Whitney Westrope
Professional Portfolio
Know students and how they learn
1.2 Understand how students learn
Demonstrate knowledge and understanding of research into how students learn and the implications for teaching
Students in Kindergarten (aged 3 and 4) learn through practical and repetitive play-based experiences that allow for individualised and authentic learning to take take place. Throughout these intentional or spontaneous teaching moments in play, the child’s senses are being stimulated and they bring their experiences from home to help build new ‘schema’ and positive experiences. In my own practice, I try to maintain a balance between intentional teaching moments and those of self-discovery.
Students used a their to senses to investigate the different properties and natural materials within the ice. After discovering dew on the grass and flowers, we decided to investigate water and ice and the effects on flowers and plants. The students:
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Used the water sprayer/eye dropper to melt the ice.
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Listened to the sound of the ice cracking and the touched/watched the water move around the tray.
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Eventually they bought sand and sticks to miniplate the ice and explore different textures.
EYLF Outcomes: 1.2.3, 4.1.4, 4.2.5
NQS Quality Areas: 1 & 2
Domains: Personal, social, emotional, linguistic, cognitive.
A 'New Life' (seeds) investigation table was set up as part of our discovery of the meaning of Easter. We had discussions about the resurrection of Jesus on Easter Sunday and the connection of this to growth and New Life. The students mixed, pulled apart, magnified, moved and picked up the seeds as well as looked at pictures of seeds and plants in books. Vocabulary such as 'growing', 'seed', 'small', sprout' and 'life' were also explored. We also investigated the resurrection of Jesus through the use of peg people and by looking after new born chicks for the week before Easter.
EYLF Outcomes: 1.2.3, 2.4.4, 4.1.6, 4.4.5
NQS Quality Areas: 1 & 2
Domains: Personal, social, emotional, linguistic, creative, cognitive, spiritual.
