Curiosity leads to learning When children explore their curiosity, they expand their vocabulary as they use language to describe what they are thinking, seeing, hearing, or experiencing. At the Early Learning Centre, the children’s curiosity ignites the play- based inquiry projects, sustained through further wondering and questioning along with the diverse opportunity to explore and express through rich learning experiences. The four- to five-year-old children of the Eagle Room engaged in an Inquiry Project exploring towers and building structures. During Term 2, the children explored towers, researching, theorising, creating and sharing their ideas about height, design and the building’s structural integrity. This project was sparked by the children’s curiosity of Sydney Tower. Further conversations led to the comparison of buildings which ranged from the Leaning Tower of Pisa and the Burj Khalifa, to the Wyvern building, the Senior School’s Founders Building and the ELC car park. The children were provided with a range of opportunities to express their thinking and maintain their curiosity throughout the inquiry project. The children were involved in construction play that required mathematical thinking, questioning and reasoning skills. The children explored with the magnetic tiles to identify different sections of a ‘school structure’, allowing room for a car park and multiple classrooms. To conclude the inquiry project, the class visited the Senior School to sketch the Founders Building. The children were observant of the many symmetrical shapes which varied in sizes as they drew the building from the front view. When children are given the space, time and opportunity to ‘think and dwell’ about the concept, idea or project, their creativity and expression of ideas are remarkable. At the ELC, we anticipate that by inspiring the children’s curiosity we cultivate an active mind, inspire persistence, and counteract self-absorption or boredom. We hope that the curiosity we nurture today will one day result to future innovation in the ever-evolving society we live in. Miss Malia Puna Acting Early Learning Centre Director ArielleCNugruiyoesnit ypays attention to the detils on the FoundeLindfield Preprs Buildng.| |aNews Autumn 2022 | 43i