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Eruptions of Curiosity and Laughter
During our recent science exercise, the kuaka tamariki had an absolute ball with the baking soda and vinegar volcano experiment. Their faces shone with excitement and curiosity as they witnessed the eruption on their trays. There was a collective gasp followed by laughter and chatter as the mixture fizzed over the top of their induvial experiments. Their inquisitive minds were fired up, full of questions and observations about the reaction. It was a lively day of energetic learning and active participation.
This activity embodied our philosophy of "Empowerment for Growth." The children were fully engaged in hands-on experiential learning, actively participating and making their own discoveries. They were building an understanding of cause and effect, an essential learning outcome according to developmental theorists like Piaget. It also provided an opportunity for peer learning and collaboration, supporting social development. Their eager responses reflect Te Whāriki’s principle of 'empowerment', which encourages children's curiosity and creativity.
Our tamariki are active explorers and we love to extend their play in every provocation we provide, the kuaka tamariki have been showing a huge interest in science and nature, science and nature play supports learning across all strands of Te Whāriki. In particular,
it supports the Exploration strand, where children learn strategies for active exploration, thinking and reasoning and develop working theories for making sense of the natural, social, physical and material worlds.