THEMUSEUMOF MAGICALTHINGS
WHERE LEARNING BECOMES AN ADVENTURE AT THE ECC
THE MUSEUM OF MAGICAL THINGS
“At the ISB Early Childhood Centre, our imagination becomes reality.InsidetheMuseumofMagicalThings,ourdramateacher CarlRobinsoninviteschildrenintoaworldwherecuriosityleads theway,andimaginationunlocksendlesspossibilities.”
WHAT IS THE MUSEUM OF MAGICAL THINGS?
The Museum of Magical Things is a room filled with stories, adventures and imagination This immersive environmentprovidesaspaceforlaunching,extending,andcelebratingtheactivitieswearealreadydoing, andwillnowbeabletodoaspartofthedramaandexpressiveartscurriculum.Presentedasamuseumof objects, costumes, and all manner of wonderful miscellaneous odds and ends, this will be a classroom for studentstovisitandexploreaspartoftheirdramatime
WHAT FIRST INSPIRED YOU TO CREATE THIS SPECIAL SPACE FOR ECC STUDENTS?
In 2024, I was fortunate to go to the Immersive Learning Festival in London as part of my professional development. Hosted by the worldrenownedimmersivetheatrecompanyPunchdrunk, the festival explored innovative and exciting ways that immersive theatre could be integrated into education.
The idea came from one of their projects where they turn a classroom into a magical library for a week. I wanted to do something similar, but saw an opportunity to have a permanent installation which could benefitstudentsformanyyearstocome
WHAT MAKES THE MUSEUM OF MAGICAL THINGS DIFFERENT FROM A TYPICAL CLASSROOM SPACE?
Asidefromtherebeingnochairsortablesintheroom,thelightsaredimandmulticoloured,thefurnitureis antique and the walls and shelves are filled with fantastical, strange, and intriguing things. Many of these things feature in the stories and experiences which make up the drama curriculum, and connect to other aspectsofthestudents'learning
WHAT IS NARRATIVE IMMERSION? HOW DO YOU USE NARRATIVE IMMERSION TO HELP CHILDREN FEEL LIKE THEY ARE PART OF THE STORY?
Narrative immersion is an important part of my pedagogy and is the backbone of our integrated drama curriculum Stories, imagination, and play are all integral to the human experience Narrative Immersion is an approach which brings the power of stories and imagined worlds into learning experiences It places studentsandtheirteachersinrolesthatigniteexcitementandextendlearning.Thesharingofstoriesisone of the fundamental ways we understand and connect to the world around us Framing our content using storiescanbeanexcellentwaytonotonlyengageourstudents,butalsotohelpthemconnectlearningto theirownstories.
WHY
DO YOU THINK IMAGINATION AND CURIOSITY ARE SO POWERFUL IN EARLY
CHILDHOOD LEARNING?
For children, imagination is natural, essential even They learn through play and role-play, and so what betterwaytoguidethemthroughtheirlearninginschoolthanbyharnessingthis Givingstudentsthepower toaskbigquestionsandtotrytoanswerthemindividuallyandcollaborativelywillgivethemtheskillstodo thisthroughouttheirlife.
WHAT MESSAGE WOULD YOU LIKE TO SHARE WITH PARENTS ABOUT THE POWER OF IMAGINATION IN THEIR CHILDREN’S LEARNING JOURNEY?
Imaginationisnotjustplay–it’showchildrenmakesenseoftheworld.Whenwenurturetheircreativityand curiosity,we’rehelpingthembuildconfidence,empathy,andproblem-solvingskills TheMuseumofMagical Things is a space where children feel empowered to explore, invent, and express themselves I would encourageparentstoembracetheirchild’simaginativethinking,askopen-endedquestions,andcelebrate thestoriestheycreate–becausethesestoriesarethefoundationoflifelonglearning
HOW DOES THIS PROJECT FIT INTO ISB'S MISSION TO PERSONALISE LEARNING FOR EVERY
CHILD?
The Museum of Magical Things is designed to be flexible and responsive to the dynamic curriculum, which adapts based on the needs of each class By using narrative immersion, we create experiences that allow children to take ownership of their learning journey. Whether they’re drawn to storytelling, role-play, or collaborative problem-solving, the space adapts to their needs. This aligns perfectly with ISB’s mission to personaliselearning–ensuringthateverychildfeelsseen,heard,andinspired
“THIS IS WHERE EVERY SPARK OF IMAGINATION OPENS THE DOOR TO A