At RHPE preschool, children’s curiosity is at the heart of everything we do. For the first time in our new academic year, we extended our inquiry-based approach by introducing project work—giving children the opportunity to follow their interests, make decisions, and take ownership of their learning.
Projects nurture children’s holistic development. It strengthens language and literacy, enhances fine motor skills through hands-on creation, and builds social-emotional awareness as they share their work with peers. Most importantly, it develops critical thinking and confidence; key skills that prepare them for future learning.
Our first project, My Favourite Book, encouraged children to think about the things, people, places or animals they love most.
For the Nursery 2 (N2) group, this naturally evolved into a focus on My Favourite Animal. The children shared their favourite animals, researched where they live and what they eat, and created art pieces, habitats, and stories inspired by their discoveries. Through this process, they developed language, observation, and creative expression skills, all while strengthening their connection to the natural world.
In Kindergarten, the children took the theme further with My Favourite Story. They revisited familiar tales, discussed what made them special, and even reinvented their own versions, adding new characters, changing endings, or merging two stories into one. This creative exercise encouraged imagination, storytelling, and collaboration, as children worked together to bring their ideas to life through art, writing, and dramatic play.
These projects exemplify the value of inquiry-based learning. They promote holistic development, fostering cognitive growth, language and communication, creativity, and social-emotional confidence. Most importantly, they empower children to see themselves as capable learners and creators, shaping their own stories and understanding of the world around them.