RIGHT: Alva Chong
LEARNING IN
LITTLE LAND
FROM THE MOMENT YOU ENTER OUR PETER ARNEY EARLY LEARNING CENTRE, YOU CAN SEE, HEAR AND FEEL A LEVEL OF EXCITEMENT AND JOY AS OUR YOUNGEST STUDENTS LEARN THROUGH EXPLORATION AND PLAY.
Curiosity is innate in our Kindergarten and Preprimary girls as they move from specially-designed provocations carefully planned and prepared by their teachers, through to playground scenarios and adventures in nature within the neighbouring Trigg Bushland Reserve during Bush School. From an early age, children ‘wonder’ about everything that surrounds them. As educators, our main objective is to provide diverse learning opportunities through play for children to learn, as they discover, create, improvise and imagine. Play provides a supportive environment where children can ask questions, solve problems and engage in critical thinking. Through the Early Years Learning Framework, we believe that building upon children's experiences and prior knowledge provides the best foundation for learning in early childhood.
Q. What kinds of things are you curious about? “What does God look like?” Alexis “The human body.” Veeya “How much fuel it takes a rocket to get to the moon and back?” Scarlett “Why the moon has less gravity and how God made the world and how God began?” Emily “How you put pictures in lockets and how secrets are made.” Elise
Fundamental to the framework is a view of children's lives as characterised by belonging, being and becoming. The students in our Kindergarten and Pre-primary are actively engaged in their learning, and this enables them to develop greater self-awareness and understanding of the world in which they live. Learning experiences focus on the development of literacy and numeracy skills with a strong emphasis on the girls’ gross and fine motor development. Our dynamic learning programmes aim to create curious, confident, independent learners, who can also work well in a group. Our girls are encouraged to think independently, to embrace new challenges, to work collaboratively, to build new friendships and to celebrate their successes. At the end of each year, the Early Learning Centre showcases the students’ art works with a family evening picnic and art show. This is a unique social event on the calendar as our young girls take their parents and extended family members on a guided tour of their many creative masterpieces. Curiosity and creativity have also been ‘front and centre’ to learning during the myriad of bush adventures enjoyed during the cooler months in Trigg Reserve. Our girls have gained invaluable experiences as they discover and interact with plants, animals and terrain as part of their weekly programme during Bush School. Geraldine Drabble Junior School Deputy Head (Curriculum)
Feature: Creating Curious Minds Through the Arts and Humanities
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