The Lions' Roar Master - Tamborine Mountain College

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Early Learning News

Frogs, Boxes & Big Learning!

The wet weather has certainly affected us all in many different ways lately! The postponement of Under 8’s Day created a dilemma with the boxes everyone donated taking over the ELC, even spilling into the foyer....

But as always in Pre Prep, the children have turned a challenge into an opportunity for creativity, collaboration, and learning. What may look like “just boxes” to adults have become rich invitations for inquiry and imagination.

Over recent weeks, animal habitats have been high on the agenda, with children exploring bugs, lizards, ocean life, and aquariums through ongoing projects and play. This week, the boxes transformed once again — this time into a frog home!

Using their growing knowledge about living things, a small group discussed what frogs would need to survive. The children thoughtfully explained that the box needed air holes because “frogs need air to breathe,” and decided the habitat should be “decorated beautifully” to make it a safe and welcoming environment.

As the play continued, Willow needed a black marker. Without hesitation, Luca kindly offered support saying, “You can have mine,” while passing it across to her. Such a simple moment beautifully reflected our values of kindness, generosity, and learning together as a community.

Isla became deeply involved in creating a natural environment for the frog. Carefully crafting a leaf, she explained, “The frog can rest here and lay eggs in the water. Then they will turn into tadpoles.” Through play, Isla demonstrated her growing understanding of the frog life cycle while creatively extending her ideas with peers.

Our creative and innovative teachers scaffolded learning further using the Queensland Kindergarten Learning Framework outcome 'Active Learning' to engage with technologies for learning and communication. Some QR codes were scanned using the iPads for the children to access stories and information about the vaires animals of interest.

These moments remind us that play truly is children’s work. Through collaborative play experiences, children develop knowledge, problem-solving skills, communication, creativity, empathy, and dispositions for lifelong learning.

To our community, a simple box may seem ordinary but at the ELC, it has inspired imagination, inquiry, kindness, teamwork, and beautiful learning in action.

Mrs Rachael Fernandez