I've always found it inspirational to take a peek at other educator invitations and provocations for early learning.
Sometimes we just need a little help to think outside the box and use the materials and spaces we already have available in different ways to engage and connect with young children.
Some elements will work for the resources, environments and children you currently work with...and some won't. But it's always interesting to take a look through a different lens at how others approach early learning experiences, activities and environment setups.
My advice to educators though is always 'keep it simple' and REALISTIC.
And that's why I'm so thankful to have a group filled with thousands of diverse, creative and generous people - all with an interest in early childhood and early learning.
With that in mind I'm so pleased to introduce you to our new monthly series...
Community Spotlight - Playful Ideas FROM Educators FOR Educators
Each month I'll be selecting some of the most engaging ideas from our Empowered Educator Facebook Group and sharing them with you.
I will feature amazing activities and ideas from REAL educators participating in our group and social communities...so let's get started and take a look at Community Spotlight #1....
![educator invitations and provocations Educator Invitations and Provocations for early learning - Ideas for Bee Week, National Reconciliation Week, Pirates,](https://www.theempowerededucatoronline.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/bee-week.png)
World Bee Day Setups and Invitations to Play
![world bee day Educator Invitations and Provocations for early learning - Ideas for Bee Week, National Reconciliation Week, Pirates,](https://www.theempowerededucatoronline.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/world-bee-day.png)
Last month we celebrated World Bee Day. World Bee Day celebrates our hard-working little pollinators and it was lovely to see many Empowered Ed members making bees the focus of the week.
Along with the invitations and provocations, educators actively encouraged bees to their own gardens too. You can see their work below:
Anju from Sai Family Daycare shared this BEE-utiful idea ...
![Bee week setup early learning provocations Bee Week setups early learning Anju](https://www.theempowerededucatoronline.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/Anju-14.jpg)
Shared by Anju from Sai Family Daycare
Anushka from Om Family Day Care shared this colourful bee themed provocation with us.
![world bee day early years provocation World Bee Day setup ideas early learning](https://www.theempowerededucatoronline.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/Anushka-Om-Family-Day-Care.jpg)
Shared by Anushka - Om Family Day Care
Debbie shared that they celebrated World Bee Day by creating awareness of the plight of our Bee population and their value to the environment.
The parents participated by planting a flower in a recycled pot and taking it home to their garden
![Educator Invitations and Provocations for early learning - Ideas for Bee Week, National Reconciliation Week, Pirates, World Bee Day invitation to play](https://www.theempowerededucatoronline.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/Debbie-McFallan.jpg)
Shared by Debbie McFallan
If you want to encourage bees and other living creatures to your garden this post I shared recently has lots of child friendly ideas.
National Reconciliation Week Activities
![National Reconciliation Week Educator Invitations and Provocations for early learning - Ideas for Bee Week, National Reconciliation Week, Pirates,](https://www.theempowerededucatoronline.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/National-Reconciliation-Week.png)
National Reconciliation Week was a topic of discussion in our groups last week and Reconciliation Australia’s theme for 2021, More than a word. Reconciliation takes action urges the reconciliation movement towards braver and more impactful action. The Reconciliation Australia website has some resources that are worth checking out.
Below you can see some of the ways our Empowered Ed members focused on National Reconciliation Week.
The images below were shared by Anju from Sai Family Day Care
![Anju 5](https://www.theempowerededucatoronline.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/Anju-5.jpg)
![Anju 8](https://www.theempowerededucatoronline.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/Anju-8.jpg)
![Anju 12](https://www.theempowerededucatoronline.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/Anju-12.jpg)
![Anju 7](https://www.theempowerededucatoronline.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/Anju-7.jpg)
![Anju 10](https://www.theempowerededucatoronline.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/Anju-10.jpg)
![Sai 2](https://www.theempowerededucatoronline.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/Sai-2.jpg)
Vicki from Little Nature's Family Day Care shared how they focused on National Reconciliation week.
![Vicki Rogato 4](https://www.theempowerededucatoronline.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/Vicki-Rogato-4.jpg)
![Vicki Rogato 2](https://www.theempowerededucatoronline.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/Vicki-Rogato-2.jpg)
![Vicki Rogato 3](https://www.theempowerededucatoronline.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/Vicki-Rogato-3.jpg)
Invitations and Provocations
I love taking a peek into our member's environments and I know you'll love seeing what they've been up to as well. Check out some of these fun ideas below.
Abigail from Learning Through Play Family Day Care showed us how the children were having fun with the tuff tray. You can find more community tuff tray ideas HERE.
![tuff tray sensory play setup early learning water table sensory table ideas](https://www.theempowerededucatoronline.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/Abigail-Brown-Leraning-Through-Play-Family-Day-Care.jpg)
Shared by Abigail from Learning Through Play Family Day Care
Anju didn't let the fact that we don't get snow stop her from setting up a snow sensory bin - shaving cream was a fun alternative.
![winter sensory tray setup Educator Invitations and Provocations for early learning - Ideas for Bee Week, National Reconciliation Week, Pirates,](https://www.theempowerededucatoronline.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/Anju-Sai-Family-Day-Care.jpg)
Shared by Anju from Sai Family Day Care
Cindy from Cindy's Family Day Care had children asking for a pirate theme and she certainly delivered one! How much fun does this look! I'm sure a lot of imaginative play took place there. See some more fun ways to encourage dramatic play HERE.
![role play pirates setup pirate boat setup for ealry learning](https://www.theempowerededucatoronline.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/Cindy-Sutton-Cindys-family-daycare.jpg)
Shared by Cindy from Cindy's Family Day Care
Everyone LOVED this idea from Desi from Little Mini Lighthouse Family Day Care - she used old frames and added them to her sensory invitations - what a great idea!
Try an op shop or garage sale to get your own frames or ask parents for donations.
![transient art frames early learning sensory drawing fine motor activity for early learning](https://www.theempowerededucatoronline.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/Desi-4.jpg)
Shared by Desi from Little Mini Lighthouse Family Day Care
Desi also explored Norway and the Northern lights. The children had lots of fun making different coloured lights on the blinds.
The children also enjoyed exploring the doll and different pictures like the colourful houses in Norway. What a beautiful idea!
![northern lights / southern lights set up invitation to play Educator Invitations and Provocations for early learning - Ideas for Bee Week, National Reconciliation Week, Pirates,](https://www.theempowerededucatoronline.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/Desi-2.jpg)
Shared by Desi from Little Mini Lighthouse Family Day Care
Another popular idea was this upcycled art activity from Desi - painting on old records. Just make sure you're not painting over a valued classic!
![painting on records upcycle art ideas early leanring provocations painting on records](https://www.theempowerededucatoronline.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/Desi-6.jpg)
Shared by Desi from Little Mini Lighthouse Family Day Care
Rachael had a mini beast focus and made this engaging mini beast small world. The children then chose a mini beast to paint.
![mini beast small world and painting mini beast small world and painting](https://www.theempowerededucatoronline.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/Rachael-Honeysett-mini-beast-small-world-play-and-painting.jpg)
Shared by Rachael Honeysett
Rebecca set up some sensory and messy fun with chia slime. You can find a chia slime recipe HERE or see some of my favorite child safe slime recipes HERE.
![making chia Slime Educator Invitations and Provocations for early learning - Ideas for Bee Week, National Reconciliation Week, Pirates,](https://www.theempowerededucatoronline.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/REbecca-Wild-chai-Slime.jpg)
Shared by Rebecca Wild
We always love upcycling boxes and items from the junk box and this car wash small world from Vicki looks like fun! See more upcycled cardboard box ideas HERE.
![Car wash small world play Car wash small world play](https://www.theempowerededucatoronline.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/Vicki-Rogato-9.jpg)
Shared by Vicki from Little Nature's Family Day Care
Tammy also upcycled some cardboard (and added some bubble wrap too) for a fun and messy painting experience.
![invitations and provocations with boxes cardboar box painting with bubblewrap](https://www.theempowerededucatoronline.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/Tammy-Stuart.jpg)
Shared by Tammy Stuart
![small world farm play Educator Invitations and Provocations for early learning - Ideas for Bee Week, National Reconciliation Week, Pirates,](https://www.theempowerededucatoronline.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/Rachel-George.jpg)
Shared by Rachel George
Want to be featured in our next monthly Community Spotlight? Share you photos in the Empowered Educator Facebook Group and you might just see your work featured here next month.
![](https://www.theempowerededucatoronline.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/11/pin-for-later-arrow.png)
![educator invitations and provocations reconciliation week Educator Invitations and Provocations for early learning - Ideas for Bee Week, National Reconciliation Week, Pirates,](https://www.theempowerededucatoronline.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/bee-week-pin.png)
A Little About Me
![20210507_105014 (1)](https://www.theempowerededucatoronline.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/05/20210507_105014-1.jpg)
Jodie Clarke is an early childhood professional supporting educators who want and need to stay passionate about the work they do! She has 30 years hands-on experience in the early childhood and human services sectors across many different roles.
Jodie is mum to 3 in Australia and has already helped thousands of educators with their work through her popular blog posts, activity ideas, online training and e-books.
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