October 2025

On Monday, 6 October 2025, the children of TK A at Al Siddiq International School took part in an enjoyable art activity during their Art & Creativity class. This activity was part of the ongoing thematic learning programme, focusing on the theme Living Things & Non-Living Things. Through a creative approach, the children were encouraged to explore and understand living things in a fun and interactive way. One of the activities carried out was creating an art piece in the shape of a tree. The children began by drawing the tree trunk using brown crayons on paper. They then continued by making the leaves using a stamping technique. The materials used for stamping were quite unique—foam, bubble wrap, and cotton buds. Each tool produced a different texture, resulting in visually interesting effects on their tree leaves. This activity was not only aimed at developing the children’s creativity but also at improving their fine motor skills. By holding crayons, pressing foam, and stamping cotton buds onto paper, the children learned to control their hand movements while recognising shapes and patterns. They also explored colour mixing and expressed their imagination through concrete visual creations. In addition to fostering motor and creative skills, this activity also supported the children’s understanding of the concept of living and non-living things. By making a picture of a tree—one example of a living thing—the children were able to better grasp its characteristics, such as having parts (trunk and leaves), growing, and needing water and sunlight. This served as a bridge between science and art lessons, combining the two in an engaging and enjoyable way. Overall, the stamping activity in the Art & Creativity class provided a rich and meaningful learning experience for the TK A children. They not only learned about trees as living things but also experienced the joy of creating through artistic expression. With this play-based learning approach, lessons became more lively, engaging, and memorable for the children.By Inka Amalia, S.Pd

The Project-Based Learning (PJBL) activity entitled “Maket House” was carried out by the children of TK A and TK B Al Siddiq International from Tuesday to Friday, 30 September – 1 October 2025. The activity took place in each classroom as part of thematic learning under the topic “My Environment”. Through the PJBL approach, the children were encouraged to learn actively and meaningfully by creating simple house models that reflected their understanding of their living environment. The main objective of this activity was to help children develop an understanding of the elements found in their surroundings, such as houses, fences, roads, trees, and yards. In addition, the activity aimed to enhance fine motor skills, cooperation, communication, and creativity as the children designed and decorated their own house models. By directly handling various materials and tools, they were able to learn in a fun, explorative, and practical way. For the TK B group, the project began on Tuesday with making houses, windows, and doors using recycled materials and craft tools. On Wednesday, they continued by creating roofs, fences, and trees. Thursday was dedicated to making roads and arranging the layout of the houses on cardboard as the base of the model. Friday served as the finishing day, where the children presented their completed projects to their teachers and classmates. Meanwhile, the TK A group started their project on Tuesday by making house walls using ice cream sticks assembled together. On Wednesday, they continued with the construction of simple roofs. On Thursday, the children added fences and grass decorations to beautify their models. Like the TK B group, Friday was dedicated to completing and presenting their finished work. The “Maket House” PJBL activity provided a joyful and meaningful learning experience for the children. They not only learned to recognise parts of a house and their surrounding environment but were also trained to think creatively, solve problems, and collaborate in groups. By engaging cognitive, socio-emotional, and motor aspects, this PJBL activity became an essential part of supporting the holistic development of early childhood learners at TK Al Siddiq International.By Inka Amalia, S.Pd

The visitation activity by assessors from the National Accreditation Board for Early Childhood Education and Non-Formal Education (BAN-PDM) was conducted at TK Al Siddiq International on Monday, 29 September 2025. The event took place at the Al Siddiq International School building and involved all key elements of the school community, including the headteacher, teachers, the school committee, education supervisors, and representatives from the Early Childhood Teachers Association (IGTK). This visitation was part of the assessment and accreditation process aimed at ensuring the quality of education in early childhood institutions. The main purpose of this visitation was to directly evaluate various aspects of educational implementation at TK Al Siddiq International — from planning to classroom instruction. Through this process, BAN-PDM assessors were able to observe how well the institution meets the national standards for early childhood education, while also providing constructive feedback for quality improvement. The assessors were responsible for verifying the data previously submitted by the school and ensuring that the documentation aligned with actual practices observed in the field. The activity began at 7:00 a.m. with a review of the daily lesson planning documents prepared by the teachers. From 8:00 to 11:00 a.m., the assessors conducted classroom observations to monitor the teaching and learning process. On that day, students participated in Art, Literacy, and Science lessons, showcasing the school’s application of thematic and interactive learning methods. Following the classroom observations, from 11:30 a.m. to 12:00 noon, the school held a brief welcoming ceremony attended by the headteacher, school director, teachers, the school committee, education supervisors, and IGTK representatives. As a gesture of appreciation and respect, the school presented the assessors with symbolic souvenirs. The session was followed by a break for prayers and lunch from 12:00 to 1:15 p.m. The visitation resumed at 1:15 p.m. with an interview session between the assessors and the teachers, lasting until 4:00 p.m. During this session, the assessors gathered in-depth information regarding teaching practices, challenges faced by teachers, and innovations implemented within the classroom. From 4:00 to 5:00 p.m., the assessors presented their findings, provided feedback, and officially concluded the visitation. The entire activity ran smoothly, warmly, and with a strong spirit of collaboration between the school and the assessors — reflecting TK Al Siddiq International’s commitment to maintaining and enhancing the quality of early childhood education.By Inka Amalia, S.Pd

On Tuesday, 23 September 2025, the Kindergarten A pupils of Al Siddiq International took part in an engaging Literacy class activity that introduced them to the basic concepts of coding. This activity was specially designed to present the fundamentals of programming in a simple and enjoyable way, by linking colours with vowel letters. The children learned to recognise patterns, establish connections between symbols (vowels) and specific colours, and complete structured instructions. The session began with the teacher distributing worksheets containing a series of vowel letters (a, i, u, e, o) to each child. Each vowel was assigned a specific colour code — for example, the letter “a” was coloured red, “i” blue, and so on. The teacher then explained the process step by step, using easy-to-understand examples. The children were encouraged to identify the letters, match them with the corresponding colour, and colour them in according to the code. After the explanation and demonstration, the teacher gave the children full independence to work on their worksheets. This stage helped develop independence, memory skills, and the ability to follow instructions autonomously. The children appeared enthusiastic and focused as they worked, even discussing with one another to make sure the colours they chose matched the correct vowel letters. Introducing the concept of coding from an early age offers many valuable benefits. One key advantage is developing logical and systematic thinking, which forms the foundation of problem-solving skills. The children also learned to recognise patterns and symbols while strengthening their early literacy skills in a fun way. Furthermore, such activities enhance concentration and self-confidence as children complete tasks independently. Overall, this activity of introducing coding through colours and vowels not only broadened the children’s knowledge but also laid an early foundation for essential 21st-century skills such as critical thinking, collaboration, and technological literacy. It served as a joyful first step in exploring the digital world through an age-appropriate and creative approach.By Inka Amalia, S.Pd

On Monday, 22 September 2025, the Kindergarten A pupils of Al Siddiq International enjoyed a fun and meaningful Art & Creativity lesson — making family photo frames. The activity took place in the Art Room, guided by both the class teacher and the art teacher. The children appeared enthusiastic as they followed each step of the process. The session began with the distribution of a sheet of paper featuring a picture of a house for each child. This paper served as the base for the photo frame they were going to create. The children were then asked to colour the picture of the house according to their own creativity. This colouring activity not only helped develop their fine motor skills but also provided a medium for them to express their imagination and emotions about the concept of “home.” After colouring, the teacher guided the children in cutting and folding specific parts of the paper. These folds were designed to form a frame resembling a house, where the family photo would later be placed. The children were visibly excited as they watched their work begin to take shape like a real photo frame. The final step was to attach their family photo inside the completed frame. The teacher had prepared each child’s photo in advance, collected earlier from their parents. With great pride, the children carefully placed their family photos into the frames they had decorated and assembled themselves. This moment became deeply personal and touching, as they could see their own family captured within a piece of art they had created. The purpose of this activity was to foster a sense of love and closeness towards their immediate family. Through it, the children were encouraged to recognise and appreciate their family members while understanding that family is the first place where they learn, grow, and feel safe. Additionally, the activity helped strengthen hand-eye coordination, introduced shapes and colours, and enhanced their ability to follow step-by-step instructions. Overall, the family photo frame-making activity was both enjoyable and educational. Beyond producing a creative artwork to take home, the children also learned to appreciate the important role their family plays in their everyday lives.By Umair Shoddiq, S.I.Kom