Very young children have a natural curiosity and wonderment about their world, which makes Kindergarten a fun place to be. It is also why inquiry-based learning in kindergarten works so well. The ways in which children play, explore and question are delightful, but more importantly, they are also fundamental to their early cognitive development.
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Child-centered, play-based learning is a whole-child educational approach that promotes academic, socio-emotional, and cognitive development through free play, which also involves guided play by a teacher. Play-based learning has been described as developmentally appropriate learning for young children, where children learn at their own pace through the natural process of play.
Place-based education immerses students in local heritage, cultures, landscapes, opportunities and experiences, using these as a foundation for the study of language arts, mathematics, social studies, science and other subjects across the curriculum. Place-based education emphasizes learning through participation in service projects for the local school and/or community.
