Harmony Day: Celebrating A Sense of Belonging

Outcome 2.2 Children respond to diversity with respect

Today some of our celebrations of Harmony Day looked like this:

A whole College chapel service focusing on respect and acceptance of people, despite our differences.
Romans 12:18 "If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone."
Mark 12:31 "Have love for your neighbour as for yourself."

The children explained what harmony means. It was fun to talk about this word because one of the student's name is Harmony, 

We shared a special story, called "One", by Katherine Otoshi. This story encourages not just respecting differences, but sticking up for those who are vulnerable. 

Then created a Harmony Day artwork. 

And we played. Our play focused on recognising that people can come from many different parts of the world and may have cultural differences. 

We also continued our portrait painting from yesterday. Everybody's portrait is unique! AS the children paint each other's portraits they notice and describe their features to each other. 

Does it float?

During a shared reading of the book How to Catch a Star, by Oliver Jeffers, the children became interested in sharing suggestions about things that can float. 

Later in the day we developed a spontaneous science investigation of things that sink and float. The children continued this investigation independently during play time.   

A Photography Lesson

We noticed how much the children enjoyed using the camera last week to take photographs of the dinosaurs bones. Some were more interested in the photography process than the dinosaur bones!

I was able to organise for my good friend Sharon, from Sharon's Photography, to come for a visit as an expert photographer and teach the kids about taking photos. 

 

She taught them the strategy: "up, down, not a sound." This encourages the children to take photos pointing up, or right down low, not just in the same position all the time. And when taking pictures of animals- not a sound!

She taught them a little about using the camera correctly and safely. 

Then we went for a walk to the farm to take photos. 

   

The chickens thought we had brought them some food.  

 

Here are some of the children's photographs. ..

In the afternoon we watched a video and learnt a little about how a camera actually works. This is a pretty difficult concept to convey to a child - I don't think I can completely comprehend it! But the children were able to make the connection that  a camera has a shutter (we used our hands like a crocodile snapping) and that the shutter allows light inside, which helps to create an image. They noticed in the video that when more light went in the photograph became lighter and lighter until we couldn't see it anymore.  When there was very little light, the photograph became darker and darker. 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qSY4iWmccQk

I wonder if we can make a camera?