In today's rapidly changing world, education is no longer just about imparting knowledge, but also about fostering abilities. For children in the kindergarten stage, inquiry-based learning is particularly important as it provides them with a foundation to explore, discover, and understand the world. The International Baccalaureate (IB) inquiry curriculum emphasizes a student-centered approach to learning, encouraging children to actively participate in the learning process through questioning, exploration, and reflection. Implementing UOI (Unit of Inquiry) in the kindergarten stage not only stimulates children's curiosity and desire for knowledge but also helps them develop problem-solving and critical thinking skills.

让我们一起来看看厦门华锐莱普顿幼儿园的小朋友们本月的探究之旅中，他们都有怎样的收获和成长吧！

Let's take a look at the exploration journey of the children from Chiway Repton Kindergarten Xiamen this month, and see what they have achieved and grown from.

K1 Australia班级近期开展了一项极具吸引力的探索活动，深入探讨了交通领域的奥秘。这次旅程开始于一个简单却发人深思的问题：“你每天是怎么来幼儿园的？”很快，小朋友们纷纷发言，在讨论中，我们发现每个人的出行方式根据需求会有所不同。

The K1 Australia class  recently embarked on an exciting journey of discovery, exploring the fascinating world of transportation! Our adventure began with a simple question: "How do you get to school?" We quickly discovered that everyone travels in different ways and that people move around for many reasons.

对于K1 Australia班级来说，汽车是最普遍的交通工具，但我们也意识到，每辆汽车有着各自的特点。我们比较了出租车与私家车的区别，而Ellie老师的分享更是给这次活动增添了意外之喜——她分享了自己骑电动自行车上下班的经历。

Cars were the most popular mode of transport for our class, but we learned that not all cars are the same. We discussed the difference between taxis and the cars our families drive, and Teacher Ellie surprised us by sharing that she rides an e-bike to school!

随着探索的深入，我们的视野从陆地扩展到了天空和大海，研究了各式各样的交通工具，包括它们的工作机制和特点。首先，我们以海洋为主题，用不同形状的纸张制作船只模型，以此激发同学们的创造力；同时，大家还画出了想象中能在水面上行驶的各种神奇交通工具。

Our exploration then took off as we investigated different vehicles that travel by land, air, and sea. We discovered how each type of vehicle works and what makes them unique. Our first stop was the sea, where we put our creative skills to the test by building boats out of different shapes of paper. We also drew pictures of all the amazing things we think travel on water.

接着，我们将目光投向天空，学习了飞机和直升机，了解了它们的特殊功能以及它们如何在空中飞行。最后，我们再次回到地面，调查了从汽车、公共汽车到火车和自行车等各种陆地交通工具。我们将车辆图片分类到统计表中，区分它们是属于陆地、空中还是水上交通工具。

Next, we took to the skies and explored airplanes and helicopters, learning about their special features and how they soar through the air. Finally, we zoomed back down to earth to investigate all sorts of land vehicles, from cars and buses to trains and bicycles. We even sorted pictures of vehicles onto a worksheet, deciding whether they travel on land, in the air, or on the water.

本次主题帮助我们梳理了探究线路，并让孩子们认识到人们和物品在世界范围内移动的多种方式。我们了解到，交通是生活中不可或缺的一部分，它将我们与他人甚至世界连接起来。

This exciting unit helped us understand our Lines of Inquiry and appreciate the many ways people and things move around the world. We learned that transportation is an important part of our lives, connecting us to each other and to the world.

在 K2 的探究式学习单元（UOI）中，孩子们围绕“社区是由拥有共同生活空间、特征和/或兴趣的人群组成和维护的”这一核心主题，展开了一场兼具趣味和深度的探究。

The K2 class embarked on a fascinating journey, exploring their community.  With the central idea that "a community is formed and maintained by people who share commonalities in living space, characteristics, and/or interests," the children engaged in a rich and multifaceted inquiry.

认识不同类型社区 

Understanding Different Communities

在导入阶段，孩子们一起讨论了他们对“社区”这一概念的认识，孩子们知道社区里有家、城市、国家、学校等不同的地方，也有不同的人群在帮助我们。

The journey began with discussions about what constitutes a community. The children identified various types of communities – homes, cities, countries, and schools – and recognized the diverse people who contribute to their well-being.

在收集资料阶段，我们通过绘制交叉气泡图，进一步对比学校、城市和家里都有哪些人，认识到社区内不容的地方之间既存在差异又有着紧密的联系。这种多维度的观察视角为后续的探究奠定了坚实的基础。

By creating a Venn diagram, they compared and contrasted the people found in schools, cities, and homes, discovering both differences and connections. This multi-dimensional perspective laid the groundwork for deeper exploration.

我们的社区地图

Mapping Our Community

分析资料阶段，孩子们讨论了社区和我们生活息息相关的地点，例如医院、超市、电影院等不同的地方，知道这些地方组成了我们的生活社区。之后他们以小组合作的形式，设计属于自己的社区地图，这一活动不仅考验了他们对空间的认知能力，还锻炼了团队协作与决策能力。在讨论决定哪个社区放到哪里的过程中，孩子们需要综合考虑社区的功能、位置关系以及整体布局，从而对社区的形式与功能有了更直观的理解。

Next, the children explored places integral to their community, such as hospitals, supermarkets, and cinemas, recognizing how these places shape their daily lives. Working collaboratively, they designed their own community maps, demonstrating spatial awareness and strengthening teamwork and decision-making skills.  As they discussed the placement of different locations, they considered functionality, relationships between places, and overall layout, gaining a deeper understanding of the form and function of communities.

设计搭建社区的住房

Building Our Homes

在探究过程中我们发现，孩子们对于社区里的住房很感兴趣，因此在分析资料阶段，他们认识和讨论了社区里不同类型的房子，并进行了一系列活动。孩子们首先使用棉花糖和意大利面进行分组搭建。这一创意性的活动激发了他们的工程思维和创造力，让他们在实践中体会到材料的特性与结构的稳定性。接着，孩子们设计了一个自己的房子，画出设计图，选用石头、木棍、土、树皮等自然材料再次合作搭建不同类型的房子，进一步强化了他们对不同建筑风格和功能的认知，同时也培养了他们对自然资源的利用意识。

Since the children were very interested in houses, the inquiry explored different types of homes in their community.  In a creative twist, the children used marshmallows and pasta to construct various house designs, sparking their engineering thinking and creativity. This hands-on activity allowed them to experience the properties of materials and the importance of structural stability.  They then designed their own houses and, using natural materials like stones, sticks, soil, and bark, collaborated to build diverse structures, further reinforcing their understanding of architectural styles and functions while promoting environmental awareness.

社区里帮助我们的人

Community Helper

深入探究阶段，孩子们深入探究社区里的人如何帮助我们，并通过绘画的形式记录下来，制作成班级书本。这一过程不仅让他们感受到社区中的人文关怀，也培育了他们的社会责任感。在理解社区与人的相互关系中，孩子们逐渐成长为善于思考、懂得关爱、胸襟开阔的学习者。

Next, the children explored how people in their community help everyone. They documented their understanding through drawings, compiling them into a class book. This process not only highlighted the human element within a community but also fostered a sense of social responsibility. By understanding the interconnectedness between community and its members, the children developed into thoughtful, caring, and open-minded learners.

K2 的 UOI 探究活动通过一系列精心设计的环节，引导孩子们从多个角度深入理解社区的概念、形式、功能和联系。在这个过程中，孩子们不仅获得了知识与技能的提升，更培养了积极的学习者品质，为他们的未来发展奠定了坚实的基础。

Through this carefully designed UOI, the K2 class gained a comprehensive understanding of communities – their concepts, forms, functions, and connections. This journey not only enhanced their knowledge and skills but also nurtured positive learning attributes, laying a solid foundation for their future development.

K3 Madagascar的孩子们开启了一段充满惊险与刺激的机器世界探险之旅！他们的旅程融合了丰富的实践活动、激动人心的发现以及合作学习，这一切都是为了点燃他们的好奇心并深化他们对事物运作原理的理解。

This month, the K3 Madagascar class embarked on a thrilling exploration of the world of machines! Their journey was filled with hands-on activities, exciting discoveries, and collaborative learning, all designed to spark their curiosity and deepen their understanding of how things work.

什么是机器？

What is a Machine?

孩子们首先进行了集体讨论，探讨了他们所熟悉的各类机器，从日常生活中常见的汽车和扫地机器人，到动画片中出现的更为奇特的装置。接着，他们深入探索了简单机器的迷人世界，学习了杠杆、轮轴、斜面、楔形物、螺钉和滑轮等基本原理。通过一系列有趣的实验，孩子们了解了杠杆如何帮助抬起沉重的箱子，以及滑轮是如何简化物体提升过程的。

The children began by brainstorming familiar machines, from everyday objects like cars and robot vacuums to more fantastical contraptions from cartoons. They then delved into the fascinating world of simple machines, learning about levers, wheels and axles, inclined planes, wedges, screws, and pulleys. Through engaging experiments, they discovered how a lever can help lift a heavy box and how a pulley can make lifting easier.

寻找机器！

Machine Hunt!

孩子们手持记录板，化身为机器侦探，在教室与操场中寻找简单机器的实例。他们在剪刀和马桶盖中发现了杠杆的运用，在玩具汽车中发现了轮轴的原理，在滑梯中观察到了斜面的应用。这种现实世界的探索活动帮助他们将所学知识与周围环境相联系，并加深了对简单机器在日常物品中应用的理解。

With clipboards in hand, the children became machine detectives, searching their classroom and playground for examples of simple machines. They found levers in scissors and toilet lids, wheels and axles in toy cars, and inclined planes on the slide. This real-world exploration helped them connect their learning to their surroundings and deepen their understanding of how simple machines are used in everyday objects.

动手操作杠杆和滑轮

Hands-on with Levers and Pulleys

接着，孩子们亲自上阵，利用班级提供的材料构建自己的杠杆和滑轮系统。他们尝试了多种组合，激发了他们的创造力，并协作寻找解决之道。这项活动不仅加深了他们对简单机械原理的理解，还锻炼了问题解决能力和团队协作精神。

The children then got hands-on, building their own levers and pulley systems using classroom materials. They experimented with different configurations, testing their creations and collaborating to find solutions. This activity not only reinforced their understanding of simple machines but also nurtured their problem-solving and teamwork skills.

拆解和重建

Deconstructing and Reconstructing

在一项别具一格的挑战中，孩子们拆卸并重新组装了独轮车、画架、滑梯和跷跷板等游乐场设备。这项活动使他们认识到，简单机械是如何通过组合形成我们日常生活中使用的复杂设备的。他们利用清单来辨识并记录每件设备中不同类型的机械，展现了他们日益增长的分析和观察能力。

For a special challenge, the children took apart and reassembled playground equipment like wheelbarrows, easels, slides, and seesaws. This activity allowed them to see how simple machines are combined to create complex objects. They worked collaboratively, using checklists to identify the different types of machines in each piece of equipment, demonstrating their growing analytical and observational skills.

细菌和卫生 

Germs and Hygiene

孩子们还开展了一项特别的实验，探索了微观世界中的细菌，并认识到了洗手的重要性。他们利用面包片进行实验，观察了脏手与干净的手对霉菌生长的不同影响。这项活动不仅强调了卫生的重要性，还激发了关于物质分解和微生物作用的有趣讨论。

The children also explored the microscopic world of germs, learning about the importance of handwashing. They conducted an experiment with slices of bread, observing the effects of dirty and clean hands on the growth of mold. This activity highlighted the importance of hygiene and sparked interesting discussions about decomposition and the role of microorganisms.

通过这些丰富多彩的活动，孩子们对机器及其对我们世界的影响获得了深刻的理解。他们在观察、实验、解决问题以及合作方面培养了宝贵的技能，为未来在科学和技术领域的学习打下了坚实的基础。

Through this diverse range of activities, the K3 class in Madagascar gained a rich understanding of machines and their impact on our world. They developed valuable skills in observation, experimentation, problem-solving, and collaboration, laying a strong foundation for future learning in science and technology.

本月K3 China的探究之旅主题聚焦于机器与科技，我们班的小朋友们通过探究式学习开启了一场关于机器的奇妙旅程。这是本单元前半部分的学习，主要分为三个阶段：激发兴趣、探索发现、整理归纳。

The K3 class in China has been busy exploring the fascinating world of machines! This unit, the first part of their "Machines and Technology" inquiry, focused on sparking curiosity and building a solid understanding of simple machines. The children embarked on this learning journey through three exciting phases: Tuning In, Finding Out, and Sorting Out.

激发兴趣

Tuning In:

在这个阶段，孩子们通过开放式讨论分享自己对机器的理解，以及他们在日常生活中所接触的机器，例如自行车、剪刀或秋千。老师引导孩子们思考：“你认为机器的作用是什么？”以及“你能在教室或家里找到哪些像机器一样工作的物品？”这些问题激发了孩子们对机器的好奇心，并帮助他们将个人的生活经验与机器的概念联系起来。

To begin, the children had lively discussions about what machines are and how they work. They shared examples of machines they encounter in their everyday lives, from bicycles and scissors to swings and even door handles! This sparked their curiosity and laid the groundwork for deeper exploration.

探索发现

Finding Out:

在这一阶段，孩子们通过亲手实验深入探索了简单机器的工作原理，例如杠杆、轮子和滑轮。他们观察并亲自体验了如何利用滑轮轻松提升重物、杠杆如何以最小的力量撬动沉重的物体。借助书籍和视频等适合他们年龄的资源，孩子们开始逐步积累关于机器功能和用途的知识。

Next, the children had a chance to experiment with simple machines like levers, wheels, and pulleys. Through exciting experiments and demonstrations, they discovered how these machines make work easier. They were amazed to see how a pulley could help them lift heavy objects and how a lever could magnify their strength! Books and videos further enriched their understanding of the functions and purposes of various machines.

整理归纳

Sorting Out:

孩子们通过小组讨论和图示等方法，将先前的发现进行整理和归纳。他们不仅在这一过程中学会了如何获取信息，还通过分类和组织进一步加深了对机器的理解。这有助于他们巩固学习成果，并理解机器解决问题以及改善我们生活的多种方式。

In the final phase, the children organized what they had learned! They compared and contrasted different types of machines, creating diagrams and building models to demonstrate their understanding. This helped them solidify their learning and appreciate the diverse ways machines solve problems and improve our lives.

这种探究式学习方法不仅加深了K3 China班孩子们对简单机器的理解，还培养了他们的观察力、批判性思维、沟通和合作等技能。现在，他们已经具备了继续探索迷人机器和科技世界的条件！

This inquiry-based approach has not only given the K3 class a deeper understanding of simple machines but also developed essential skills like observation, critical thinking, communication, and collaboration. They are now well-equipped to continue their exploration of the exciting world of machines and technology!

通过在幼儿园阶段实施UOI（Unit of Inquiry）探究，我们为孩子们的未来学习和生活打下了坚实的基础。这种以探究为基础的学习方式，不仅促进了孩子们认知、社交和情感技能的发展，还帮助他们建立了终身学习的积极态度。随着孩子们逐渐成长，他们将能够更好地适应不断变化的世界，成为具有创新精神和全球视野的未来公民。因此，将UOI（Unit of Inquiry）探究融入幼儿园教育，是一项对未来充满希望的投资，它将为孩子们开启通往无限可能的大门。

By implementing UOI (Unit of Inquiry) in the kindergarten stage, we lay a solid foundation for children's future learning and life. This inquiry-based learning approach not only promotes the development of children's cognitive, social, and emotional skills but also helps them establish a positive attitude towards lifelong learning. As children grow, they will be better equipped to adapt to a constantly changing world and become future citizens with an innovative spirit and a global perspective. Therefore, integrating UOI (Unit of Inquiry) exploration into kindergarten education is a hopeful investment in the future, opening the door for children to endless possibilities.