Category: Preschool Games - 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

Everything Is Connected, Can You See It?

15/9/2022

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.

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

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

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.

CareerGuide's Career ChangeMakers Awards 2021

17/4/2021

We believe that the world needs Changemakers today who are learning to heed to problems around them as wake-up calls. Those who can think beyond themselves and walk the road less travelled to create new forms of what journeys and destinations can look like.

It all starts with empowering children today with skills like creative expression, innovative thinking, problem solving, collaboration, critical thinking, sharing ideas, a sense of community, an awareness of global citizenship going beyond the knowledge and skills that schools can easily assess and grade upon.

This needs a systems-level innovation at schools and thinking differently to create an ecosystem that can cultivate changemaker mindsets in children today. And we are deeply humbled and inspired for this grand recognition of Top Innovative and Creative Skills Related Initiatives in School Awards Category by CareerGuide's Career ChangeMakers Awards.

We would like to extend our immense gratitude, love and support we have been constantly receiving from our community all these years, and the adventures we have been undertaking together.

We have stood together and stood strong through these tough times and we will continue to grow strong together.

Our Little Engine can do anything!

14/3/2021

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

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

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#sparklingmindzglobalpreschool
#inspiringconfidentlearners

Our Pups and Calves wish you a very Happy Independence Day!

15/8/2020

As the pups and calves discovered more about our country India and learnt about its special day and coming together to celebrate it as fellow Indians, here is a compilation of our precious little ones singing the "variety song" which shows off their patriotism towards celebrating India's 74th Independence day together!

#sparklingmindzglobalpreschool
#21stcenturylearning
#socialemotionallearning
#74thindependenceday
#reggioinspiredpreschool

Did we just get inspired by a story about starfishes? Yes, yes we did!

17/6/2020

Being a change maker

Our theme for this new academic year is 'Being Change Makers' and all of us facilitators are busy setting up for the year, making notes, brainstorming stories, finding connections, connecting with the children. To keep all of us inspired, we, the team, decided to take turns and do an activity everyday morning together. As we did a lot of games in the entirety of last week, we decided to read an article and reflect for our morning inspiration today.

The article was about a lot of starfishes that a little boy was throwing back into the ocean when an older adult walks over and asks him why he was doing that, as it didn't make much of a big difference. The boy then picks another one and says, "It makes a difference to this one", and throws it, out of the millions, back into the ocean.

After taking turns to read out loud, we all quietly sat, reflecting, wondering about the story and relating it back to our previous discussion on 'Being Change Makers' (what being a changemaker means, how we are already change makers, and why we need to be change makers) an overwhelming amount of inspiration took over. These are some of the things each of our facilitators said,

"I feel I am also doing my bit as a change maker. Whatever small thing I am doing is contributing to change. I considered it small or insignificant until now. But now that also makes a difference and I am contributing it in my own way- whatever I do at home- reject water not wasted, fixing leaking pipes, waste segregation etc. I ensure all my family members are also aware of it, and practice it. . Now that I am aware of the value of my contribution, I feel good about it and want to spread the message to those close to me."- Jennifer

""It made a difference to that starfish", he emphasized on value, the magnitude does not determine value. We find excuses that let us be ignorant. As humans, our natural instincts work best when we are faced with a stimuli that has a direct effect in us, which explains our slow response to climate change and fast response to a pandemic.
The boy wasn't looking for attention, he didn't see himself as a hero. He had just one intention, saving a starfish's life, so it didn't matter to him how many he saved or if he was the only one. He had a clear purpose." - Tasha

"I always thought about environment from a very young age. Nature has its own way to bring all natural things into use. Being part of SM, part of an organization into change making., everyone's opinion matters. That's a door to change. Because I knew my voice will be heard, I proposed my opinion and it was applied. I'd proposed to remove the trash bags to reduce plastic and now, on a regular basis, at least 3 trash bags we have changed- as an organization, I am a part of change making. I always go to a shop with a cloth bag. I even educated my maid on burning plastic with wood - that isn't good for health, so educated her about how it affects health, she looped back to me saying how it has stopped.
"There are people throwing so much. Will I make a difference?" Yes!"- Neha

"I love the environment and I can't do anything consciously that will hurt the environment or the beings living in this environment. When I was in University, I used to use more organic products, use less plastic, and such. Slowly, I started to not do it as much thinking my contribution is not going to help, and those around me used to discourage me. Post our discussion on being change makers, I am a lot more aware of my thinking along the lines of the passion towards the environment and how my contribution, even if it is little, matters- like closing the tap, fixing leaks, and such. I know it's just one person but I don’t ever want to back down on what I believe in, which is my love for this planet and the beings living in it. It is my home, our home and I want to do what I can, no matter how little, to take care of it." - Sruthy

""Change starts with us", and also if everyone could think like the boy rather than the man... Collectively we could have saved the star fishes. Starfish is a "metaphor" for so many things that requires change. I can equate it to corona too...if one person follows social distancing well and seeing that another person too supports and practices the same and so on and so forth we could have brought it down and eventually have it not affect us for this long. This story helps me see how we can make a difference in the bigger scheme of things and we need to become these change makers in the world to truly bring about shifts in things we think need to change to better the world we live in, not only for us but for the sustainability of all kinds of living beings on this planet for generations to come." - Kruthika

"Most of the time when people want to do things, they don't get the right kind of motivation and they end up not trying anything new. The right kind of motivation and inspiration, or sometimes nothing said in response also help people to move forward. For me, trying new things is important and when the progress I see on it, however little, is satisfying. And that is my first step towards success." - Sheela

The said article started with a quote, "A single, ordinary person still can make a difference- and single, ordinary people are doing precisely that every day." - Chris Bohjalian, Vermot- based author and speaker.

So now to our readers,
What comes to your mind when you hear 'changemaker'?
And moreover, do you think you can be a changemaker?
Do you know what change you want to make, that one (or many) cause(s) you are passionate about and feel it burning deep within you?

What contribution did you make today?

#sparklingmindzglobalpreschool
#sparklingmindzglobalschool
#reggioemiliainspired
#21stcenturylearning
#everychildcan
#inspirationstandup
#teamspiration

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