Colours are fascinating in their complexity. Children love to experiment and see how colours mix and form new colours. Clay can be cut, pinched, rolled, squeezed and moulded into different shapes and its texture can be changed by adding water. Collage helps children to learn skills such as gluing, sticking, taping, stapling, cutting, tearing.

We love to bake with the children, especially during Easter, Anzac Day, Mother’s and Father’s Day and Christmas. Children learn basic mathematical skills such as quantity and measurement in a fun and practical way. Cooking also builds relationships with others and develops language skills, plus it is so much fun! We link cooking to favourite stories such as The Gingerbread Man and Eddie’s Blueberry Pie!

In Spring, we book a bus to Ambury Farm – the rangers know Uplands Kindergarten very well! We watch milking time in the cow shed, hand feed chickens and give orphan lambs their bottle. When Capital E tour New Zealand, we book in to see their child-centered show. Every time they exceed our expectations of live theatre for children. The local library and Wairua Reserve are a third environment for us.

Our children thoroughly enjoy participating in science experiments and this often occurs during our transition to school programme. We believe developing scientific thinking is about children doing their own experimenting. Children enjoy the process of thinking and learning, as we provide opportunities for them to explore concepts and ideas they are interested in through a range of experiences.

It is important our children develop strong fingers and the playdough table is a great place for this. This assists with writing skills and mastering the use of scissors. Outside, the sandpit is hive of activity where children who enjoy being outside, are also building strength in their fingers and hands. This gives children confidence when transitioning into the classroom .

Kaitiakitanga is the Māori concept which means guardianship - people/persons who take care, protect and nurture the environment - sky, sea and earth. At Uplands we teach the children how to be Kaitiakitanga. Showing them the importance of, and how to take care of our planet. Planting and gardening is a big part of that.

Under teacher supervision, our children use carpentry tools to create with wood and nails. Bob's House allows our children the flexibility of adding ‘walls’ and ‘windows’ to an existing structure. Through indoor blocks and our outdoor waffle blocks, children explore numerous mathematical concepts, engage in problem solving, spatial reasoning and so much more either individually or co-operatively.

Children love moving and movement and being physically active is an important part of everyday life. Physical activity promotes children’s mental and emotional health as well as their physical well-being. We add planks and climbing structures to our moveable equipment. Obstacle courses develop gross motor skills, while our wagons and trucks encourage co-operative play as children take turns driving, riding and pulling.