Planting little seeds

Every Monday morning is an adventure at Ellinbank Primary School.

The children leap from log to log and forage for revolting ingredients to create their own Wombat Stew.

They giggle as they pretend to eat the pond weed. They peer into the pot and debate in serious tones whether their stew is ready.

It is all part of the Little-seeds Bush Arts Transition program at the school, which has attracted a lot of local interest with many followers on the program’s Facebook page and the program almost at capacity.

Local parents have embraced the opportunity to connect with their children in the natural environment.

The program weaves elements of the arts into bush play in a child-led and exploration-based environment. The children dance and sing with wooden instruments and use the arts facilities of the school while enjoying the adjacent bushland play areas.

The program provides one of the few opportunities in the local area for a bridge between nature-based free play and the school environment.

The students from Ellinbank Primary keenly await their opportunity to assist, providing cross-age leadership and friendships to their Littleseeds companions.

The Littleseeds children wonder what joys each new session will bring in an exciting program to begin their education for the week.

Eli Twinning, Ivy Chugg, Lily Morris, teacher Jo Kondo, and Charlie van Kaathoven prepare their pot for the fire.

Left: Lily Morris, Luke Garner, Beatrice Etherington, Willow Chugg and Ivy Chugg make wombat stew.

Luke Garner explores his creativity in a natural bush setting during a session of the Littleseeds Bush Arts Transition program.

Lily Morris, Josie Monk, Beatrice Ethrington, and Ivy Chugg explore during the Littleseeds program.

Left: Willow Major takes a liking to the pond weed.

Above: Arwen Phillips explores in the garden.

Above: Luke Garner, Charlie van Kaathoven and Lily Morris water a pot plant.

Rosie Marshall collects some kindling.