UWCSEA’s Immersive Primary School Science

Grade 1 students create biozone spaces for a “Habitats” unit of learning

In Primary School at UWCSEA, hands-on experiences are a big part of learning. Imagine hacking through a rainforest, frolicking in the ocean, sliding across polar ice, or exploring mangroves, all in a single afternoon. For students in Grade 1, make-believe becomes reality through imaginative inquiry-based learning that supports their explorations into Animal Habitats and Sustainability.

This topic is part of the domain of Humanities and Science, which is taught through interdisciplinary Units of Study where students spend several weeks exploring conceptual understandings or their ‘big ideas’ by applying their knowledge, skills and understanding from a variety of curriculum areas.

Animal Habitats culminates in students transforming their pod – a shared area that connects all five classrooms in the grade – into an immersive learning environment that sparks imagination, curiosity and deepens their understanding of the natural world in a joyful way.

Science Research and Investigation 

Such a project starts with an inquiry-based activity. Teachers give students a box of art materials and invite them to build an animal habitat. As they construct plants, vines and think about the different animals they need to include, the students also get curious: What animal eats squid?” “What does a gorilla eat?” “Do penguins live in the same place as polar bears?” Teachers listen out for these questions, and give students time to look at books, posters and digital resources to research and check facts. They discuss and analyse, and in this way, young learners start to build the core skills required to undertake an inquiry.

Students collaborate as a grade and grow together

Hands-on, Immersive Learning 

As they continue to learn about habitats in different ways, they also spend time constructing dioramas: drawing, cutting and moulding oceans, rainforests, mangroves and polar regions. They learn new terms such as ‘predator’ and ‘food chain’. This sparks new ideas, and suddenly the students might create a scene where a lion has caught an antelope, which they could then further discuss.

Developing Real-world Skills 

Eventually, students are tasked with moving their dioramas into the shared pod just outside their classrooms. They are now able to collaborate as a grade, growing the dioramas, with each class contributing ideas and their talents in arts and craft. Working together in a tactile manner, in a shared space fosters teamwork, collaboration and communication skills. Students socialise with others in their Grade, and the dioramas draw conversation, play, discovery and an exploration of personal interests.

Sparking Joy in Learning

Pod-based activities are incorporated into a range of units including ‘Power of Performance,’ ‘Taking Care of Me, ’ and ‘Communities.’ Students might take part in drama performances on a small stage, investigate the nature of light using torches, role-play real-world scenarios in a make-believe medical clinic and more. Such ‘age-appropriate research’ and play-based learning not only builds transferrable knowledge and skills, it fosters social and emotional development. Importantly, it nurtures a joy for learning.

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