At the Flinders Children’s Centre and Tji Tji Wiltja Preschool we are committed to providing a high quality, flexible educational program that is inclusive, equitable and accessible for all children. The Early Years Framework for Australia, “Belonging, Being & Becoming” is our guiding curriculum and from the learning outcomes we develop learning programs around: children have a strong sense of identity; children are connected with and contribute to their world; children have a strong sense of wellbeing; children are confident and involved learners; and children are effective communicators

STEAM opportunities are many and varied at our centre and the children have been involved in a range of research inquiries including the weather, different life cycles, explorations around movement, as well as patterns and sequences found in Aboriginal art. We uphold a focus on sustainability and the natural environment inspiring us to create and collaboratively maintain a functioning fruit and vegetable garden.

Through the multi-disciplinary lens of STEAM a holistic approach to research and inquiry has stimulated critical and creative approaches to learning. Integrating STEAM into the children’s explorations provides opportunities for innovative and creative learning through trial, error, experimentation and problem solving. STEAM learning instils dispositions for thinking that will prove crucial for an emerging generation, working and problem solving in the 21st century.

Through an inquiry approach to learning we embed our child’s voice in all that we do, recognising the paramount importance of valuing and encouraging questions. We foster our children’s sense of curiosity by actively participating in, exploring, and questioning what interests them, honouring and sharing their profound sense of wonder.

Since incorporating STEAM learning through our research and inquiry pedagogy and are always amazed at the work produced and the authentic learning that takes place. Through the multi-disciplinary lens of learning we have witnessed our children embrace a love of learning which has developed significantly over the years. Hypothesizing and making predictions based on their own research has become information they are given. The children have become more confident in answering questions.

In mid 2019 the education team from Flinders Children’s Centre attended the Reggio Emilia Australia Information Exchange Biennial Conference in Perth, Western Australia. On returning from Perth we were inspired to consider how Reggio practices could be used to enhance our own pedagogical practices. This was an exciting opportunity for the staff to work collaboratively to implement enriching new educational possibilities for our children.

We wondered how we could begin a Reggio inspired project that would follow the interest of our children as well as involving educators, families and community. This happened to coincide with our centre being given some milkweed plants that were host to some very hungry caterpillars.

And so began ‘Project Monarch’ which looked closely at the lifecycle of the monarch butterfly. We watched the lifecycle stages in real time allowing the children and staff to document the journey together. This was the inspiration for a published book detailing the rich and authentic learning of our collaborative inquiry. The book highlights our holistic pedagogical practices reflecting culture, nature and reciprocal links between our centre and the local community. The book has reached into the hands of Carla Rinaldi from Reggio Emilia in Italy as well as being used as a resource for The Bachelor of Early Childhood Teaching at Flinders University.

If you are interested in purchasing a copy of the book please give us a call they are available at our centre.