Activity Introduction

Quick summary: This activity is designed to get children connecting with nature, experiencing the health and developmental benefits of connecting with natural elements and messy play. Younger children will experience water through all their senses, investigating water in its different forms.  Older children will explore and experiment with water, investigating its various forms, states and uses; thinking about all the ways water is used and why it is important to conserve water.

This activity is designed to help connect children to the wonders of the natural world through sensory and play-based learning.

EYLF Learning Outcome

Elaborations

Outcome 2: Children are connected with and contribute to their world

3. Children become socially responsible and show respect for the environment

Outcome 3: Children have a strong sense of wellbeing

1. Children become strong in their social, emotional and spiritual wellbeing

Outcome 4: Children are involved and confident learners

1. Children develop dispositions for learning such as curiosity, cooperation, confidence, creativity, commitment, enthusiasm, persistence, imagination and reflexivity

2. Children transfer and adapt what they have learnt from one context to another

3. Children resource their own learning through connecting with people, place, technologies, and natural and processed materials

Outcome 5: Children are effective communicators

1.  Children interact verbally and non verbally with others for a range of purposes

3. Children express ideas and make meaning using a range of media

Equipment needed: Water; a range of buckets and containers; ice cube trays; paper and drawing materials, salt, animals and small world resources, natural materials and loose parts (rocks, leaves, bark, corks, seed pods, flowers, etc.);  towels and clean clothes.

Supporting resources:

Other resources:

 

The team at Cool Australia continually reviews and refines our Early Learning resources in line with expert advice and current educational practices.

Worksheets

Teacher Worksheet

water-buckets1-heroBackground information

Content information for educators: Australia is the driest inhabited country in the world. Our freshwater is our most natural resource, not just for people but also for our environment. Therefore it is critical that young children learn to appreciate and conserve water. Water play has an important role in educating children about the importance of water, its various properties and states, different types of water, where it comes from and where it goes, how it’s treated, what it is used for and who uses it.

Water also provides great sensory opportunities for children. Water play provides learning in all developmental areas. There are opportunities to explore maths, science, language, emotions, creativity, and natural systems. Water play is lots of fun, can help to relieve tension or anxiety, and can be done inside or outside.

Children need to experience water often, in a range of activities and experiences in order to appreciate its value and understand all of

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