September 2014
Sandra Laing
Today we had lots of fun playing in the
sandpit Nikorima. I had filled the trough
with yellow coloured water and added
lots of dishwashing detergent. With the
hose, I created a mountain of fine
bubbles which overflowed the trough.
You and many other children got wet
and wild with the bubbles, scooping
them into buckets, mixing them with the
sand, throwing them in the air and
caking them all over your bodies.
We even threw some into the tree
above the sandpit which made it
look like snow, slowly dripping off
the tree and landing on your heads
as you all played beneath the tree.
We had to re-fill the trough several times
and eventually I decided to add some
blue dye to the mix. You and your
friends discovered that yellow and blue
mixed together make green. I had asked
all the children to not put sand into the
trough to keep the mixture clean enough
to see the colour and easier to make
more bubbles. Thank you Nikorima for
keeping to this rule and encouraging your friends to do the same, Ka pai 
You extended this play by
creating your own scenario
Nikorima. You filled your
watering can and started
pouring it over the wooden
posts in the sandpit. I heard
you say to Fawn and Te Manu,
“ Hey, I can be the Dad, you
(Fawn) can be the Mum, and
you (Te Manu) can be the brother.
Lets water the garden, this is the
garden guys”
You and your friends quickly fell into your roles,
watering your imaginary garden. You
constantly talked to Te Manu calling him
“brother” and initiated team work.
There are many indications of learning
happening here Nikorima. You are actively
engaging with me and your friends, willing to
listen to instructions and able to create your
own play in collaboration with your piers
through inviting them to play with you and
through conversations. Using your imagination
and were able to convey this to Fawn and
Te Manu.
I’m sure you will be looking forward
to the warmer summer days when
you and your friends will be able to
engage in this fun water play on a
regular basis. You all managed to get
me covered in bubbles and sand, but
I enjoyed seeing you all having so
much fun for such a long time. 