Learning Stories

Creative Expression and Enjoyment through the Arts

Our learners have been engaging in sensory experiences, where they explore and expand their perceptual world through tactile sensory stimulation. This process aids in the cultivation of our powers of observation and attention, concurrently fostering cognitive development.

Through these sensory experiences, they explored by using their fingers, palms, and even their entire bodies to interact with paint. We dipped into the different paints with their fingers and subsequently tried to mix them with water, cornstarch and shaving cream.

Furthermore, they explored colour blending and transformations through various hand gestures and pressures. Throughout this exploratory process, they observe, touch, and even smell, fostering the development of multiple senses, all while experiencing the texture and temperature of the paint.

Our learners were attempting to explore the tactile sensations resulting from the mixture of paint with various objects using their hands and feet.

Children squeezed paint from the paint bottles and then blended it into the cornstarch.

When we realised both of our hands were covered in paint, we proceeded to apply the paint onto the glass door.

探索星座
在中文会议中,我们通过故事了解到在星系中还存在着很多星座,而这些星座由于
地球的旋转,还分为四季星座,共有十二个星座,也称黄道十二星座。孩子们感兴
趣自己生日的星座,于是我们在十二星座中对应自己生日的星座。

我们通过绘画和创意材料制作了自己的星座或是创作独特的星座。在过程中增强
了我们的想象力和思考能力,也了解星座的科学知识和中文汉字名称。

Exploring the Constellations
In the Chinese meeting, we connected to a story that showed us that there are many constellations in the galaxy and that these constellations are divided into four seasons and twelve different constellations due to the rotation of the Earth, known as the “zodiac signs”. The children were interested in the constellation corresponding to their birthdays, so we identified their birthday constellations.

We extended our thinking as we made our own constellations, creating unique shapes through drawing and loose parts. This enhanced our imagination and thinking skills as we learned about the science of constellations and the names of Chinese characters.

亚齐: 我是狮子座。
Yaj: I’m a Leo.
安阳: 白羊座 is like羊。
Ayan:  Aries are like sheep. 
爱丽: 我是双鱼座,是两条鱼!
Ellie: I’m a Pisces, two fish!
路卡: I am making a house星座。
Luka: I am making a house constellation. 

集体作品——宇宙图
当我们从太阳系的星球继续看向远方时,发现遥远处还存在着不同的星系和星座,而这些构成了巨大的宇宙。孩子们想要将宇宙中的不同星系、太阳、星座、彗星等元素绘制在大的黑色布料上。

在创意的过程中,我们选择了不同的工具和颜料,我们也从中发现不同的效果。锻炼了孩子们的艺术表现能力,合作能力和小肌肉发展。

Collaborative Project – Cosmic Chart
As we zoomed in the galaxy far away from the planets in our solar system, we discovered that there are more galaxies and constellations in the distance, and these make up a huge universe. The children attempted to created different galaxies, suns, constellations and comets in the universe on black fabric.

We chose different tools, materials and paints during this creative process and created different effects and marks on the fabric. The children were able to connect with their artistic expression, cooperation as well as development of their fine motor skills.

唯哈: look 我的手,有很多星星
Viha: Look my hands, there are many stars. 

凯益 (Joey): I can make a shooting star by flinging paint! 

子康: I made this星系。
Kaan: I made this galaxy. 

汤明: 橙色的星星。
Tom: The orange stars.

爱丽: I’m drawing太阳 with a brush。
Ellie: I’m drawing the sun with a brush. 

记录测量数据
Recording of measurement data

小组探究——测量
Group Inquiry – Measurement

在阅读关于宇宙的书籍时候,里面提到距离的厘米、米、千米等度量单位。孩子们问道,什么是厘米?千米有多远?于是我们先了解厘米是什么,一厘米有多长。我们尝试使用尺子测量教室中的物品,并在户外寻找感兴趣测量的物体,接着我们记录测量结果。在探究过程中,我们更加直观的理解长度和度量单位厘米的概念,并且对具体的物品记录具体的长度数量,增强了我们的数学逻辑思维和阅读中文数字的能力。

As we read books about the universe, we connected to units of measuremeant such as centimetres, meters, and kilometres. The children wondered, What is a centimetre? How far is a kilometre? We started by learning what a centimetre is and how long a centimetre is. We attempted to use rulers to measure objects in the classroom and searched for more objects outdoors that we were interested in measuring. We then documented the measurements through writing. This process supported our understanding of the concept of length, units of measure centimetre as well as which enhanced our mathematical and logic thinking and our ability to read Chinese numbers.

子康: 笔是十二厘米。
Kaan: The pen is twelve centimetres.

伟泽: 一百二十八厘米 this sofa。
Viktor: One hundred and twenty-eight centimetres for this sofa. 

凯益: This tire is五十二厘米。
Joey: This tire is 52 centimetres.

映太郎: lao shi, see this is 一百三十四厘米!
Louis: Lao Shi, see this is 134 centimetres!

唯哈: I am recording 木桩 is 二十八厘米。
Viha: I am writing this log is 28 cm. 

书写星座
Writing signs of the zodiac

你是什么星座?
What is your zodiac sign?

由于我们了解到星系中的黄道十二星座,于是孩子们对应自己的生日日期,找到自己的星座,并尝试用中文写下来。我们观察星座的不同形态,理解中文名称的意思,练习书写中文的基本笔画。

Further connecting to the zodiac signs in the galaxy, the children connected to their birth dates and found the corresponding constellations. We attempted to write them in Chinese. Connecting with the the different shapes of the constellations, we demonstrated understanding of how the shape corresponds to the Chinese names, and practised them.