POKOK Playgroup Forest School Reggio Emilia & Montessori approach combined

From matching games to sensory tracing (soy beans , coloured rice, dried fungus, etc) to illustrating on blocks and even learning Malay translations!

When you combine phonics with fine motor skills and art, the alphabet just sticks.

From playdough to river spla”sh”es! 🌊🐭 This week’s H-Blends focus was all about the Malayan Water Shrew, and we made a huge spla”sh”!

Here is how we explored the “Sh” sound:

Station 1: Storytime – Learning the tale of the elusive Malayan Water Shrew.

Station 2: Art Attack – Kids built their own water shrews using playdough, sticks, and leaves! (Look at those details! 👀)

Station 3: What’s for dinner? Matching the shrew’s prey (insects, small fish!) to their cardboard names.

Station 4: Reality check – Threats & Conservation talk & matching activity.

Station 5: “Sh” word matching with photos (Shrew, Shell, Shoe, Fish!).

We ended with a clean-up song (yes, there was dancing as well!) and the ultimate reward… a river spla”Sh”! Because nothing says “Sh” like splashing in the water after learning about a water shrew! 💦

They’re not just picking up rubbish. They’re protecting their ancestors’ backyard.

What started as a phonics walk turned into a monthly mission. When you see your homeland through a child’s eyes, you realize there’s no excuse to litter.

Let their words sink in. Listen to their message—because this forest isn’t just where they play, it’s where they live.

Thank you for the Oxo biodegradable bags that are as strong as their love for this forest. ♻️

We were told that the soil is too hard for farming. It’s made up of hard clay and nothing grows.

A little googling, farm consultation with , lots of hardwork, patience and love & care later, we harvested our first crop! Can’t wait to incorporate this into our lesson plan 🤭

Here’s a step-by-step process of how we did it :

Step 1 : Looked for a spot with atleast 8 hours of sunshine

Step 2 : Made a raised bed by aerating the soil to about 5” thick.

Step 3 : Mulched the soil with shredded dried leaves. (Initially we shredded with hands and now use a grass cutting machine)

Step 4 : Fertilized the soil with compost and compost water (diluted to 1:10 ratio)

Step 5 : Added DIY homemade garlic pesticide to the soil

Step 6 : Planted a cover plant (pegaga)

Step 7 : Sowed Pak Choy seeds in seedling tray

Step 8 : Transplanted seedlings to raised bed

Step 9 : Water twice daily. (We use rice washed water once a day)

Step 10 : Daily monitoring and spray garlic pesticide when necessary

Step 11 : Harvested after 6 weeks. We cut only the leaves so that they can continue growing.

Hippo School was in session! Here’s what our junior conservationists learned:

💦 THE PROBLEM: A highway and a polluted river! We had to rescue it by segregating plastics, metal, and fishing nets. ♻️

🌿 THE SOLUTION: A safe passage! They decorated a wildlife corridor so animals can cross roads safely. Connecting habitats = saving species!

🦷 HIPPO IVORY: We brushed their giant teeth (used for fighting, not eating!) and learned why we must protect them from poachers.

💖 PINK SWEAT: Yes, it’s real! Hippos produce their own sunscreen. Our kids loved squirting “hipposudoric acid” to keep their hippo cool.

And of course, a true hippo day isn’t complete without a glorious MUD SPLASH and a final RIVER SPLASH to clean up! 🦛💦

Who says learning can’t be this much fun? This is how we build a generation of planet-heroes. ❤️

What’s your favorite way to mix play and purpose? 👇

Taman Kajang Prima: The 3km trail that packs a PUNCH! 🥊 Here’s the 60-second recap:

⏱️ Moving Time: 47 mins
📈 Elevation Gain: 62m (feels like 162m, ngl)
👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 Crew: 5 brave little hikers
🐒 Wildlife: Dusky Leaf Monkeys, Green Lizard, Flowers & Mushrooms!
🦟 Uninvited Guests: ALL the mosquitoes.

A short but challenging trail that’s 100% worth it for the jungle vibe and wildlife sightings right near the city! Just remember your repellent. 🧴

Ready to conquer it? Save this for your next adventure!