Expression through the ‘100 Languages’

The children in the Early Learning Centre are provided with opportunities each and every day to learn and discover using the ‘100 languages’. Our curriculum is inspired by the principles of the Reggio Emilia approach to education. We believe that the children have many ways of thinking, communicating and doing and thus provide them with many opportunities to express themselves on a daily basis.

“Young children are encouraged to explore their environment and express themselves through all of their available expressive, communicative and cognitive languages, whether they be words, movement, drawing, painting, building, sculpture, shadow play, or music, to name a few.”
Edwards, Gandini & Forman,1998

Throughout the year, the children in the ELC have the opportunity to experience a range of languages such as painting, drawing, construction, storytelling, light and shadow, sculpture, music and movement. This enables them to express their thoughts and ideas, to learn about themselves, and to learn about the people and world around them.

Through their experiences at the ELC and in life, the children develop a natural affinity for particular languages. Whilst one child may enjoy drawing as their preferred language for expression, another child may prefer to represent their thoughts and ideas through construction. The children are provided with a range of materials, equipment and resources so that they have the opportunity to explore and experience many different languages and take their learning to a deeper level.

Ms Sarah Bethune
ELC Coordinator

Helping in the Banksia Room

Young children develop their sense of responsibility and participation through social relationships with adults and other children.

In the Banksia Room we want to connect the group to the community, so we met to discuss what this means. This first discussion about helping demonstrated the children’s understanding of what it means to make a shared contribution to the jobs each day.

It is always a good place to start by asking the children what they do at home to help their family.

Following on from these discussions we will now create a ‘Job Board’ with the children’s drawings allowing the children to take turns and help. Below is a snapshot of some of the responses our learners provided to the questions:

How do you help your family at home?

Aalto: I help with the cooking

Josiah: I help to pack up things

Catie: When I’m going to School, I pack all my stuff

Elizabeth: I help my family pack up Henri’s room

Natalia: I pack my bag to go to School. I help with dinner and I help pack away and clean up my room

Oliver: Sometimes I pack up and set the table and pack up the table

Sophie: Packing up

If you help your family at home, do you think we should help in the Banksia Room?

All: Yes

Catie: Because we can help each other

Aalto: That’s being nice

Is it kind to help each other?

All: Yes

If someone asks you nicely to come and help with something, should you say yes of course?

Aalto: Yes, that’s like community

What does community mean Aalto?

Aalto: It means helping each other

Ms Fiona Barker
Banksia Room Teacher