Very Curious Indeed!
Curious containers of all shapes and sizes were on display at the Tahunanui Kindergarten’s competition on Friday night 29th October. Colourful plants were sprouting from toasters, footballs, toilets, garden gloves, school bags, boots and shoes—even a birdcage! There was a teapot tightly wrapped in denim, a fireman’s helmet, and many more fabulous creations.
As part of their environmental education focus, the kindergarten teachers and the Family Liaison Group staff designed the competition to encourage the children to let their imaginations fly as they made plant containers out of re-used or recycled materials and learnt that they can have fun at no or minimal cost. The competition also had the effect of involving the whole kindergarten community, as grandparents and older siblings also got stuck in—even the teachers put in their entries. The week before the competition, the place was buzzing, with everyone discussing their works of art. The children also learnt heaps about caring for plants.
On the night, as the families shared their delicious picnic food, the judges had an impossible task; everyone had made such a big effort. “Kids, you are ALL winners!” announced Lee Corlett, an ex-parent and one of the judges. To ease the transition of older students to ‘the big school’, Carol Climo, new entrant teacher at the neighbouring Tahunanui school, was also invited as a judge. The two other judges were Sarah Langi from Waste Education Services, who was delighted that the children were learning to re-use and recycle materials that would otherwise be thrown away, and Rewa Walsh, the much-loved “Kindy Story Granny”.
There were five categories: vegetable, flower, most colourful, hanging, and most curious overall containers. All the plants in their containers will stay to decorate the kindergarten, and the nicest touch: EVERY child who entered received a prize of a certificate and a packet of seeds!
Kei te pai to all who entered into the spirit of the event and helped make the evening such fun! And I know you are dying to know which was the Most Curious Container of all: well, it was the Goat’s Skull, complete with rather large horns and adorned with flowering plants in every conceivable orifice!
Just some of the curious containers that the children used to make their plant containers!
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And the winner is… the goat’s skull complete with large horns and decorated with lots of flowers!
