Preschool Celebrates Harmony Week

During Week Seven, the children at preschool did some learning around Harmony Day.  Harmony Day is celebrated annually on March 21st in Australia.  The overarching message of Harmony Day is 'Everyone Belongs'. It is about community participation, inclusiveness, celebrating diversity, respect and belonging.  As we have been focusing on belonging at preschool this term, it was wonderful to be able to extend the children's learning around this concept.

The children decorated a hand using paint and oil pastels.  They then placed their hands in one of the preschool's front entrance gardens, symbolising that while we are all different and special, we are all part of one community that works harmoniously together.

As well as creating our Happy Harmony Hands, the children listened to some stories including I Am Australian Too by Mem Fox and enjoyed learning some songs and dances about different ways people around the world greet each other.  Some of the greetings they learnt included Konichiwa (Japanese), Namaste (Indian), Bonjour (French), Ciao (Italian), Buenos Dias (Spanish), Guten Tag (German) Do-Brey Dien (Russian), Shalom (Hebrew), Kia Ora (Maori) and Ni Hao (Chinese).

Please see some photos below of our Happy Harmony Hands.

Below is a link to I Am Australian Too by Mem Fox so that you can listen and view the story with your family.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YAQ4lfxDxmU