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CHILDREN’S INTERESTS, INQUIRIES & WORKING THEORIES – BUGS AND INSECTS AT BESTSTART BURNSIDE
The tamariki of Kāhu Room at Beststart Burnside have been exploring and understanding the natural world around them through inquiry-based learning about bugs and insects, particularly spiders, crickets, and moths. This has led to discussions, observations, and research to learn and discover facts about their habitat and life cycle.
The curiosity and wonder of our tamariki have prompted daily bug hunts, scavenger hunts to identify the types of bugs and insects found, and creative activities such as stenciling and drawing to make sense of their observations. They have also built a bug hotel and used magnifying glasses to investigate insect habitats. At BestStart Burnside, we promote kaitiakitanga (guardianship), and our tamariki are learning to manaaki (care for) Tane's children, the insects, by providing them with a home.
Some tamariki have brought bugs from home and cared for them in a temporary habitat. They also learn that bugs and insects need to be released back into nature. Kaiako intentionally encourage and support the tamariki inquiries by guiding them to ask questions and investigate answers using various sources.
For instance, kaiako use technology to share engaging videos from National Geographic Kids, and they explain and help the tamariki in the learning process. The kaiako model the process of inquiry-based learning by encouraging tamariki to observe (I see), think about what they see (I think), and ask questions (I wonder).