End of Term 1 2010

Hi everyone.

It's hard to believe that Term 1 is already coming to a close...time sure does fly when you're having fun!!!

We've been very busy this term with lots of wheel associated things, puppetry and of course observing our chicks and caterpillar emerge and transform. (The caterpillar is still in his cocoon - we're hoping the butterfly will emerge by Thursday, but it's not looking hopeful!)

We hope you have a wonderful, relaxing and safe easter break.

Looking forward to seeing everyone back for Term 2 on Monday the 19th of April.

We farewell Jude for a maternity position and wait in anticipation for our new teacher beginning on the 19th...watch this space.

We wish you well Jude!

Tania, Megan and Jane.

They've arrived!!!!

It was 21 days exactly. St Patrick's Day in fact and we missed the whole lot! We left kindergarten on the Tuesday, when the first tiny cracks were appearing. We all thought the actual hatching process would be a slow one, but when we arrived on the morning of the 17th March, there were three little chicks awaiting us. They were pretty relieved to get out of the confinements of the incubator and into their nice new home, complete with warm light to huddle under. Just over a week later and they are now part of the furniture. Dudley, Chuckles and Chicken Little really enjoy venturing out of their light box and having pats from the tamariki/children. On nice days we have them out on the grass and the children just love crowding round to have a hold. This has been a great experience for the children and adults alike, giving us a deeper understanding of the biology of chicks. We also have a caterpillar at present, so it will be fascinating to compare the two very different life cycles of these intriguing creatures.

More eggcelent entertainment

The latest egg related experiment we are doing at Kaikorai kindergarten involves three little egss BUT this time they will not be consumed under any circumstances! We have been lucky enough to aquire an incubator complete with eggs and eggerly await our little babies hatching.

The questions we have posed to the children are:

• How does an egg develop from the time it is laid to the time it hatches?


• What will the chicks look like when they first break out of the shell?


• How long will the process take?

Come explore with us this fascinating life cycle of the embyological chick...

To see a video of a chick hatching, check out the following link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tof5b1Qs_OE&feature=related