Here at Flat Bush Kindergarten, our tamariki have shown their creative genius with their growing interest in magnetic tile construction.

Over the course of the term, as tamariki have built their confidence and understanding of how they can use different tiles, they have moved from single towers or one and two-storied houses to complex constructions.  Their buildings have evolved to structures that are colour layered, multistoried inside with structural supports, have 2 and 3-D shapes decorating the outside, and that spread out over a large area.

We love that the children’s imaginations have included building castles, houses, garages, cars and even a ‘fence to keep zombies out’.

To enable our tamariki to work on their projects we created a dedicated building area offering the children much more space on which to build.  Having this space has encouraged a raft of building with some parents/whānau and kaiako supporting and settling their tamariki in this area.

Some positive outcomes from this learning include:

• Tamariki are moving back and forwards between individual and group creating, in the process communicating what they are making to friends/ kaiako or where they think pieces should go as well as concentrating and persevering.
• Mathematical knowledge and understanding are being developed with learning about different shapes, like combining certain triangles to make a diamond, square or hexagon, “I’m balancing this” and the idea of symmetry.
• When building’s collapse, they are also problem-solving on what didn’t work or what could be improved, looking at pictures of their work to help them and inspiring their friends to think, get ideas and be even more creative.

I’m sure tamariki will continue to amaze us with their future builds!

Ka Mahi Tino Pai Tamariki!!!