Knowledge and Understanding of the World
In the Cultural area, the child is introduced to aspects of the world using a hands-on approach. This allows the child to absorb information in a natural manner, encourages the child to observe what goes on around him/her, and helps the child to begin to make sense of it all. In addition, learning the true names of real things and seeing relationships is a meaningful way for the child to begin to understand and view the world.
In Life Science the child uses models, specimens, pictures, classroom pets and plants to begin to identify, match, and classify things in the environment. There is some investigation of the external parts of vertebrates and plants using observations of living samples and specimens and nomenclature materials. Life cycles of plants and animals are introduced through classroom observations and sequence cards.
Earth Science includes the naming, matching and sorting of rock and mineral specimens and daily observation and recording of the weather.
In Physical Science the child has hands-on experiences in the investigation and observation of matter such as in Sink/Float or Magnetic/Non-magnetic activities.
Astronomy is introduced concretely in our “Birthday Celebration”. The child symbolically walks around the sun for every year of their life.
Geography includes an introduction to the Geo-sphere (land, air and water) the land/water and continent globes, puzzle maps of the world and individual continents, mapping activities, land and water forms, and an introduction to climate/environment areas of the world. The study of the continents gives hands-on experience in making maps and flags, dressing in costumes, music, dance, art, stories and dramatizations and the investigation of a people through artefact boxes and the occasional guest speaker.
History includes personal time-lines and time-lines of plants and animals, and the study of the passage of time with clocks and timers.
