Imagine children who continually question why things look and function the way that they do. Where their natural sense of wonder is at the Centre of their learning and informs the direction it will take. Where the children’s formative conceptions are welcomed as opportunities for idea development. Where knowledge is dynamic, collectively constructed, and informed by many sources instead of ensconced in a single setting/environment. Where information is investigated, analyzed and negotiated through verbal discussions with their peers. Where children are invested in the learning process because they have been given a key role in directing how and what they will learn. Where children learn from each other and where the teacher also learns from the children. This is inquiry based learning, it is formulated around the topics that peak the children’s interests. It is an approach that is always present in our Jasper room community.
This approach is part of the cycle that falls into the realms of Environmental Inquiry. The children of Jasper room have been immersed in the ever-changing landscape around their environments, we have begun to dive into discussions regarding the earth and the plant and life cycles of animals and humans alike, the differences between them and the intricacies that each cycle holds. This topic and its curios nature have allowed our friends to ponder many different questions such as how and why plants need water and sunlight to grow, as to why some animals are herbivores while others prefer carnivorous meals. It is these types of questions that we will be investigating in the following weeks of inquiry, stay tuned to see what we learn next. Hope you all have a wonderful weekend 🙂