Sparkling Mindz
  • Home
  • School
    • Young Changemakers' Summit
    • Changemaker Missions >
      • SM Plates (Healthy Food Practices)
      • TRUI (Climate Change)
      • CSP (Community, Stories and Practices)
      • MCV (Mission Child Vulnerability)
    • Poetic Fete
  • Preschool
  • Programs
    • The Future of Education Summit 2025
    • Wizets
    • Child in the City Heritage Walks
    • Young Thinkers and Achievers
    • Early Learner's Enrichment
    • Summer Camps
  • Enquiry
  • Testimonials
  • Blog

Shapes in my World

29/10/2024

Comments

 
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
Comments

Cultivating Empathy, One Small Visitor at a Time

26/10/2024

Comments

 
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.”
Picture
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
Comments

Mixing the Language of Materials

22/10/2024

Comments

 
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

Comments

Everything Is Connected, Can You See It?

15/9/2022

Comments

 
Children make connections all the time, that's one of the ways they make sense of the world around them. The more their connections expand the more deeper and wider their thinking become. Here is an instance of how a child made a connection to what he learnt in a different context.

This morning during the book reading session with out 3- 4 YO we read a book called The Way I Feel by Janan Cain. Children began by revisiting the emotions they were already familiar with through a song and picked 2 new vocabulary "Silly" and "Scared" from the book to go deeper. Children explored silly by showing different funny expressions and scared by drawing instances where they felt scared.

Later that day during the Sports hour, children were learning to kick the ball in the playground. 4 YO K with all his strength kicked a ball and his shoes went flying in the air. He picks his shoes and comes running towards the facilitator for help and says "Silly!"

Connection making is a crucial skill that helps in the cognitive development of children, the skill involves recalling information from our memory, compare and contrast and chunking and sorting. Eg. K made a connection between the shoe flying and how that made him feel and used the new word he learnt to describe it.



Picture
When these connections are brought to their notice, it'll enable them to make more connections across different areas of their life and in different context helping them see learning as integrated rather then in fragments.

At SM connected learning in one of our values, we believe that learning is deeper and wider when all the learning areas (Math, Science, Social Studies, Languages) are connected to each other and in turn connected to life. And children learn concepts in connection to their life hence making learning purposeful and whole. Additionally here, when you can learn to laugh at yourself it's a gift the child takes for life.

Contributed by Yashika CG, Learning Facilitator at Sparkling Mindz Global Preschool.

#sparklingmindzglobalpreschool
#inspiringconfidentlearners
#21stcenturylearning
#makingconnections
#everychildcan
Comments

Imagination Unfolding!

15/9/2022

Comments

 
“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". 

Picture

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

Comments

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

24/6/2022

Comments

 
'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
​
Comments

Look at Who Will be Welcoming Our Preschoolers Back Next Month!

26/4/2022

Comments

 
Picture

An environment is a living, changing system. More than the physical space, it includes the way time is strucutured and the roles we are expected to play. It conditions how we feel, think, and behave; and it dramatically affects the quality of our lives. The environment either works for us or against us as we conduct our lives.
- Jim Greenman 

Space is an indispensable component in the Reggio Emilia approach towards education. The space or the environment is considered to be the third teacher after parents and facilitators according to the philosophy. Being a Reggio inspired school, space set up is an integral part of our curriculum planning and every element of space is thought through and placed with an intention to enable communication between children, with adults in the system and with the space itself. 

This year as we plan to embarked on another exciting academic journey, we decided to redesign our space by bringing our unique Sparkling Mindz characters to invite children to be part of their inspiring stories of exploration and wonder. We used the glass sliding doors in each classroom as portals to the world of interaction, exploration, imagination and movement. 

Each door holds a scene from the stories of Cloudsy, Braiynee Bee, Flexi Daisy, Treeous, Q.marq, Randall and Animo's adventurous lives painted carefully with an objective to spark thinking and discussions as we eagerly await children to return to school post their summer vacations.

#sparklingmindzglobalpreschool
#inspiringconfidentlearners
#reggioemiliainspired
#designthinkingprocess
​#spacedesign
#21stcenturylearning
Comments

The 100 Languages of Our Preschool Children!

27/1/2022

Comments

 
"The child is made of one hundred" - Loris Malaguzzi

This Children's Day our preschool children explored their 100.


What does this 100 stand for? And what are these 100 that children are made of? What does it exactly mean?
​

When we asked children what they thought about it, this is what they shared,

"All our hands together make hundred hands"
"We have hundred brains, million words and powers"
"Hundred thoughts and infinite powers"
"Hundred ways of playing with cars"

Children understood that the '100' are not literal things but a representation of the variety within them, and the diversity of their potential.

We then set out on a journey together to explore further how these hundred ways of thinking, expressing, and wondering translated in our classes.

Take a look and journey along with us.

​
#sparklingmindzglobalpreschool
#inspiringconfidentlearners
#100languagesofchildren
#reggioemiliainspired
Comments

A Paper Mache Adventure By Our Preschool Facilitators!

27/4/2021

Comments

 
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. ​
Comments

Our Little Engine can do anything!

14/3/2021

Comments

 
 Every morning children sing different SM welcome songs to greet each other before beginning the day at school. One morning, our 2 to 4 year olds looked like most of them did not eat breakfast, no energy at all. Can you visualize how a flower without water how it looks?  It wouldn't be much of an exaggeration if I told you that our children looked the same way.
 
This inspired me to read a book called "The Little Engine", to get them back up on their energy levels. This book is about how the little engine did not give up when faced with challenges till the end and also helped the others in the process.  His favourite chant so that he won't give up was, "I Think I Can", which was what I hoped would energize the children today.

So I checked with the children if they would like to listen to a story.  As expected, they were all aboard!
 
While reading the book, my gaze panned through the class. This was what I saw: pin-drop silence, all their eyes glued to the images, nobody blinking. They were focused and paying attention without a movement in absolute silence. At the end of the story, I saw a lot of clarity in their faces, a bunch of warm smiles and some who showed a variety of mixed emotions.
 
 During our reflection of the story, post the usual questions on what was the story, did they like  the story and such, we jumped into a specific question,
 
What did you like in the story?
 
A:Train is carrying a lot of toys, even I have a lot of toys at home.
 
As she was sharing the other children pitched in and shared their toys’ details too. They together counted their toys, specifying the features and at a certain point they started  to argue with each other too until T said: “I have a little engine at my home!"

Facilitator (F): Oh wow! What do you do with that little engine?
T: I play with it
 
This got the others to share about what do with trains too such as, “We  play with it, we put things on it to carry, I go on a ride and have lot of  fun”...
 
F: Very nice! What do you think the little engine is doing here?
 
D: Ma’am, it is helping.
F: Who is it helping?
V: big train
A: blue train 
 
F: Why is it helping?
D: Because it is big it is heavy.
Ari: It can't move.
 
F: How is it helping?
V: I think I can 
T: It's pulling the big engine and saying I think I can 

Upon hearing this, In chorus everyone started singing, "I think I can!  I think I can!" 
 
F: What did you learn from this story?
A: I think I can 
D: I think I can 

And they continued singing it some more…

Suddenly I heard a voice that said "I think I can help". 
As everybody was singing out loud, this little voice wasn’t very audible. So he was asked to repeat.
Ari:" I THINK I CAN HELP! " 
 
F: what do you mean by that Ari? 
And he said, “I can also help others” Meaning that he can be like the Little Engine and help others too. This inspired T and she added, “I THINK I CAN DO IT!”


Post this, we saw children religiously following it, reminding each other when they did not follow. 

After a month or so, I received a video recording from a parent to see the child repeating the said slogan and not giving up in tough situations. It was definitely a surprise for both the parent and me to watch.

When children are given the freedom to personalize their learning, they start showing ownership of the learning. They customize it to their liking and use it at the required spaces. At SM, when a child learns something new, they learn it as an experience by going in depth through various forms. They then connect this learning not only at school, but also everywhere, gaining knowledge and mastery at it! They show us that learning is fun!

​Contributed by Sheela Peter, Learning Facilitator at Sparkling Mindz Global Preschool.

#inspiringconfidentlearners
#sparklingmindzglobalpreschool
#sparklingmindzglobal
#reggioemiliainspired
​


Comments
<<Previous

    RSS Feed

    RSS Feed​

    Sparkling Mindz is an organization with a vision to create millions of confident thinkers and communicators amongst our children!

    ​You can read more on...

    CEO's FB Page

    Archives

    March 2025
    February 2025
    January 2025
    December 2024
    November 2024
    October 2024
    August 2024
    July 2024
    June 2024
    April 2024
    February 2024
    January 2024
    December 2023
    October 2023
    June 2023
    April 2023
    March 2023
    December 2022
    October 2022
    September 2022
    August 2022
    June 2022
    May 2022
    April 2022
    March 2022
    February 2022
    January 2022
    December 2021
    November 2021
    August 2021
    July 2021
    June 2021
    May 2021
    April 2021
    March 2021
    February 2021
    January 2021
    December 2020
    November 2020
    October 2020
    September 2020
    August 2020
    July 2020
    June 2020
    May 2020
    April 2020
    March 2020
    February 2020
    January 2020
    December 2019
    November 2019
    October 2019
    September 2019
    May 2019
    April 2019
    March 2019
    February 2019
    December 2018
    July 2017
    June 2017
    June 2016
    May 2016
    April 2016
    September 2015
    May 2015
    April 2015
    January 2015
    July 2014
    April 2014
    February 2014
    December 2013
    November 2013
    October 2013
    September 2013
    January 2013
    November 2012
    October 2012
    August 2012
    June 2012
    March 2012
    February 2012
    December 2011
    November 2011
    October 2011
    September 2011
    July 2011
    June 2011
    May 2011
    April 2011
    March 2011
    February 2011

    Categories

    All
    21
    21stcenturylearning
    2 Year Olds
    3 Year Olds
    4 Year Olds
    4-year-olds
    5 7 Year Olds
    5-7 Year Olds
    5 Year Olds
    5-year Olds
    8 13 Years
    8-13 Years
    Activity Modules
    Add
    Adhd
    Afterschool Program
    Age Appropriate Session
    Age-appropriate Session
    Age Group
    Awards And Recognition
    Bangalore
    Being Changemakers
    Book Reading
    Child Development
    Children Making Friends
    Children's Activities
    Children's Workshop
    Children's Workshops
    Collaboration
    Communication Skills
    Communication Skills Workshop
    Community
    Concluding Sessions
    Confidence
    Confident Learners
    Confident Thinkers
    Conflict Management
    Conscious Parenting
    Creative Individuals
    Creative Thinking
    Creative Thinking For Kids
    Creative Thinking Summer Camp
    Creative Thinking Summer Camps
    Creative Thinking Tools
    Creative Thinking Workshop
    Creative Thinking Workshops
    Creativity
    Creativity For Children
    Critical Thinking
    Critical Thinking Workshop
    Curiosity
    Deep Learning
    Deep Thinking
    Dep
    Developing Creativity
    Distracted Behavior
    Documentation
    E
    Emergent Curriculum
    Emergent Play
    Emotional Quotient
    Emotional Vocabulary
    Emotions In Learning
    Empathy
    Everychildcan
    Experimenting
    Exploring Emotions
    Facilitation
    Facilitator Discussion Diaries
    Flexibility
    Flexible Brain
    Following Your Passion
    Fun Activities
    Fun Activities For Children
    Fun Modules
    Fun Places For Children
    Game Based Learning
    Games For Kids
    Getting A Quiet Child To Talk
    Growth Mindset
    Holistic Development
    Hyperactivity
    Imagination
    Imagining-with-blocks
    Impulsivity
    Innovative Learning
    Innovators
    Inquisitive Children
    Inspiration
    Inspirational Stand Up
    Inspiring Confident Communicators
    Inspiring Confident Learners
    Interpersonal Skills
    Invitation To Play
    Joy
    Joyous Learning
    Just Books
    Keys To Success
    Kindness
    Lateral Thinking
    Learning For Keeps
    Learning From Play
    Learning Styles
    Learning To Make Friends
    Light Play
    Logical Reasoning
    Making Connections
    Motivation Skills
    Music
    Natural Things
    Nature Of Creativity
    Nature Walk
    New Age Classrooms
    Open Ended Thinking
    Openness To New Expeiences
    Ownership In Children
    Parenting As A Skill
    Parent Invites
    Parent Testimonials
    Parent Workshop
    Peer Intervention
    Play Based Learning
    Playschool
    Poem For Children
    Poem For Children 8+ Years
    Positive Attitude
    Preschool
    Preschool Activities
    Preschool Games
    Preschoollibraryactivity
    Pretend Play
    Problem Solving
    Programs For Children
    Reframing
    Regg
    Reggio Documentation
    Reggio Emilia Inspired Preschool
    Reggio-emilia Inspired Preschool
    Reggio Emilia Inspired Preschool India
    Reggio-emilia Inspired Preschool India
    Reggio Emilia Inspired School
    Reggio Emilia Preschool Bangalore
    Resolving Disputes
    Resolving Fights Amongst Children
    Role Plays
    Self Expression
    Self Identity
    Self-identity
    Self Learning
    Self-learning
    Selflove
    Sensory Play
    Shy Child
    Shy Child To Talk
    Skills
    Social Emotional Learning
    Social-emotional Learning
    Sparkling Mindz
    Sparkling Mindz Stories
    Sports
    Stories
    Story Telling
    Story-telling
    Success Stories
    Summer Camp
    Summer Camp 2012
    Summer Camps
    Takehome
    Team Work
    Thinkers
    Thinking
    Thinking As A Habit
    Thinking As A Process
    Thinking Corner
    Thinking Program
    Thinking Skill
    Thinking Skills
    Thinking Skills For Children
    Thinking Skills Program
    Tinkering
    Traditional-classroom
    Trust Based Parenting
    Understanding-children
    Value Based Learning
    Visit To Park
    Visualization
    Weekend Activities For Children
    Wittyconversations
    Wonder Based Learning
    Workshop For Kids
    Workshops For Children
    Workshops For Kids
    Young Achievers Academy
    Young Thinkers Academy


Locations
Hennur - 8/4, Kannuru, Bidarahalli Hobli, Hennur-Bagalur Road, Bangalore 562149
Kalyan Nagar - 408, 2nd Floor, 5th Main, HRBR Layout 2nd Block, Kalyan Nagar, Bangalore - 43

Contact Details
Mobile: +91 9900080331

                 +91 9900080332
Phone: +91 80 4111 5607
Email: [email protected]

Company

About Us
Team
​
Child-Led Missions
Careers
Media

Support

Contact
FAQ
Terms of Use
​Privacy Policy
© COPYRIGHT 2011-2026 AVIDA EDUCATIONAL TRUST.