Five-Year-Olds Pilot Their Own Project Learning

Summary

The Auburn Early Education Center in Alabama offers a unique, thematic learning experience for young children. The curriculum is driven by the students' interests, with projects like constructing a cardboard cruise ship to Africa or a plastic plane to Brazil. Teachers guide students to explore through resources, books, and the internet, fostering skills in critical thinking, problem-solving, and cooperation. The center also integrates technology, like Smart Boards, to enhance literacy. Personal stories are central to the literacy curriculum, encouraging students to share and elaborate on their experiences, promoting socialization and communication skills.

Takeaways

• 🏫 The Auburn Early Education Center in Alabama serves nearly 500 children aged three to five, focusing on engaging them in learning adventures through thematic projects.
• 🌪️ The school handles chaotic situations, such as visits from the Auburn University Pep Squad or tornado warnings, with structured responses to ensure student safety.
• 🚢 Long-term projects are central to the curriculum, with themes emerging from the children's natural curiosity, such as sailing a cardboard cruise ship to Africa or flying a plastic plane to Brazil.
• 📚 Teachers guide students to resources, books, and the Internet to deepen their understanding of the chosen themes, fostering critical thinking and problem-solving skills.
• 🗺️ The learning process involves constructing models and taking field trips related to the project themes, making the educational experience interactive and hands-on.
• 🐞 Even everyday events, like the death of a class pet, are turned into engaging projects that integrate various curriculum areas, demonstrating the school's commitment to authentic learning experiences.
• 📖 Personal stories are integral to the literacy curriculum, with students sharing their experiences and voting on which stories to write about and illustrate.
• 🔤 The school encourages creative spelling and writing, recognizing that young children should be motivated to write rather than being constrained by conventional spelling rules.
• 💻 Technology, including 'Smart Boards' in every classroom, enhances the literacy effort by making learning interactive and empowering students to take charge of their educational journey.
• 🌐 The use of technology allows for immediate access to information and resources, opening up a world of learning and keeping students excited about the process of acquiring knowledge.
• 🌟 The ultimate goal is to instill a love for learning and develop problem-solving skills in students, preparing them to be lifelong learners and resourceful individuals.

Q & A

What is the primary goal of the activities at Alabama's Auburn Early Education Center?

The primary goal is to engage students in learning adventures through long-term projects that evolve from the natural curiosity of the kids, fostering lifelong learning exploration.

How do the teachers at the Auburn Early Education Center guide students in their projects?

Teachers guide students by directing them to resources, books, and the internet to focus their efforts on the chosen theme.

What role does technology play in the learning process at the Auburn Early Education Center?

Technology is used to enhance learning through the use of 'Smart Boards' in every classroom, which allows students to interact with educational content in a more engaging and hands-on manner.

How does the Auburn Early Education Center handle unexpected events like the Auburn University Pep Squad showing up or a tornado touching down nearby?

The center handles unexpected events by maintaining a calm and orderly response, as demonstrated by the principal directing students to their weather locations during a tornado warning.

What is the significance of the cardboard cruise ship and plastic plane activities mentioned in the script?

These activities are part of the thematic learning approach where students engage in imaginative play to explore different cultures and places, such as Africa and Brazil.

How does the Auburn Early Education Center incorporate critical thinking and problem-solving into their curriculum?

The center incorporates these skills by having students develop plans for their projects, carry them through, and write about them, which involves cooperation, problem-solving, and critical thinking.

What is the purpose of the funeral project for the class pet praying mantis mentioned in the script?

The funeral project serves as an authentic purpose for learning, allowing students to practice writing, drawing, and other curriculum requirements while dealing with a real-life event.

How does the Auburn Early Education Center use personal stories in their literacy curriculum?

The center uses personal stories by giving students the opportunity to share their experiences and answer questions about them, which helps to develop their literacy skills and social communication.

What is the approach of the Auburn Early Education Center towards spelling in early student writing?

The center allows for creative alternatives to conventional spelling, valuing the encouragement of writing and the development of reading stages over strict adherence to spelling rules.

How does the Auburn Early Education Center ensure that students are engaged and find meaning in their activities?

The center ensures engagement by linking activities to real-life purposes and themes that students find interesting, thus making learning meaningful and relevant.

What is the role of the reading coach and 'Smart Boards' in enhancing literacy at the Auburn Early Education Center?

The reading coach and 'Smart Boards' play a role in enhancing literacy by providing interactive and personalized learning experiences that cater to the students' developmental stages.

Outlines

00:00

🏫 Early Education Adventures

This paragraph introduces Alabama's Auburn Early Education Center, a school for nearly 500 children aged three to five years old. The school's approach to education is described as engaging and adventurous, with activities such as sailing a cardboard cruise ship to Africa and flying a plastic plane to Brazil. The school's curriculum is project-based, with themes emerging from the children's natural curiosity. Teachers guide the students in their explorations, using resources like books and the internet to focus their learning. The paragraph also highlights the school's emphasis on developing skills like cooperation, problem-solving, and critical thinking through these projects.

05:02

📚 Literacy and Learning Through Technology

The second paragraph delves into the literacy curriculum at the Auburn Early Education Center, focusing on personal storytelling as a central component. Students are encouraged to share their personal experiences, which are then voted on by their peers for further writing and illustration. The paragraph also discusses the school's approach to spelling and writing, advocating for creative freedom over conventional correctness. The use of technology, such as 'Smart Boards' and internet resources, is highlighted as a way to enhance learning and make it more interactive and engaging for the students. The paragraph concludes by emphasizing the importance of teaching students to be resourceful and excited about the learning process.

Keywords

💡Early Education Center

An Early Education Center is an institution specifically designed to provide education and care for young children, typically those in the preschool age range. In the context of the video, the Auburn Early Education Center in Alabama serves nearly 500 three- to five-year-olds, emphasizing learning through exploration and adventure. The center's approach to education is thematic and project-based, which aligns with the video's theme of engaging young children in meaningful and interactive learning experiences.

💡Lifelong Learning

Lifelong learning refers to the ongoing, voluntary, and self-motivated pursuit of knowledge for personal or professional reasons. The video underscores the importance of fostering a love for learning in children from an early age, as exemplified by the various educational adventures undertaken by the students at the Auburn Early Education Center. The term is used to describe the overarching goal of the center's educational philosophy, where children are encouraged to explore, ask questions, and seek answers, thereby developing a foundation for continuous learning throughout their lives.

💡Thematic Curriculum

A thematic curriculum is an educational approach where learning is organized around central themes or topics that are of interest to the students. This method is highlighted in the video as a way to keep children engaged and motivated. For instance, the students at the Auburn Early Education Center might choose to learn about Brazil, which then becomes the central theme for a series of related activities and projects, such as constructing a model plane to 'fly' there, thus integrating various subjects like geography, science, and art.

💡Project-Based Learning

Project-based learning is an educational method that involves students in projects that provide hands-on experiences and promote problem-solving, critical thinking, and collaboration. The video describes how the students at the center undertake long-term projects as a class, which are driven by their natural curiosity. An example from the script is the students deciding to 'fly' to Brazil by constructing a model plane, which involves researching about the destination, planning the journey, and creating a physical representation of the plane.

💡Authentic Purpose

Authentic purpose in education refers to the idea that learning activities should have real-world relevance and meaning for students. The video emphasizes this concept by showing how the curriculum is designed to engage students in activities that are not just academic exercises but are tied to real-life scenarios and experiences. For example, the students' decision to give a funeral to their deceased class pet praying mantis leads to a project that includes writing, drawing, and designing invitations, all of which serve an authentic purpose and make learning more meaningful.

💡Problem Solving

Problem solving is the process of identifying, understanding, and figuring out the solution to a problem. In the context of the video, problem solving is a key component of the students' learning experiences. It is evident when the students are tasked with figuring out how to 'travel' to Brazil, which leads them to construct a model plane, a task that requires them to apply their knowledge, think critically, and collaborate to solve the problem of how to represent the journey.

💡Cooperation

Cooperation in education refers to the act of working together with others to achieve a common goal. The video script mentions that the students at the Auburn Early Education Center engage in long-term projects that require cooperation. This is evident when students work together to construct a cardboard cruise ship or a model plane, where each child contributes to the collective effort, demonstrating the importance of teamwork and collaboration in their learning process.

💡Literacy Curriculum

A literacy curriculum is a structured program of study designed to develop students' abilities to read, write, and communicate effectively. The video script describes how personal stories are central to the literacy curriculum at the Auburn Early Education Center. Students are given opportunities to share their own experiences, which are then discussed, voted on, and written about by their peers. This approach not only enhances their literacy skills but also encourages social interaction and communication.

💡Creative Spelling

Creative spelling refers to the practice of allowing students to spell words in unconventional ways, especially in the early stages of learning to write. The video script mentions that the principal of the Auburn Early Education Center believes in the value of creative spelling, arguing that it encourages young children to express themselves freely and develop a positive attitude towards writing. This approach is exemplified by the students' stories, where they are encouraged to write about their experiences without being constrained by conventional spelling rules.

💡Technology Integration

Technology integration in education refers to the process of incorporating digital tools and resources into the learning environment to enhance the teaching and learning experience. The video highlights the use of 'Smart Boards' and internet resources at the Auburn Early Education Center as a means to support literacy and thematic learning. For example, students use the internet to research about Brazil, and Smart Boards are used to facilitate interactive learning activities, demonstrating how technology can be leveraged to make learning more engaging and effective.

Highlights

Creating a school for nearly 500 three- to five-year-olds can be chaotic, but it's a recipe for learning adventures.

Auburn Early Education Center in Alabama engages students with long-term projects based on their curiosity.

Teachers guide students to resources and the Internet to focus their learning efforts on chosen themes.

Students decide on themes and are motivated by the purpose behind their activities.

The classroom environment is designed to foster cooperation, problem-solving, and critical thinking.

Everyday events, like the death of a class pet, can trigger engaging and meaningful projects.

Students practice writing and drawing by designing invitations for the class pet's funeral.

Personal stories are central to the literacy curriculum, with students sharing their experiences.

Students vote on which story to write about and illustrate, promoting engagement and critical thinking.

The Center allows creative spelling alternatives, encouraging young children to explore writing.

Smart Boards in every classroom enhance literacy efforts and make learning interactive.

Technology, such as Smart Boards, empowers students to take charge of their learning.

The curriculum is designed to develop lifelong learners who are resourceful and excited about learning.

Students are encouraged to be problem solvers and to use resources effectively.

The Center's approach to education is showcased on edutopia.org for insights into effective public education.

Transcripts

>>Narrator: Creating the school to serve nearly 500 three-

to five-year-olds might seem like the recipe for disaster.

Some days are chaotic here.

Like when the Auburn University Pep Squad shows up.

Or when a tornado touches down nearby.

>>Principal: Boys and girls,

please move into your weather locations at this time.

We will come around and check on everyone.

>>Narrator: But on a typical day, the students and staff

at Alabama's Auburn Early Education Center are busily engaged

in learning adventures, like sailing a cardboard cruise ship to Africa.

>>Teacher: Okay, Jordan and Dylan are going

to pass your life vests out to you.

>>Narrator: Or flying a plastic plane to Brazil.

>>Teacher: You go ahead and give Ara your boarding pass.

>>Narrator: For them the lifelong learning exploration can't begin

too soon.

>>Teacher: Bon voyage!

>>Narrator: Just about everything that goes

on here involves long-term projects that students undertake as a class.

>>Sandy: Do you know where that is, what it's called?

>>Student: South America, Brazil.

>>Sandy: It is Brazil and this is the place

that you are you are studying about.

>>Student: That is a big place!

>>Narrator: The theme for each project evolves

out of the natural curiosity of the kids.

>>Teacher: Here is some information about the camel,

and it says, "The animal..."

>>Narrator: Once the students decide on a theme, teachers guide them

to resources and books and on the Internet,

to help focus their efforts.

>>Lilli: Let's say that the theme is Brazil.

And they begin to study Brazil by going the Internet,

they look up information.

Then they decide if we want to go there.

And the teachers pose to them, "Well, how can we get there?"

>>Student: And if they didn't have the map, they couldn't get there.

>>Sandy: They couldn't get there!

>>Lilli: Then they may decide, "Well, we're going by plane,

we need to construct some type of model of plane.

And the teachers get the Internet resources, the book resources.

They take them on the field trip.

>>Sandy: Where did you get the information to know that?

>>Sandy: Well, we went to the Auburn Airport to see all the instruments.

There was instruments inside planes to make it work.

>>Student: These make us how fast we're going, how slow and these...

>>Lilli: The kids are very highly motivated to be involved,

because they're doing it for a reason.

It's not just an arbitrary "cutesy" activity

that has no real meaning or value for them.

So that's why teaching using thematic curriculum keeps the kids very

engaged in the activities.

>>Teacher: You have to have your passport to get on the plane.

>>Student: This is your Captain speaking, we're flying to Brazil,

and we don't expect a lot of turbulence.

>>Lilli: All of it involves developing the plan,

carrying it through, writing about it, and cooperation, problem solving,

critical thinking, are all pieces to getting that project complete.

>>Stayce: Remind everybody what we decided

that we needed at our funeral.

>>Narrator: With a bit of skillful coaching, everyday events,

like the death of the class pet praying mantis can trigger

engaging projects.

>>Stacye: Can you share with them what you decided needed

to go on the tombstone?

>>Student: Bugs' name.

>>Stacye: Bugs' name.

>>Narrator: After her students decided

to give the deceased a funeral, teacher, Stacy Jones,

found a way to fold all of their required curriculum into the project.

Among other things, they practiced writing and drawing

by designing invitations for the ceremony.

>>Stacye: I got in science.

I got in social studies.

I got in math, I got in writing.

I got in everything all through an authentic purpose for learning.

They were interested.

And once you have been interested, they can't get enough information.

They love school, because they're interested, because it's authentic.

>>Student: I went to the dentist for them to take pictures of my teeth.

And I got...

>>Narrator: Since most kindergartners favorite subject is themselves,

personal stories are at the center of the literacy curriculum here.

>>Student: I forgot that I had a virus.

And when I went home, I threw up on myself.

Are there any questions?

>>Narrator: Each day, three students get a chance to tell their story,

and answer questions about it.

>>Stayce: At the beginning of the year, every story is one sentence.

"I went to the beach."

"I went shopping."

"I went to the mall."

And as the children are asking these questions, they realize,

"I need to be sure to say these details,

because it's a pretty important part."

>>Student: I fell, and then I hit my head on my table.

It was a round table, and it was a coffee one.

>>Stayce: Journal is great.

Academically, they're writing, they're reading every day.

But more importantly, they're going to be talking

to people the rest of their life.

So that's my big push for it is learning how to socialize

and communicate with other people.

>>Stayce: All right, which story are you going to vote on?

Are you going to vote on the teeth?

Are you going to vote on the sick?

>>Narrator: The students consider each story and vote on which one

to write about and illustrate that day.

>>Stayce: Hey, guys, I'm looking for those periods

that go at the end of sentences.

>>Stayce: Now I hear another sound in "hi-s."

"Hi-s."

>>Student: "C?"

>>Narrator: Early student writing rarely conforms

to conventional spelling rules.

But principal Lilli Land sees value in allowing creative alternatives.

>>Lilli: A five-year-old child should not be expected

to spell every word conventionally correct.

Many 35-year-olds may not spell every word conventionally correct,

but use "spell check" when they're on the computer.

But with a young child, you want to turn them onto the writing.

"Man, I can write this!

You know, I can be an author!"

>>Student: I'm having a good time.

>>Lilli: So you get those juices going, you get the kids interested.

They write, and then the way

that they write gives the teacher very useful information

about where they are in their development in the stages of reading.

>>Coach: I would probably say you're exactly right.

Most of the time we're going to see that "s," it's going to be an "s."

>>Stayce: Right.

>>Coach: And we're still looking at September

so let's look at where he is now.

>>Stayce: All right.

>>Narrator: In addition to a dedicated reading coach,

the Center has installed "Smart Boards" in every classroom

to enhance their literacy effort.

>>Sandy: What's that letter?

>>Student: "b."

>>Sandy: "b."

All right.

Here's what I want you to do.

I want you to pull this "b" on top of that "d."

Pull it down.

Now, are they the same?

No.

>>Sandy: Before you could show it to them.

But the fact that they can bring it over and put it on top of each other,

and because they can manipulate it, makes it so much easier for them

to learn, and it's so much fun for them to do.

And they're actually in charge of it.

they have the power.

And therefore, it's more pertinent to them, I think.

>>Sandy: What's that letter?

"n"

>>Sandy: What's that letter?

"e"

>>Sandy: What's that letter?

"n"

>>Sandy: Look how smart you are.

You're so smart, I can't even take it!

All right, what comes after...

>>Interviewer: How do you like going on the big white boards,

and going on the Internet?

>>Jared: You can just learn!

>>Lilli: Technology has really just taken us to another level.

>>Teacher: It says, "All the plants or plant life of a place."

>>Lilli: When kids have questions about things that they are learning,

then it's just with a click of the mouse, and they're there.

And not only can they just get information,

but they can see all kinds of pictures.

They can see video clips.

So it just opens the door to their world of learning.

>>Sandy: Look!

It's not anaconda.

It's an otter!

Why do you think the otter's coming up there?

>>Student: Because he eats anacondas!

>>Sandy: He's probably saying, "Look!

I have dinner.

I'm going to eat me some anacondas," isn't he?

>>Sandy: These kids have a very authentic, real purpose for learning.

>>Teacher: Now, Jordan's going to stamp your passport.

>>Lilli: We're trying to teach them to be lifelong learners.

What are resources?

When you want to find something out, what do you do?

You don't go to an adult, and just have them feed you all the

information you know.

You have to learn to be a problem solver.

And you have to be resourceful.

And we have to keep them excited about the process of learning.

>>Student: Don't go yet!

Because there's lots of airplanes and birds covering the sky.

>>Student: Okay.

I'm hanging up.

>>Narrator: For more information on what works

in public education, go to edutopia.org.