This final week before the December break was of course a busy one, with the fun-filled Sports Day morning on Monday. Many thanks to our many family spectators for cheering on our sporty KG1 students along with their KG2 and G1 teammates! Special thanks also to Ms Nuria for all the work that went into preparing the children for it during PE lessons and for setting it up and running it on the day along with the PE department team.
The week was also exciting because our new big sandpit was filled with sand! For this, we extend our heartfelt thanks to Abdul Hameed’s parents for kindly providing the beautiful sand, which is just the right texture for digging and building. The children were so excited to get stuck in right away on Sunday morning and have been enjoying the new playground option every day since. While playing in a sandpit, children have the opportunity to develop a wide range of important skills. Mathematical skills are developed as concepts of measure (such as full, empty, more and less) are naturally incorporated into play. Science learning is evident as children explore the properties of sand, experimenting with texture, moisture and structure to discover the best ways to build and create. Social and communication skills are also strongly supported as children talk, discuss, negotiate and work together, sharing both space and tools. Sand play supports the development of fine and gross motor skills as children dig, scoop, pour and carry sand using a variety of tools as well as their hands. It also encourages creativity and problem-solving, as children plan their constructions, adapt their ideas and persist when structures need rebuilding. Sensory exploration in the sandpit can be calming and regulating, helping children to focus, engage and enjoy extended periods of play. The photographs below show some of the fun children have had in the sandpit this week!
We wish all our KG1 families a wonderful holiday, thank you for your ongoing support, and look forward to seeing you again in the new year.
Warm regards,
The KG1 Team
