The prompt construction of a dedicated kindergarten building is essential to meet the specific demands of early childhood education. This includes socialization and family interaction. Quality early education is crucial for the full development of children, with a responsibility to support families in upbringing and education.

• Lago Pellegrini, RUTA N°70

• City: Cinco Saltos, Rio Negro Postal

• Code: 8303

• Modality: Extended Day - Schedule: 8:30 AM to 4:30 PM

School No. 288 was established on March 7, 1983, on the Ruca-Có Peninsula of Lago Pellegrini to provide education for the growing rural population, which included many immigrants from Latin America. After 2010, the school had to expand its facilities. It operates on an Extended Day schedule, with a Kindergarten level that has two classrooms for four- and five-year-olds, offering both morning and afternoon shifts. Students have access to a dining hall, but the school lacks sufficient kitchen utensils, tables, and stools. The school day runs from 8:30 AM to 4:30 PM, with most students using satisfactory school transportation. However, there is a need for a bus to transport kindergarten students, as their classroom is 1.5 kilometers from the main school

Include a photo of a moment in the lesson, or a task students did, a picture from the board or any other lesson component you would like to share, and describe it.

In the lesson observed, the students were engaged in preparing the first page of their folders, which they would later present to their families before the winter holidays. Each student created a personalized page featuring a picture of their face and a large initial letter of their name. The letter served as the body, to which students added legs, feet, arms, and hands, effectively turning the letters into personalized characters. The children decorated these letters with markers, drawing various patterns and images such as hearts and rainbows. Once decorated, the teacher cut out the letters and attached them to another sheet of paper, which the students had previously colored with a multitude of vibrant hues. This activity allowed students to express their creativity and individuality while working on a collective project.

Describe this lesson in terms of a metaphor.

"This lesson was like a garden in spring, where each child was a blossoming flower, adding their unique colors and shapes to a collective tapestry of creativity and joy."

Choose a moment that was important for the students during the lesson. Describe it and say why it was important.

Chosen Moment: When the teacher asked, "Is there light inside mum's stomach?" and the children responded with, "It's dark."

During the story, the teacher posed the question, "Is there light inside mum's stomach?" This prompted a lively discussion among the children. They enthusiastically shared their thoughts, with many agreeing that it must be dark inside mum's stomach.

Importance:

1. Critical Thinking: This moment encouraged children to think about and discuss a new concept, sparking their curiosity and wonder.

2. Engagement: The question actively involved the children, making them feel like important contributors to the lesson.

3. Understanding: It helped children understand a biological concept in an age-appropriate way, introducing them to scientific thinking.

4. Confidence Building: Allowing children to voice their opinions and have them validated boosted their confidence and promoted a positive learning atmosphere.

This moment was significant for combining cognitive development with active participation, making the lesson engaging and educational.

In the first assistant class, the teacher organized three groups. One group worked on a card where they noted the book or books they would take home to read with their families. The children decorated a card with their names and left space to write the name of the book they would take home. The children colored and decorated the cards with markers. Meanwhile, a second group played at a separate table with toys the students had in boxes within the classroom. There was a third group that played with a tower they had to build to play with small balls. The children rotated between the tables as they finished decorating their cards.

What aspects of the lesson do you consider successful?

I consider it successful that the children were divided into three groups so the teacher could effectively guide them in the process of preparing the cards. Meanwhile, I supervised the groups playing with the toys and the tower while the teacher continued working with the students decorating the cards.

Choose a quotation that represents an event, knowledge, insight in this lesson.

"A well-organized classroom allows each child to engage meaningfully, fostering both independence and collaboration."

On the second day of assistantship, not many children attended due to heating problems in the kindergarten rooms, so the two rooms for 4 and 5-year-olds were combined and working together. The children from the 5-year-old room finished the cards they were completing last week about the books they would take home to read with their families. The children from the 4-year-old room drew faces on blank sheets of paper and added hair using colored paper. Then, the teachers and I brought them some baskets with wooden blocks. The children played in groups with the wooden blocks, making towers and creating shapes with the blocks. Afterward, the teachers of the 4 and 5-year-old rooms and I instructed the children to gather all the wooden pieces, put them in their corresponding baskets, and take them to the other room where they are stored. At the end, the teachers organized a circle to play the musical chairs game with children's songs.

Choose a moment that was important for the students during the lesson. Describe it and say why it was important.

One important moment during the lesson was when the children played with the wooden blocks in groups. This activity was significant for several reasons:

• Collaboration and Social Skills: The children worked together in groups to build towers and create shapes. This collaborative play helped them develop important social skills, such as sharing, communicating, and negotiating with their peers.

• Creativity and Imagination: Using the wooden blocks allowed the children to express their creativity and imagination. They were able to experiment with different structures and designs, fostering their ability to think creatively and problem-solve.

• Motor Skills Development: Manipulating the wooden blocks required the children to use their fine motor skills, enhancing their hand-eye coordination and dexterity.

  
  

  What aspects of the lesson do you consider successful?

• Despite the heating issue, the teachers successfully combined two groups, ensuring the children could continue their activities productively. This demonstrated flexibility and effective management of unforeseen challenges.

• Ending with the musical chairs game provided an enjoyable and energetic activity, fostering physical movement and coordination.

At the end of the assistantship, Miss Carolina, who is on leave for the rest of the year due to her pregnancy and doctor's orders to rest, visits the children. They are very happy and excited to see her, asking about her baby. She shows them ultrasound photos and informs them that while she needs to rest, they will be working with Miss May in the meantime. At the end of the conversation, Miss Carolina gives each child a lollipop to take home, along with a flower made of colored paper and a personalized message written on another colored paper.

What aspects of the lesson require change / improvement? 

Language Development: While the lesson focuses on visual and tactile learning, incorporating language development activities could enhance overall learning. For example, discussing family concepts, describing the images, or singing songs related to family could be beneficial.

Activity Balance: While rotating between groups is good, ensuring equal time for each activity might be necessary. If one group consistently finishes faster, consider providing additional challenges or activities for them.

What do you find useful in this lesson that will help you plan the next one?

• Engagement: The use of visual aids and hands-on activities seems to have captured the children's interest. This approach can be replicated in my future lessons.

• Collaboration: The group work aspect promotes social interaction and cooperation, which are essential skills for young children.

• Real-life Connection: Bringing in a real-life example like Miss Carolina's pregnancy helps make the topic relatable and meaningful for the children.

Choose a moment that was important for the students during the lesson. Describe it and say why it was important.

One important moment during the lesson was when the students were introduced to Peppa Pig’s family members through flashcards. This was significant because it captured their attention and allowed them to connect with familiar characters, making the learning experience more engaging and relatable. The students were excited to see the characters they recognized, which motivated them to participate in the activities, repeat the vocabulary, and immerse themselves in the lesson. This moment was important as it helped build their confidence in using English while associating new words with characters they already love, laying a positive foundation for future language learning.

What do you find useful of this lesson that will help you plan the next one?

The children enjoyed seeing the family theme introduced through Peppa Pig, indicating that using familiar and relatable characters resonates well. For the next class, maintaining the Peppa Pig theme or expanding it will likely keep them engaged.

The children responded well to activities involving dancing, singing, and movement. Planning more action-based games, such as role-playing family members or movement-based vocabulary games will keep them engaged.

Describe this lesson in terms of a metaphor.

This lesson was like a treasure hunt in a familiar garden. The students embarked on an adventure, discovering beloved characters hidden in their midst, each one a treasure waiting to be uncovered. The puppets were the hidden gems, and with each reveal, the children’s excitement grew, leading them from one discovery to the next. Just as in a treasure hunt, they used clues (the descriptions) to find their way, which made the learning process engaging and interactive. The joy of finding each character and the thrill of guessing who would come next made the lesson an exciting journey, where the treasure at the end was the fun and confidence they gained in using English.

Choose a quotation that represents an event, knowledge, insight in this lesson:

"The students actively participated, repeating in English and showing great enthusiasm for the puppets."

Rebecca explained how her mummy's belly started moving, which made the rabbit family go to the hospital where the twins were born. Everyone was so happy about the new additions to their family. The children really enjoyed the story, especially since it was told by Rebecca herself.

This visit perfectly tied in with the project they’ve been working on with their teacher Carolina, which is all about pregnancy and welcoming a new family member. The story was a wonderful way to connect with what they’ve been learning and made the lesson even more engaging and memorable.

What aspects of the lesson do you consider successful?

• Engaging Storytelling: Rebecca Rabbit's visit and storytelling were highly engaging for the children. The use of the puppet made the experience interactive and memorable, capturing the children's attention and excitement.

• Interactive Participation: The children actively participated by waving hello, touching the puppet, and listening attentively to the story. This level of engagement helped them connect with the content on a personal level.

• Connection to Project: The story about Rebecca's family and the arrival of the twins effectively tied into the project the children were working on with their teacher, Carolina. It reinforced the theme of pregnancy and the arrival of a new family member, making the lesson relevant and reinforcing their learning.

  
  

Include a photo of a moment in the lesson, or a task students did, a picture from the board or any other lesson component you would like to share, and describe it.

I included a photo of the book about Mummy's rabbit bump. The children interacted with the puppet and listened to the story about Rebecca’s family and the arrival of the twins. The story is related to their ongoing project about pregnancy and new family members.

At the end of the lesson, we had a fantastic time dancing with Rebecca Rabbit. The children wore rabbit headbands and joined in the fun, pretending to be rabbits while dancing along. They really enjoyed the playful aspect of pretending to be rabbits and learning how to take care of baby rabbits. The combination of hands-on activities, engaging storytelling, and dancing made the lesson both educational and enjoyable for them.

Include a photo of a moment in the lesson, or a task students did, a picture from the board or any other lesson component you would like to share, and describe it.

I included a photo of the children wearing their rabbit headbands and the realia to represent baby care items like nappies, a baby bottle. This image reflects how hands-on activities, storytelling, and movement were combined to make learning both fun and meaningful for the children.

Describe this lesson in terms of a metaphor.

This lesson was like planting a garden of empathy and learning. The children were the gardeners, carefully taking care of the baby rabbits with love and care, using tools like nappies and bottles as their watering cans and trowels.

How did the students react to your teaching, to the activities and the materials? How did they react to the lesson?

The children responded very positively to the teaching, activities, and materials. Their enthusiasm was clear in how they actively participated in every aspect of the lesson, from singing and dancing to expressing emotions with body movements. The connection with Inside Out was particularly engaging for them, as they seemed excited to associate the emotions from the film with their own actions. Their overall reaction to the lesson was one of enjoyment and curiosity, and they remained engaged throughout, especially during the relaxation and breathing exercises, which they found calming and enjoyable.

Include a photo of a moment in the lesson, or a task students did, a picture from the board or any other lesson component you would like to share, and describe it.

I included a photo of the paper plates made from the movie Inside Out and the children dancing with me. They were excited to learn about the emotions from the movie and they participated actively. The playful activities, guided by sister rabbit, helped them connect emotionally while enjoying the songs and body movements.

How did the students react to your teaching, to the activities and the materials?

The children worked enthusiastically with the materials: paper plates, markers, and wool to decorate their plates. They enjoyed doing this activity and sharing their emotions with Brother Rabbit.

What teaching strategies did you use? Which ones were effective? Why / why not?

• Review and Reinforcement: The children reviewed what they had learned in the previous lesson about emotions using the characters from Inside Out. This strategy helped to consolidate their understanding and prepare them for the subsequent activities.

• Creative Expression: The children created paper plates decorated with their emotions and painted images of Brother Rabbit. These activities allowed them to express their understanding of emotions in a creative and personal way.

• Choose an audio / video segment from the lesson, and reflect on what is viewed or heard.

• https://voca.ro/15cgsnVszUHq

• In the audio, we can listen to the Inside Out music in the background while the children prepare their cardboard plates of their emotion and decorate them with markers and wool. They really enjoyed this activity since they like to do crafts, paint, and create, and the background music helps them relax and put the emotions into today's context.

  
  

What teaching strategies did you use? Which ones were effective? Why / why not?

During this lesson I used the following teaching strategies: First, I used interactive storytelling engaged students with puppets to introduce farm animals, providing a visual and tactile experience. I also used repetition and imitation to encourage children to repeat animal names and sounds. By doing this we reinforced vocabulary through auditory and kinesthetic learning. I also incorporated singing songs, using "Old MacDonald" in order to make learning enjoyable as well as memorable. Finally, role-playing allowed children to act like animals based on the necklace they received. This promoted imaginative play and physical movement.

Choose a moment that was important for you during the lesson. Describe it and say why it was important.

One of the most memorable moments during the lesson was when the children played at being animals based on the necklaces they were wearing. This activity was particularly engaging and enjoyable for the students because it allowed them to physically embody the characters they had learned about. It also encouraged the children to use their imaginations and express themselves through movement and sound.

What do you find useful of this lesson that will help you plan the next one.

• Having a clear structure and routine can help students feel more comfortable and focused.

• Incorporating activities that allow students to express themselves creatively, such as painting or creating crafts, can enhance engagement and learning.

  
  

• Choose an audio / video segment from the lesson, and reflect on what is viewed or heard.

https://voca.ro/1cD9E4BTogtQ

In this audio, we can listen to the children singing the beginning-of-class song with enthusiasm and it shows that they have managed to acquire the routine for the beginning of each class and demonstrate that they know the song. It also shows their enthusiasm and happiness at the beginning of the class.

I believe that witnessing the children's growth and development throughout these 8 lessons was incredibly gratifying, and this final lesson served as a powerful reminder of the positive impact that language learning can have on young learners.