Levels 1 and 2 (Age 6 to 10)
The primary emphasis of the educational programme for the younger children (ages 6 to 10)
is on awareness and observation. Children are exposed to a variety of experiences that foster
keen observation, interest and total involvement, nurturing and keeping the senses alive. The
fundamental skills of language and mathematics are integrated into the activities where
possible, and are otherwise taken care of with minimum pressure. We create a learning
environment that gives the child a sense of freedom, allowing her to work at her own pace and
level and creating space for self-directed tasks. All this allows for the child to grow with a sense of responsibility for her actions.
Much of the child’s learning will happen through observation, with less emphasis on information-based books. We would like children to understand the world and themselves through direct contact and interaction, rather than through the accumulation of information. Children are naturally curious, so questions will be asked and explored in a gentle, spontaneous way. We will provide the space for a child to look around and discover things on his own. Children will take care of plants and animals, and clean and care for the spaces we work in. We will go for nature walks, and visit museums and factories. Some other activities may be sketching, baking, reading, working with clay, making toys and measuring things. We do not compartmentalize learning into academic and non-academic learning and separate this from day to day living.
Regular parental contact is an important part of the program. We would like all we do at school to be linked harmoniously to the home, so the child, the parents and the teachers can grow together.
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