• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
Go to Expat Living Hong Kong
Get our Newsletter

Lifestyle Guide To Moving To & Living in Singapore - Expat Living HomepageLifestyle Guide To Moving To & Living in Singapore - Expat Living

Moving to Singapore and not sure where to start? Expat Living is the essential lifestyle guide to living in Singapore.

Menu
  • Living in Singapore
      • Living here
      • Neighbourhood Guides
      • Schools
      • Property
      • Work And Business
      • Finance
      • For Guys
      • Environment
        • Forbidden Hill fathers day gifts15 Fabulous Father’s Day Gifts and Things to Do
        • weddingTop 20 wedding venues in Singapore, for all sorts of couples
        • family portraits photographers in Singapore_Looking for a family photographer in Singapore?
        • finfluencer financial scammersScammers and finfluencers!
      • View all
    Close
  • Things To Do
      • Things to do
      • EL Events
      • Calendar
      • Competitions
      • Noticeboard
        • Muswell Hill comedy Pangdemonium dinner partyPangdemonium brings Muswell Hill to Singapore
        • looking for clues treasure hunt time heistWin big in the Civic District treasure hunt
        • As You Were ArtworksWhat’s on this week and beyond
        • The National Stadium - Sports Hub Best venues for concertsTheatres in Singapore plus venues for events & concerts!
      • View all
    Close
  • Kids
      • Enrichment
      • Kids Things To Do
      • Mums & Babies
      • Schools
      • Tots & Toddlers
      • Tweens & Teens
        • fishing 3aHoliday fun and outdoor activities at this Adventure Camp
        • family portraits photographers in Singapore_Looking for a family photographer in Singapore?
        • enlarged adenoids ENT surgeonENT specialists discuss hearing loss & enlarged adenoids!
        • Oasia Resort Sentosa Far East Hospitality leadFeel like having a family staycation in Singapore or have friends visiting?
      • View all
    Close
  • Homes
      • Home Decor
      • Readers’ Homes
      • Furniture
        • European bedding best mattressBest mattresses for the best sleep!
        • antique furniture singaporeAntique furniture shops – plus vintage and reproduction furniture!
        • Where to buy lamps in SingaporeWhere to buy lamps in Singapore – lights galore!
        • RedhillLiving in historical Alexandra Park, Redhill.
      • View all
    Close
  • Travel
      • Asia
      • Australia & New Zealand
      • Rest Of World
      • News
      • Travel Offers
        • Krabi Thailand beachfront villas for beach holiday in ThailandBeachfront villas in Krabi Thailand – perfect for your next beach holiday!
        • New ZealandYour mini guide to New Zealand
        • international health insuranceProtecting your health overseas in 2022
        • COMO Point Yamu One Bedroom Pool Villa sundeckWhy you should stay at this Phuket resort
      • View all
    Close
  • Wine & Dine
      • Asian Cuisine
      • Western Cuisine
      • Bars & Clubs
      • Groceries & Speciality Services
      • Recipes & Classes
        • Pizza12 great places to get the best pizza in Singapore
        • Farmers market - butcher - meat shopTop butchers for good-quality meat
        • Sugarhall DaquriLatest bars in Singapore: New drinking spots!
        • M&S Meat Free NuggetsPlant-based nuggets – here’s what we think!
      • View all
    Close
  • Style & Beauty
      • Fashion
      • Hair & Beauty
      • Beauty Offers
        • hydrating products skinTried and tested: Hydrating Products for Dry Skin
        • ARIANE ZAGURY 2A Curated Fashion House for All
        • Frizz TreatmentIn need of a quick fix for frizzy hair?
        • Spray tan singaporeGet a golden glow quickly with a spray tan!
      • View all
    Close
  • Health & Fitness
      • Dental
      • Fitness
      • Medical
      • Wellness
        • PainWhat is pain and how do you treat it?
        • Pilates fitnutFancy doing a fitness & Pilates instructor course in Singapore?
        • enlarged adenoids ENT surgeonENT specialists discuss hearing loss & enlarged adenoids!
        • frequent urge to pee overactive bladderHow to treat that frequent urge to pee
      • View all
    Close
  • Shop
    • PRINT MAGAZINE
    • DIGITAL MAGAZINE
    • BOOKS
    • Close

Sparking curiosity in little ones

11th October 2018 by Michaela Bisset 3 Min Read

https://expatliving.sg/gems-world-academy-international-school/

What happens when a child brings their tadpoles to school? With a busy classroom to manage, some teachers might politely set them to one side with a nod and a smile. At GEMS World Academy (Singapore), this curiosity is encouraged and respected. Educator and Early Years Leader Lynn White explains how a child’s simple yet inquisitive action can be a pathway to genuine and authentic learning.

The most authentic form of inquiry starts with a child’s personal interest or wondering. What follows is an unwavering commitment to find the answers to their own questions. Sometimes children share their inquiry with others and a “snowball” effect takes place, bringing with it a multitude of questions, ideas and theories. Teachers do not plan for these inquiries and they may not always connect with what’s taking place in the classroom, but they are borne of genuine interest and authentic curiosity. They are truly student-driven, with teachers playing the role of facilitators.

junior school in Singapore

One example is five-year-old Aidan, who is in the Early Years programme.

He recently moved house and brought some tadpoles from his pond to show. We kept them in the classroom and the children were free to look at them and observe what they were doing. Very quickly they realised they could not see them very well as they were so small and the water was not clear. So, they asked for “close glasses” in order to see better.

Through our discussions, the children discovered that these were called “magnifying glasses” and we talked about where in the classroom they could be found. Once they knew this, the magnifying glasses were available for them to use. Next, they asked, “How can we care for the tadpoles and who will be responsible for them?” To answer these questions, they suggested that we “ask Google, or people who know tadpole stuff”.

More questions followed. Sofiya asked, “Can people be friends with tadpoles? Do tadpoles need friends?” This was a super question and a great connection to the current Unit of Inquiry topic, Who We Are. (A Unit of Inquiry is an in-depth exploration of a theme or “big idea”. Students will inquire into a central idea, guided by lines of inquiry and teacher questions.) We had been finding out about friends having things in common, so next we wondered if we have any connections with tadpoles?

For example, we both grow and change, but we don’t eat the same food. These connections generated further questions that we will continue to follow up on in class.

What’s the outcome from Aidan’s decision to bring his tadpoles to school?

It created opportunities to talk about aspects of science, mathematics, language, personal and social education, and importantly to make connections to the different strands of the school’s curriculum, within the International Baccalaureate (IB) Primary Years Programme (PYP) framework.

None of this was planned by a teacher; it was driven entirely by the children’s wonderings. This is what we encourage and value in our Early Years classes. Now, if only we could find someone who knows about taking care of frogs!

 

Brought to you by

GEMS World Academy (Singapore)
2 Yishun Street 42
6808 7300 | gwa.edu.sg

 

Like this? Check more schools and things to do with kids.

This article first appeared in the November 2017 edition of Expat Living. You can purchase a copy or subscribe so you never miss an issue!

Michaela Bisset

Michaela is the youngest member of the Expat Living team and therefore the best one. She's London born but Singapore grown. Third culture kid. She’s always on the lookout for the best drinking deals and latest vegetarian bites.

Get the latest events, stories and special offers
sent to your inbox.

By signing up, you'll receive our weekly newsletters and offers, which you can unsubscribe to anytime.

Categories: Kids Living in Singapore Schools Schools Tags: Education GEMS World Academy Junior school Singapore Living In Singapore Moving To Singapore

You May Also Like

Holiday fun and outdoor activities at this Adventure Camp

finfluencer financial scammers

Scammers and finfluencers!

sports schools in singapore students jumping sack sports activities

Discover the sports programme at this international school

Primary Sidebar

  • Competitions
  • Noticeboard
  • Subscribe
  • About
  • advertise
  • Contact
  • Privacy

© 2022 Expat Living Singapore, All Rights Reserved.