Nurturing a child’s curiosity is at the core of our curriculum, at Green Leaves Early Learning. Guided by the Early Years Learning Framework (EYLF), our learning journeys feature age-appropriate and engaging activities that stimulate and encourage children to stay inquisitive.
Each Green Leaves centre feature warm and inviting learning hubs where children have the opportunity for exploratory play and sensory experiences. These spaces provide the perfect backdrop for Educators to weave Science, Technology, Engineering, Art, and Math (STEAM) experiences into the children’s daily activities.
On any given day children can be seen measuring liquids and solids with scales, water play to test what sinks and what floats, developing engineering skills by building super high towers, or building ball runs to learn about speed and gravity.
Before beginning activities, it’s important to ask children what they think might happen. This encourages hypothesis, investigation, and analysis. Here are some questions to ask during a STEM activity – “Why don’t you make a guess?”, “Let’s look into it!”, and “Why do you think that happened?” This is a fun way to equip children with the skills to plan, brainstorm, and solve problems – like little scientists and engineers. Being able to see, feel and experience something in real-time is an effective and exciting way to learn.
Now let’s not forget the Art component in STEAM. This component extends well beyond drawing and painting, because it encompasses all things creative such as dance, drama, music, and language, just to name a few.
At Green Leaves, the children often transform their learning hubs into a campsite, a castle, a safari, or a vet’s office. It’s limited only by their imagination and their inquiring minds. They enjoy dress-ups and dramatic play, which is a great way for children to practice language and social skills, which assists them later in life and paves the way for formal schooling. It’s also a wonderful and relaxed way for children to explore their emotions through role-modelling empathy, respect and care.
Music and language are two activities that are popular across all our centres. These incursions vary from centre to centre. Children have had the opportunity to learn Mandarin, Japanese and French. Most recently, some of our centres have added sign language to their programming. The children also explore a range of musical instruments and musical activities which teach them concepts of rhythm, tempo and pitch. Music is a wonderful way for them to develop self-expression, pattern recognition, and improve their motor skills through movement.
Our Nursery, Toddler and Kindergarten learning journeys are well-rounded and designed to give children the best possible start in their early years. To learn more about your nearest Green Leaves centre, click here.