Play and Inquiry in

K3

K3 and G5 suited up for an unforgettable journey into space. G5’s Mr. Steve and his G5 astronaut helpers led us on a tour of the solar system. We learned about the size and scale of the planets through hands-on activities. We loved putting the planets in order using flash cards. Mr. Steve used a flashlight to show us how day and night work. We got up and used our bodies to understand how the planets orbit the Sun and rotate as they move. K3 had a lot of fun playing and discovering new things.

Play and Inquiry in

K4

Chapter 9 of "Purposeful Play" discusses play and inquiry. An example of inquiry and play from this chapter could be a group of children constructing a tower out of building blocks while playing together. 

As they construct, they pose queries and make observations, such as "How can we make this taller?" and "This block doesn't fit, what should we do?" 

Students explore various approaches, evaluate hypotheses, and adjust their strategy based on what they learn. The children engage in purposeful play that fosters curiosity and problem-solving abilities.

Play and Inquiry in

K5

In K5, inquiry starts with learners' interest and curiosity in something. We spark the students' curiosity when introducing concepts by providing learners with inspiring and coherent learning experiences and materials. We use pictures and strategies such as a concept quadrant, field trips, experiments, read-alouds, class discussions, and centers with intentionally placed materials, etc. Inquiry begins with that curiosity and, later, through play, occurs naturally. 

We guide and facilitate the process of walking our students through observation, asking questions, how to seek answers and the process it takes to find them. We purposely promote play and make the investigation process natural to nurture the students’ research skills.

Play and Inquiry in

Creative Arts

K5 students are asking questions about materials and exploring textures. They are engaging in playful use of Lego, popsicle sticks, floor mats, and even the soles of their shoes! They ask questions such as "How can I capture different textures on my paper?" and "How will different materials create different textures?" 

Asking open-ended questions with a playful mindset supports student understanding of concepts and strategies to accomplish goals.

Play and Inquiry in

PE

K5 PE students inquiring into different animal movements during class. Students explored a variety of animal movements using their imagination and understanding of how to use their body to express themselves.

Play and Inquiry in

Mandarin  

Students are inquiring into how human behaviors affect water and how to save water through their actions.  Students drew their ideas on paper and shared them.

Play and Inquiry in

ICT

K5 students use their comprehensive skills to create a “Zoom Out” guessing game while they’re learning the “zoom out/in” features when taking photos with an iPad. 

By creating, demonstrating, and interacting with peers, they go through the inquiry of camera features and develop a solid understanding of what “zoom in/out” is and how it can help us to see things through different perspectives.

Play and Inquiry in

Library

In library, we do Inquiry and Play activities like ‘Exploring the Library through a Scavenger Hunt’ to help students expand their knowledge of library resources. 

Inquiry: We ask students questions about the library resources and how they are used.  "What do we use books for?", "How do we find a book in the library?".  We then encourage students to make predictions and explain their reasoning. 

Play: Students are divided into small groups and given the scavenger hunt list. They then work together to find the answers to the clues and questions on the list by exploring the library. By using an inquiry-based and play-based approach, students are able to develop a deeper understanding of the library through hands-on exploration and experimentation.

“It's not nearly enough for children to simply answer the questions of others. We want them to be the ones asking the questions and challenging and pushing back when the answers don't make sense. Inquiry … fosters a perspective on learning that thrives on curiosity, builds on children's strengths, and gives voice to all learners.” (Purposeful Play 155)

Just like you, we want the best for your child. Many people can imitate but very few innovate. We want our young learners to explore the world around them and discover new ways to do things. It’s this mindset that makes the world a better place for everyone.

Chapter 9 of Purposeful Play focuses on the importance of inquiry and play in the development of children's curiosity and problem-solving abilities. Here are some highlights from the chapter: Purposeful play is essential to childhood and promotes learning, discovery, and creativity.

• In play, learners develop ideas, take on and assign roles, collaborate, craft the environment, and decide when to change it.

• Extended time engaged in purposeful play scenarios allows children to move from exploration to mastery.

• Play is particularly effective for engaging children with specific content when there is a learning goal.

• Teachers can create places and spaces where they can introduce playful learning to help all children master content and the skills they will need for future success.

• If play is the work of children, then to build on kids' strengths, we need to infuse an abundance of play and principles of play across the curriculum.

By understanding the importance of inquiry and play, we can create a learning environment that fosters children's creativity, problem-solving, and critical-thinking skills.

Dear Parents,
We want to share with you the importance of play in your child's learning journey. Play invites inquiry, and inquiry accepts that invitation. Through play, children have the opportunity to explore, wonder, think, and share their thoughts using their five senses.

Inquiry is a natural process that occurs when playing, and it is a mindset that can be injected into all learning. When learning connects to their passions, hearts, and imagination, we know that children learn best.

The inquiry process begins with curiosity. It is essential to protect your child's curiosity and foster a desire to explore and discover. We want to encourage your child to ask questions, seek answers, and learn through a process of trial and error.

We believe that when children are allowed to play and inquire, they experience the 'Aha' moment, the moment when everything clicks, and they understand.

Let's encourage our children's natural curiosity and provide them with opportunities to play, explore, and inquire. Together, we can ignite their passion for learning and help them reach their full potential.

Inquiry is a play mindset that encourages children to learn how to learn. Rather than simply memorizing information, students are encouraged to ask questions, explore, and experiment. This approach fosters a love of learning and helps students develop critical thinking skills.

Inquiry-based learning allows students to take ownership of their learning and pursue their interests. By engaging in hands-on activities and problem-solving, students are able to make connections between different concepts and apply their learning in real-world situations. This approach also encourages collaboration and communication, as students work together to explore and share their findings. We encourage you to support your child's curiosity and to continue to foster their love of learning at home.

Parents play an important role in technology education. The way you view technology will shape your child's attitude. Technology is a powerful tool to guide the inquiry when your child plays. For example, taking photos can be a way for them to have reminders like taking a note. With your guidance, finding resources and exploring more encourages a healthy appetite to learn more. Next time when you give your child the iPad, try not to just use it for entertainment but with purpose to guide them into playful inquiry. You might be surprised!

One of the best ways to support children in the arts is to give them time, space, and materials to observe, ask questions, and experiment by trying different things. Open-ended inquiry empowers students to follow their passions, interests, and deepens their understanding and experience of the world.

Some questions to support at home include the following:

- What makes you say that?
- Can you tell me more?
- What do you see, think, and wonder?
- What do you think is happening here?
- What else can we explore?
- How can we play with this in a different way?
- What other stories can you tell?