Taking on the role of an assistant guide at Roots and Boots Preschool allowed me to pick up and identify various learning opportunities. Immersed in our outdoor classroom, I was able to actively engage with children, facilitating their learning through nature-based experiences. Each day presents new teachable moments, allowing both the children and me to embark on a wonderful learning journey together.
We always begin the day with a morning assembly. The heart of this routine is to create opportunities for children to discuss and share their feelings and emotions. By doing so, the children learn to articulate their emotions and recognise them in others, laying the foundation for their emotional literacy skill—an essential skill for their development.
For the rest of the day, the children participate in the preschool’s curriculum- integrated with skills and concepts from learning areas such as language and literacy, numeracy, discovery of the world, arts and motor skills. An example of today’s curriculum includes Sports and Movement, where children practised their locomotor skills through running, jumping and sliding. Books are also integrated with our outdoor explorations, serving as both a source of knowledge and inspiration. The children make connections with nature through the lens of literary stories and see the stories come to life with their surroundings—whether it is identifying plants from a story or mimicking common animal behaviours they learnt from books.
As we go about our day in the garden, we always remind ourselves to be nature’s protectors. Caring and respecting the people and environment while engaging in activities in shared spaces or exploring with borrowed natural materials. These experiences encourage the children to build on positive social skills, develop teamwork and problem-solving skills while learning to appreciate the beauty of nature. Each outdoor adventure provides an opportunity to foster a sense of wonder and encourages children to express themselves, whether through imaginative play, collaboration on projects, or simply sharing their discoveries with one another.
Watching children interact with their environment highlights their uniqueness and active participation in learning. Each child approaches experiences with curiosity and care, engaging thoughtfully with the world around them. They also collaborate to tackle challenges, nurturing a sense of community and belonging.
What about you? What would your role be when teaching and learning with children?