🌿 Explore Our 2026 Themes
Every term at Murray Districts Playgroup is carefully planned around an exciting theme that sparks curiosity, encourages creativity and inspires play-based learning. From sensory experiences and messy play to crafts, stories and outdoor adventures, each theme is designed to help children learn, explore and grow while creating lasting memories with their families.
Take a look back at the wonderful memories we’ve made and see what’s coming up next!
🌱 Current & Upcoming Theme
🧪 Term 4 2026 – Small Scientists 🚀
We’re ready to finish the year with a bang as we step into Term 4 – Small Scientists! Over the next 9 weeks, our little scientists will explore, experiment and discover through a mix of hands-on activities, sensory play and plenty of messy fun.
From space and planets to light, colour, potions and exciting experiments, each week will bring something new for curious little minds to investigate. And of course, as we get closer to the end of the year, we’ll swap our lab coats for a little Christmas magic, with festive sensory play, crafts and activities to finish off another wonderful year at playgroup. 🔬🪐🧪🎄
As always, activities will be designed to be age-appropriate, hands-on and all about learning through play – with plenty of opportunities to mix, pour, fizz, create and explore! ✨
📸 Our 2026 Journey
💦 Term 1 • Wonderous Water
“Making a splash through play, imagination and discovery!”
Our Wonderous Water theme took families on an exciting adventure across oceans, rivers, icy landscapes and magical underwater worlds. Throughout the term, children explored a variety of water-inspired sensory experiences including boat building, beach play, pirate adventures, ocean floor exploration, calming water play, mermaid-themed sensory tubs and deep-sea discovery.
Our creative activities brought the theme to life with plate boats, handprint penguins, glittering jellyfish, decorative ocean animals, mermaid crowns, watercolour spray art and bunny rabbit potato stamping as we celebrated both our theme and seasonal events like Easter.
From penguins on the ice to pirates on the high seas and shimmering mermaids beneath the waves, every week encouraged children to learn through play, develop their creativity, build confidence and create lasting memories with friends and family.
📸 Browse our favourite moments from Wonderous Water below
🦁 Term 2 • Creatures of the World
“Exploring amazing animals from every corner of the globe!”
Our little explorers travelled the world through play as they discovered incredible creatures from land, sea and sky. Throughout the term we fluttered with feathered friends, embraced muddy sensory adventures, celebrated Australia’s unique wildlife, explored farmyard favourites, ventured deep into the jungle, unearthed prehistoric dinosaurs, and finished with a peaceful pond celebration.
Each week was filled with hands-on sensory play, creative crafts, messy play, storytelling, music, nature exploration and imaginative adventures that encouraged curiosity, confidence and a love of learning. From fluffy feathers and cute critters to dinosaurs, butterflies, frogs and farm animals, every session inspired our children to discover the amazing world around them while building friendships through play.
📸 Browse our favourite moments from Creatures of the World below
📚 Term 3 2026 – A World of Books
"Bringing much-loved stories to life through imagination, creativity and play!"
Our term 3 theme took our little readers on a story-filled adventure, bringing a different children’s book to life each week through sensory play, messy experiences, creative activities and plenty of imagination.
Throughout the term, we hopped into the garden with Peter Rabbit, went on adventures with Hairy Maclary, explored colour and individuality with Elmer, discovered animals at The Waterhole, and enjoyed plenty of hands-on sensory fun inspired by That’s Not My… and Jelly Had a Wobble.
We also celebrated Father’s Day with Tiny Trucks, sprinkled a little magic into playgroup with Fairy Beach, explored the colours and stories of Rainbow Serpent, and finished our book-filled journey with I Am Unique, celebrating all the wonderful things that make each of our children special.
From colourful crafts and story-inspired sensory tubs to messy play and imaginative adventures, each week encouraged our children to explore, create, discover and build a love of stories through play.
📷 Browse our favourite moments from A World of Books below
⭐ Looking Ahead…
Every term brings something new to discover, but one thing always stays the same—our welcoming community, play-based learning and the friendships made along the way.
We can’t wait to see what adventures the rest of 2026 has in store!
