At today’s Padbury Picnic Club we embarked on a voyage of scientific discovery! The sun was shining and the shade was cool, so we decided to get out our water play tables. We found things, decided whether they would float or sink, and then put our theories to the test. We learned that leaves, bark, flowers and our rubber duck all float. Fairy stones didn’t fare so well…
Hands-on activities like these are lots of fun for kids – often they don’t realise just how much they are learning.
- Learning through discovery allows students to be actively involved in constructing their own understanding.
- By presenting children with questions, problems and scenarios (rather than always teaching them established facts) we can build on children’s natural curiosity and sense of wonderment;
- And by focusing on the scientific process (not just the outcome) we develop skills in communicating, reflecting, collaborating and analysing.
Inquiry-based learning is a great way to encourage early learning at home, and it is integral to our teaching philosophy at Padbury Community Kindergarten.
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