Planting the Seeds of Science Learning!

This article introduced the Reggio-Emilia approach to teaching.The Reggio Emilia approach is an educational philosophy focused on preschool and primary education. It is a pedagogy described ... See More

This article introduced the Reggio-Emilia approach to teaching.The Reggio Emilia approach is an educational philosophy focused on preschool and primary education. It is a pedagogy described as student-centered and constructivist that utilizes self-directed, experiential learning in relationship-driven environments. The program is based on the principles of respect, responsibility, and community through exploration and discovery through a self-guided curriculum. At its core is an assumption that children form their own personality during early years of development and are endowed with "a hundred languages", through which they can express their ideas. The aim of the Reggio approach is to teach how to use these symbolic languages (e.g., painting, sculpting, drama) in everyday life. It was developed after World War II by psychologist Loris Malaguzzi and parents in the villages around Reggio Emilia, Italy, and derives its name from the city. This is how Wikipedia defines the approach. Kindergarteners express themselves in a year-long sunflower study through the arts like painting and literature and present their findings in a culminating video project. Students develop language throughout the unit through "questioning" the sunflower and discussions about its parts and growth which helps build questioning strategies in science. It was a very interesting tool to teach science and other subject areas. I will be interested in finding out more about this philosophy.