Innovation in learning continues to be our endeavour at GIIS Bangalore. During the months of August and September, Pre-primary teachers continued their quest for activities to ensure ‘learning by doing’; activities aimed at reinforcing concepts which have already been learnt.

Nursery students matched food items of various shapes including cheese, tomatoes, biscuits, capsicum, egg and many more with two dimensional shapes on a board. Children were eager to take part and were able to match all the items perfectly.

The activity in September involved counting and placing pasta on straws, ensuring they matched the numeral and quantity. This activity also promoted fine motor coordination.

KG1 students did pattern sequencing, but this time they used fruits. Each child was given a pattern which had to be made and repeated using fruits. It was an activity which promoted logical thinking.

Yet another interesting activity involved a fruit and vegetable market. Kids carried a slip with a picture and number and collected the corresponding fruit or vegetable in their baskets. They paid with duplicated rupee notes where once again they had to identify the numeral on the note and make the payment.

The students of KG2 were involved in an interesting activity of making handmade paper from old newspapers, petals, leaves, and a dash of paint. The newspapers were blended to a pulp with water in a mixer and the pulp was then spread onto a fine mesh to remove the excess water. The decorative materials were added and the paper was dried in the sun and then pressed using a hot iron.

The little ones loved the activities very much and were able to assimilate the entire process from start to finish. Practical and life skills are essential to personality development and confidence building. The use of fine and gross motor skills in the activities help in accelerated and wholesome growth of the child. The lesson plans have been appreciated and would be shared as best practice across campuses.