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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. 


Picture
Picture
​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. ​
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Role of Parents at SM

16/3/2021

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SM's holistic approach to learning and life cannot be complete without our parents. But what is the role of parents at Sparkling Mindz? How do we continue to keep child in the centre, keeping the caregivers in mind? What are the expectations from our parents? 

Let's listen to our founder, Ms. Sreeja Iyer, give us a sneak peak into our culture. 

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I Wonder What Mud Roti Tastes Like!

9/3/2021

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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.
​
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Our Joeys Learned to Daydream!

1/2/2021

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Picture
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​
​

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Can you lift ice without touching it?- a Covid-19 challenge!

12/9/2020

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​Times have been unpredictable, with the COVID-19 spreading, driving the world to take refuge in a dark shell of uncertainty. First, the schools were shut, then we were to keep our distance from each other and then, a complete lock down extending for over a month. Does this mean we shut everything down? Should children's learning stop? How are parents going to keep them engaged? These are some of the questions we asked ourselves.

We, at Sparkling Mindz value and nurture growth mindset. We believe that there is always a way, even in the face of adversities. We took to technology and reconnected with our children over video calls. Our children too vibed with our mindset, that NO Virus Can Stop Our LEARNING! 

We have been connecting with our children ranging from 7year Olds to 14 year Olds, reiterating to them about the importance of managing themselves mentally, emotionally and physically, and being able to create a routine that involves productive engagement. Oh! trust me, our children can create amazing schedules for themselves. 

On the last video call with our youngest group of children (the 7 to 8 year Olds), we presented a variety of activities that they could add to their schedules, which included different kinds of chores, workouts, experiments, skill building activities etc. Our children were  more than delighted to accept the repertoire of  options to choose from. 

Here, we have V trying to pick ice cubes with a piece of string as part of his play and learn experiment. The joy on his face shows us his engagement and wonder. Knowing V, we can imagine the curious wonder questions and observations he must have made while he experimented. 

Here is our Advika, doing the same challenge, inspiring all of us in the process, in her own creative way!
We viewed this adversity not as a hindrance but rather as an opportunity that presented itself to help our children and us learn and grow through it. 

Children, need to be encouraged to deal with adversities with a growth mindset. Why? So they become individuals who can deal with their circumstances without giving up on themselves or their dreams.


Contributed by Disha HK, Learning Facilitator at Sparkling Mindz Global School.

#sparklingmindzglobalschool
#sparklingmindzglobalpreschool
#youngachieversacademy
#inspiringconfidentlearners
#everychildcan
#covid19
#gamebasedlearning
#challengingourselves
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Let's make India beautiful: Our 5 year olds creating a change

22/2/2020

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It's the month of August, the month that's special for every Indian. It was the month in which India achieved Independence from the British rule 73 years ago. As the rest of India celebrates this month by reminiscing the sacrifice of the various people who contributed to the Indian freedom movement, our pre-schoolers (5-6 year olds) at Sparkling Mindz began their discussion with a prompt "What do they love about India?" and the following were their responses along with how the discussion moved forward.

*Sh: I love that India is a big country and I love the national anthem.
Sh: Why do we sing the national anthem?
Ash: We sing national anthem to wish India*

This opened up an opportunity to discuss about the geography of India. The States, union territories and their capitals. How big India was before Independence and how big is it now and a little about the national anthem.
*Ana: I love that freedom fighters fought for our country*

This led us to discuss about who did the freedom fighters fight against and why? Why did the British East India company come to India? Who were the freedom fighters and how did they fight (Violence and Non violence)?

*Em: everywhere I travel in India, I love the buildings*
This led us to discuss about the famous monuments or heritage towns in India.

*Aad: I love India because it's colorful*
This opened up an opportunity to talk about the diversity in language, food, clothing, culture etc. And how inspite of our difference we love each other.
*Tan: I love India because it's beautiful*
*Abh: But, there are also people who litter in India*
This statement ignited a spark in the class and everybody seemed upset and concerned.
Facilitator: Why do you think people litter in India.
Abh: Because they are bad people.
Facilitator: It is? Sometimes in class we forget to follow ground rules, does that make us bad people?
Class: No, they just don't know the ground rules.
Facilitator: what do you think we should all do about this?
Tan: When somebody litters we can take it and throw in the dustbin.
Facilitator: Do you think they will learn if we pick up all the garbage for them? Is it possible for us to pick up all the garbage in India?
Ved: We need to clean our roads.
Abhi: We need to have more bins on the pathways.
Avy: We need to have poop bins for the dogs on the streets.
Adi: If you don't find garbage bin, keep it in a bag and throw it when you see a dust bin.
Post this discussion, children began reporting about littering incidents they come across on a daily basis while traveling from school to home and other places.
Noticing the concern and the spark in children to make a change, the facilitator gave them a choice to come up with ways to educate people on keeping India clean.
​
Few suggestions they came up with were-
1. Role play
2. Making placards
3. Making videos
4. Writing letters

Considering all their suggestion the facilitator helped them thread through a mime which they performed to educate their parents on Independence day. They also went about and wrote letters to people they see littering the streets. 


Picture



​Contributed by Yashika CG, Facilitator, Sparkling Mindz Global Preschool
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