Experiential learning is at the heart of the education philosophy at GIIS’ preschool. Experiential learning can be a valuable approach for preschool age students as it encourages them to actively engage with their environment, develop new skills and make connections between their learnings and surroundings.
At GIIS, we take this into account as we carefully craft various aspects of learning for our preschool programme, a customised Montessori programme – the Global Montessori Plus (GMP) programme.
Based on Howard Gardner’s theory of multiple intelligences, our GMP programme supports each of our students’ varied strengths, needs and learning styles. A wide range of activities and opportunities are provided to allow each of our learners to discover their passions, interests and personal strengths.
Exposure to outdoor play areas
While learning through play is important for students at this age, it is equally important that they play outdoors along with indoors. Playing outdoors offers numerous physical, social, emotional, and cognitive benefits. It helps them to develop spatial awareness, ability to navigate their surroundings, learn about nature, science and develop problem-solving skills. GIIS offers green space for our young students to learn and explore. There are open-air areas such as our Mist and Nest play zones that allow our students to explore hands-on learning.
Montessori Lab
Manipulatives (objects that allow children to explore an idea through a hands-on approach) and customised, child-centred learning are at the heart of our preschool environment. Our customised Montessori Lab provides our students with amazing opportunities for hands-on learning in both numeracy and literacy.
Our students thrive with the experiential learning that our Montessori Lab allows them to experience. This engaging lab experience ensures that our students gain knowledge and skills in a motivating, child-centred environment.
Skill-development
Developing communication and collaboration skills are of critical importance for preschool children. Mastering these skills at a young age sets children up for success as they learn to communicate well and collaborate with their peers and teachers and advance in their education and beyond. At GIIS, we ensure that our classrooms are designed to maximise our students’ opportunities to develop their interaction skills. This helps our learners become adept at communication skills.
STEAM learning
Our emphasis on experiential learning extends to STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts and Mathematics) learning. Our teachers plan activities for our students that enable them to gain valuable skills in science, English, mathematics and problem-solving through a hands-on approach. This allows our students to use their different senses to explore and learn about the world around them.
For example, in a lesson on colour mixing, our teachers provide paint and water to enable students to create a rainbow effect. By allowing students to experience these activities by themselves, they learn quickly and retain what they learn. It also makes learning fun and helps to build curiosity about the world around them. Students learn scientific truths through several such hands-on activities, such as the fact that ‘every action has an equal and opposite reaction’.
Exposure to age-appropriate technology
Our students are given sufficient opportunities to work with technology to ensure that they develop age-appropriate technological skills. Using iPads to play drag and drop games, complete puzzles and navigate mazes provides motivating, age-appropriate technology skills for our learners.
Also read: 3 key reasons why GIIS nurtures confident preschool students
Child-centred, free playtime
An important aspect of experiential learning is allowing free playtime, providing our students with learning materials such as building blocks, jigsaw puzzles and other toys for free playtime.
At GIIS, our teachers provide plenty of stimulating learning materials and guidance but also ensure that children are given sufficient time and space for self-directed play. Free play is scientifically proven to help children develop their critical thinking, innovation, collaborative problem-solving and communication skills.
To explore the possibilities for your preschool age child at GIIS, please don’t hesitate to book a campus tour.
Rema Rajiv
Ms Rajiv has been an Early Childhood educator and practitioner for the past 15 years at GIIS. She heads the Global Montessori Plus (GMP) Programme, supporting kindergarten students in their learning and holistic development to maximise the potential of every student. She has been instrumental in implementing developmentally age-appropriate curriculum that provides a strong foundation for lifelong learning. She is well-respected due to her rich experience in the field and passion for working with preschoolers, helping establish a good rapport with the parent community.
