Reminiscing Our Adventures in Early Years’ Learning This Year
A peek into Prakriti’s playful and inspiring learning environment by facilitators of Red, Blue & Green Groups (2.5-6 year olds)
Red Group: Playful Beginnings
In the Red Group, our youngest learners come first. We create a warm and welcoming space where they feel safe to explore and grow. Learning is all about fun and discovery, with lots of hands-on experiences that keep their senses engaged. It's like a giant playdate where they learn through play!
Feeling secure at school is crucial
We focused on building strong bonds with each child, encouraging independence in daily living skills while providing ample opportunities for sensory exploration and free play. Forming positive relationships with their facilitators, the 'didis,' and their peers is also essential in fostering a supportive learning environment.
Our initial goals include a smooth transition
into the classroom routine and helping children adjust to the school schedule, including separation from their parents. Once comfortable, the focus shifted towards developing a sense of autonomy in everyday tasks like handwashing, managing their shoes, and carrying their belongings. We integrated a variety of activities, including pre-reading and pre-writing exercises, music, songs, storytelling, and engaging games that nurture both gross and fine motor skills.
Throughout the year, we worked collaboratively with parents, recognizing their vital role in the educational process. Our ongoing observations provided valuable insights into areas for further development, allowing us to adapt our strategies as needed.
Thematic integration is a cornerstone of our curriculum,
creating a well-rounded learning experience. At the end of each theme, we had a fun puzzle challenge, an outdoor game, or a memory game to see how much they've learned. It's all about celebrating their progress!
The Red Group is all about creating a fun and stimulating environment where young learners can thrive. We focus on building a strong foundation by fostering independence, a love of learning, and a strong partnership with parents.
I believe when the learning is fun for learners and for facilitators, only then it reaches them. Initially, when children join, we work individually with them. But later, after some time, I just take the name of the group or give them an instruction through a song, and all of them listen. I feel like a Pied Piper!
-Madhumita Singh
I am a facilitator in Red Group. This was the first time I interacted with such young learners. I have learned that young learners learn a lot through exploration. I believe learning should be fun and enjoyable.
-Tanu Singh
Blue Group: Fun-learning Projects
Every child is unique, and their learning journey should be too. This is the philosophy that guides our teaching in the Blue Group, where we focus on fostering not just academic skills, but also independence, confidence, and social comfort. Our approach hinges on "fun with learning" – a blend of play-based activities and engaging methods like storytelling and games. This creates an inclusive environment where every child feels comfortable to participate and express themselves.
Understanding individual learning styles is key
One instance involved a group struggling with Hindi alphabets. Recognizing them as auditory learners, we created audio recordings of letters and words, which significantly improved their grasp within a week.
New challenges are a constant source of inspiration. Helping children transition from a free home environment to a structured classroom requires a gentle approach. This year, solving mazes proved tricky for the Blue Group. To bridge the gap, we built a maze with dining hall tables, then progressed to a 3D maze using cardboard. Finally, the children effortlessly conquered paper mazes, proving the power of hands-on learning.
Project-based learning plays a vital role
Activities like setting up a market or creating a park drain not only teach concepts like day and night, but also hone critical thinking, problem-solving, and fine motor skills.
Developing both fine and gross motor skills is crucial & we achieve this through activities like playing with clay, balancing exercises, and throwing balls. One popular activity involved throwing balls at an upside-down umbrella, encouraging aim and coordination. Mastering somersaults, or front rolls, was another highlight (as showcased on sports day) . Seeing each child achieve this skill with a bright smile was a moment of pure joy.
Assessment is an ongoing process. We monitor each child's progress, providing tailored support to address specific needs. For children with shorter attention spans, we utilize stories and props to maintain focus. Witnessing our learners blossom into independent, confident learners who are unafraid to express themselves is the most rewarding aspect of our job. The Blue Group's journey is a testament to the power of a nurturing and playful learning environment.
I am a facilitator in the Blue group, guiding children of 3 to 4 yrs. My teaching method revolves around the 3F approach: Friendly, Fun and Filled with a pitara of stories. My aim is the journey of each child should be from dependent to independent, secured, confident and socially comfortable.
-Gunjan Bhatia
As a facilitator of the Blue group, I have learned that young learners love to learn while exploring with their hands, observing the environment and playing. My teaching method is fun with learning or playing with learning and brings inclusivity in the classroom.
-Shruti Gupta
Green Group: Happiness Blooms in Learning by Doing
Our Green Group classroom is a joyful haven where young minds blossom. The core belief is that happiness is key to unlocking a child's potential. Social and emotional well-being is a priority we work towards building Strong Hearts and Minds. We use captivating stories and real-life experiences to spark discussions about important topics. These stories might explore themes like friendship or overcoming challenges. By unraveling concepts through relatable narratives, children develop essential social skills and emotional intelligence.
Art and craft activities are a fundamental element of our Green Group experience and we use it to unleash creativity through exploration. Children have ample opportunities to express themselves freely, experimenting with various materials and techniques. Imagine a classroom buzzing with artistic energy as they create their own masterpieces!
Inclusive communication is vital. We interact with our students in both English and Hindi. "Bubble time” allows us to connect with each child individually. During this dedicated time, we might discuss a story, solve a simple puzzle, or even create a short rhyme. This personalized approach helps us identify their strengths and interests.
Experiential learning is the key
We design activities that allow children to explore concepts in a hands-on way. For example, we might use building blocks to create a structure, then reflect on the experience to solidify their understanding of shapes and spatial reasoning. This approach ensures learning goes beyond memorization.
Fair assessment is crucial. Before evaluating, we ensure they've had ample opportunities to explore the concepts. We establish clear goals at the beginning of the year, and our assessments track their progress against those criteria.
We attempt to create a warm environment by keeping a positive attitude. Perhaps the most unique aspect is the focus on natural resources. We incorporate leaves, twigs, and pebbles into creative learning activities, fostering a love for the natural world.
The Green Group is a vibrant space where happiness and exploration go hand in hand. By nurturing creativity, social-emotional skills, and a connection with nature, we witness our young learners blossom into confident and curious individuals.
I was taking care of Green Group in the session 2023-24. In the last two years, I have been deeply rooted in the Prakriti system and beliefs. Seeing happy children gives me a feeling of contentment. I believe happiness is the first step towards learning.
-Deepika Kumar
This year I learned a lot with this age group by accepting the challenges that came my way and working with appropriate strategies for those. Seeing the successes of those strategies gave me a huge sense of confidence and satisfaction
- Charulata Bisht
Actually brought a smile to the face. Videos are a testimony to fun with learning, creativity, energy, connection with nature and happiness the article speaks of. The 3F approach is rather interesting covering academic and socio-emotional aspects of the children's learning. Would love to explore this more in detail. The assessment here forms a critical element of the process. Would be lovely to read and article of how it happens for red blue and green groups. :)