Nord Anglia Education
WRITTEN BY
Nord Anglia
28 February, 2019

It's not a box! STEAM in the Early Years

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It's not a box! STEAM in the Early Years Our Foundation 1 classroom displays high level of organization, thinking, engineering and creative thinking that is coming from our 3 & 4 year old students. This is STEAM come to life in NIS Jakarta Early Years Hero Image

Inspired by Jill Murphy's book, Whatever Next!, Foundation One has been transformed into a junk modeling workshop! The Meerkats and Cheetahs have been using the power of their imaginations, as well as their creative, fine & gross motor skills to take milk cartons, yoghurt pots, cereal boxes and plastic lids (to name just a few) and transform them into 3D artworks resembling cars, jetboats, binoculars, hammers and so much more!

Within the Meerkat classroom, an entire village of houses (a.k.a. cardboard boxes) has been set up.

Each Meerkat has their own house in the village that they have decorated, numbered, named and that they have the responsibility of keeping clean each day! Permission needs to be sought if you want to enter a house that is not yours, developing the children's understanding of empathy and respect.  A true role play imaginary world has come to life and it is magical watching it unfold.

In the Cheetah classroom large boxes have been transformed into cosy reading nooks for the children to share a story or venture to for some quiet time. These quiet areas within learning environments are important for students, as they offer a secure, yet stimulating place where a child can take themselves to reflect, recharge or engage with a book. The Cheetahs are enjoying exploring their evolving reading area and an increased engagement with books has occurred across the group.

Please stop by the Foundation One classrooms and see the high level of organisation, thinking, engineering and creative thinking that is coming from our 3 and 4 year old students. This is STEAM come to life in the Early Years.

 

Domine Brown

Early Years Coordinator & Foundation 1 Teacher