Tamariki at Fairlie Kindergarten have been investigating and making sense of the natural world around them through inquiry learning about tadpoles, bugs and insects.

We have 10 tadpoles at kindergarten and through this tamariki have generated discussion through observation, wonderings and research as they learn and discover facts about their habitat and their life cycle. Tamariki have made connecting links with home as oxygen weed has been gathered from a local creek and comparisons made between other families tadpoles! Curiosity and wonder has seen daily bug hunts undertaken, making sense of their observations through art (clay and drawing) the construction of a bug house and the purchase of magnifying glasses to support a more investigative approach to the habitats of insects.

As an Enviroschool we encourage kaitiakitanga (guardianship) and children are learning to manaaki (care for) Tane's children, the insects, by providing them a home.

Tamariki have brought bugs in from home and nurtured them into a new short term habitat. Tamariki learn and understand that bugs and insects need to be set free.

Teachers intentionally nurture these inquiries by supporting and extending children’s attempts at understanding by encouraging them to ask questions and investigate the answers using a variety of sources. Tamariki recently visited the library and sourced some books to help with this process.

Teachers model a process of inquiry based learning by encouraging tamariki to observe (I see), think about what they see (I think) and pose questions (I wonder).

‘In growing a culture of inquiry, our focus is not on teaching children information and facts, or to get them at some eventual ‘right answer’…we stay present to what’s unfolding, not trying to see into the future or make plans far in advance. Curriculum anchored in inquiry grows moment by moment, one step at a time.’ Ann Pelo