One day in true life some friends came to stay the night at our place and
when they were there we wanted to get dressed up and have a show when we
were dressed up and the show was really funny. We were wearing some
dress ups from this kindergarten because we were just washing them.
The End
Billy 17/05/05
Once upon a time we were on holiday at Tutiawa and when we were there a friend of
ours had made that house all by himself. We got to stay at that house and then we slept
all night. We got to stay in a caravan over there and when we were there we got to have
breakfast and lunch in the caravan. This is actually a real story and when we were in
there we were staying there until some more friends of ours came over which were called
Mummy Mel and Elliot and Jamelle. They stayed three nights with us and Elliot, he gave
us these shot guns, with this gun, you put it on and then you pressed the button and it
went far away and I let some one borrow my one and we have still got Eddies one, but
Eddie banned me from his one so I didn’t have any gun to play with until I had to get that
I gave to my friends to borrow until I got it back.
The End Billy
Once upon a time there was an old man who grew up and his name was Billy and he
loved the word Billys and one day he bought a car and it was a VW Golf. After he
bought his car he went for a drive in it and he said it was fantastic!
The End
Once upon a time Harry and me were playing together and we were playing in the
playground and I was playing on the monkey bars and somebody, when I was on the
monkey bars hit me. Then we both started painting and then we started playing with the
hula-hoops and then I started playing with Jo’s camera and then Harry started keeping on
playing with me. Then after that both of us started playing with some body else and then
we kept on playing with each other then we started playing with the painting easel. Then
after that we kept on playing on the playground and then we both started playing on the
monkey bars. Then we started playing again and started playing with each other. That’s
all.
The end 2005
Billy 25/05/05
By Billy
21st June 2005
One day Fergus was going on a hot air balloon ride. And on
his hot air balloon ride he went to a volcano. He went
inside it and saw lava. Fergus had a good look around and
he went out of the volcano and went back to the mainland.
The next day he went back on his hot air balloon and went
to another volcano, and this volcano was called Rangitoto.
Then he went back to the mainland again. And then the
next day he went back on his hot air balloon again and
went to another Volcano that was called Mt Eden. Fergus
went down in to the crater and he saw lava inside it. And
then he went back to the mainland again.
The End
By Billy
Billy 24/06/05
One day Fergus and Greeny had a hot air balloon and they went to
a volcano called Rangitoto and it was extinct. They decided to go
to another volcano called Mt Eden and it was extinct too. Then
they went back to Kindy where they belonged, and they made
another hot air
balloon that couldn’t actually fly because they
were just playing so it was a bit like a model hot air balloon.
Billy has been interested in the digital camera for as long as he has been at
kindergarten, and as a result he has very quickly been able to work out how
my camera operates, including how to make movies on it, which I had not
explored.
Recently the teachers told me that Billy has begun to take photos of him
self and I soon discovered this when Billy and I downloaded some of his
photos. Below are a series of his self-portraits.
One of the possibilities that Billy and I discussed was the idea of him taking
the camera home for a weekend to record images of what was important or
of interest to him. So last weekend was the weekend and I was very keen
to get to kindergarten this week to see what Billy had taken photos of.
On my arrival I found a flat camera and I had forgotten to bring the
charger, so had to wait until today to have a look. Billy told me he had
taken 101 photos, and a few movies.
Well, I would never of thought of taping the camera to a remote control car
and take movie footage that way. I guess that is one of the reasons big
brothers are helpful because they have some good ideas! It gives a very
interesting perspective doesn’t it, looking up from the remote control car at
your hall way and other rooms in your house.
The movie Billy took of while dancing made me feel a bit dizzy as the
camera spun around and around and around.
What learning happened here?
Well, I would have to say there was learning going on for me, my
expectations and thinking around Billy taking the camera home were very
different to what Billy actually came up with. Not only the video in your
home, but taking the camera out with you was such a good idea, I really
enjoyed seeing what you got up to in the weekend Billy.
Te Whãriki our early childhood curriculum encourages us as teachers to find
ways of linking home with the early childhood centre. Giving Billy the
opportunity to document some of his life outside of the kindergarten
supports this strand. Having Eddie as a co-collaborator supports this too.
Where to next?
One of the ideas Billy and I have discussed is to record him telling a story
about the photos/movies he has taken and make a quick time movie out of
his images, Billy began to do this last week with an image he had taken of
his friend Harry, but the microphone was not very clear and we are waiting
on one being posted to me.
Billy has been interested in this process and it is one that will be ongoing for
some time as I think it is going to take awhile.
Billy, I was outside today (trying to keep warm!) and you came and
showed me an amazing hot air balloon that you had made for
Fergus the dog. We talked about how lucky Fergus was, as all of
you children take such good care of him. I told you that yesterday
Harry had made a spaceship for Fergus and then written a story
about it. You then asked if you could write a story about Fergus’s
adventures on the hot air balloon. Billy, in your story Fergus went
on trips to some volcanos, Rangitoto, and Mt Eden. I know that
these mountains are very special to you as you talk about them
often. I suggested that you take photos of Fergus and his hot air
balloon. You went and got the camera and instructed me on what I
had to do. My job was to hold the balloon up, and you took lots of
photos at different angles. You then attached the USB cord to the
computer and the camera to download the photos. Billy, you did
such a good job inserting your photos on to your story, all I had to
do was talk you through it. How cool Billy. Justine loved your
story didn’t she Billy, and I could see that you were very proud of
it. I wonder if Fergus will go on any more adventures on his hot air
balloon?
What Learning Happened Here?
I could see that Billy really enjoyed telling his story this morning, and he
was able to incorporate many of his current interests in to it, using the
digital camera, and hot air balloons. Billy has a great disposition for
taking control of his learning. He has an in depth understanding that his
interests are a huge part of our kindergarten programme, and having
this knowledge and the ability to use it is very empowering for him. While
engaged in this interest, Billy was learning and thinking about the
conventions of his story, making sure that it had a beginning, middle,
and an end. He thought a lot about the storyline, and linked it to places
that are significant to him. This links in well with the very important
strand of Mana Whenua (belonging) in Te Whaariki, where children are
able to make connecting links with the wider world and the early
childhood setting. These mountains seem to be of great significance to
Billy, and we have talked about finding some more information out about
them.
Billy continues to extend his knowledge and explore using the digital
camera. He is becoming more and more competent with downloading
photos, and this is so exciting to see.
Where to next?
Billy, you might like to think of some more adventures for Fergus to go
on. You could record these on the laptop or using the microphone. Let
me know soon.
Nadine – 21st June 2005
Child’s Name: Billy
Parent’s Name: Stephen
Date: 2 June 2005
Billy,
I was very surprised, on Sunday morning, to find you & Eddy playing
with Eddy's remote control car with Jo's camera sitting on top. There
was nothing holding it in place and I was worried that it was going to
fall off, and first I told you to be careful. Then I suggested that we
could hold it on with a rubber band, which we did. I asked how you
got the idea of doing this and you told me it was what the boy did on
"Home Alone 3".
The videos you made looked very interesting, seeing how the world
looks from the level of the floor. It was also a good idea of Eddy's to
make a video of how you made the video.
I had a lot of fun on the weekend with you making videos and taking
pictures. It makes the interesting things we do like going out even
more interesting somehow. I really liked how you took videos and
pictures of Justine's choir on Saturday night.
Love from Dad