Last week at Greta, in our Transition to School Program, our Pre-schoolers have been exploring different aspects of science. Our children have always enjoyed the story, “Room on Broom” by Julia Donaldson, therefore to extend on this interest and to incorporate our subject of science, the Pre-schoolers were given the opportunity to create potions/ perfumes from natural resources found in educators and children’s home gardens as well as in our own playground. This experience will help children develop science and maths skills such as questioning, measuring, estimating, hypothesising as well as using all our senses.

Natural materials stimulate children’s creativity and imagination as they can be used in play in many ways. As the children began immersing themselves in the activity Bridget encouraged the children to explore the resources utilising their individual sensory abilities. The children were encouraged to look, feel/touch and smell the resources. Bridget then helped to guide the children in how to use each utensil throughout the perfume/potion making process, where our Pre-schoolers displayed great interest in this concept and continued to use their capabilities throughout the activity.

Providing an interesting and ever-changing environment for children to explore is an ideal way to develop their curiosity, provide opportunities for them to ask questions, and to talk about things they have discovered. Natural resources foster a respect and knowledge of our natural world as well as help to develop children’s curiosity, creativity and exploration.