This week, the Deer class has explored the Unit of Inquiry (UOI): "Sharing the Planet." Our focus has been on understanding the distinctions between pets, farms, and wild animals. We have engaged in meaningful discussions about the importance of interacting with animals in ways that ensure the safety of both ourselves and the animals we encounter. Emphasising the values of kindness and compassion, we concluded our exploration by collectively acknowledging that all animals, regardless of their categorisation, deserve to be treated with utmost care and empathy.

The first step on our journey was to explore the animals in our daily life. The children were enthusiastic about sharing information about their pets. To facilitate this, we created a questionnaire for the children to take home and complete with their parents over the weekend. On Monday, the children returned with their completed questionnaires, and they took turns introducing interesting facts about their pets while their peers attempted to guess the animal being described.

The Deer class has recently embarked on an exciting project of incubating chicken eggs to deepen our understanding of farm and production animals, as well as the life cycle. To document and monitor the process, we have set up observation boards where we track the temperature of the incubation chamber and record any visual changes. The children have shown great enthusiasm and have become fully engaged in this experiment. They eagerly anticipate the hatching of the eggs and the arrival of the adorable new chicks.

During our discussion on animal care and handling, the children shared numerous ways they take care of animals, such as feeding and grooming their pets at home. Inspired by their insights, we decided to teach the children how to safely handle domestic animals, particularly cats. Throughout the activity, the children learned the importance of being mindful and gentle when interacting with animals. They also observed that cats prefer not to be handled while eating. This experience proved invaluable in fostering a healthy respect for the natural world and promoting self-care among the children.