Melbourne Graduate School of Education Early Learning Centre (ELC) and Boorai - The Children's Art Gallery

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Physical Environment - Home Rooms

The ELC values the environment as an effective teaching tool. Staff devote time to the design and presentation of learning environments that complement both the indoor and outdoor spaces and curriculum content. Special attention is paid to the display of aesthetically pleasing and stimulating objects, collections and materials and children are taught to appreciate and respect these.

Our indoor environments:

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reinforce connections with nature
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integrate curriculum that explores ideas through words, sounds, images and models
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inspire children
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are centred on creative experiential processing
       
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are aesthetically pleasing
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embrace a model of teaching which is interchangeable
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encourage friendship
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engage children in focused learning
       
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promote literacy
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provide practice of skills
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stimulate children to play with ideas and solve problems creatively
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offer contemporary technology
       

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Physical Environment - Outdoors

The outdoor learning environment is designed to support the development of gross motor skills for all children. Opportunities to climb, swing, run, jump, dig and balance are provided through specialised climbing and perceptual motor equipment and in the sensory areas namely the sandpit and stone pit.

Our outdoor environments:

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develop physical dexterity
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inspire children aesthetically
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stimulate sensory play
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encourage challenge
       
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are diverse
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expand the children's capacity to explore and investigate
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cater for personal spaces
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enhance social skill development
       
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inspire awareness
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encourage empathy
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are tactile
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support the development of physical skills
       

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Environmental Education

Learning experiences, routines, materials and daily interactions with children are presented in such a way so as to reflect positive attitudes and perceptions about all people, in all their diversity, with special attention paid to involving children in peace building within their community. The teachers work with children to help them to develop a healthy self-image and empathy for others and the environment. Within the philosophy, educational objectives are identified which aim to help children learn attitudes, skills and knowledge in preparation for their future lives. The curriculum is designed to:

  • develop positive and caring attitudes to the environment
  • encourage the exploration of the natural and built world
  • provide children with information about sustainable practices such as composting, energy saving, water usage, recycling and to ‘take action’ in support of these practices
  • encourage children to take action in support of sustainable practice within the Centre.
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Learning in the natural world
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Developing sustainable practices
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Caring for the environment
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Developing skills
       
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Exploring nature
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Investigating natural materials
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Developing empathic awareness
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Modelling ecosystems
       
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Studying diversity
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Learning about the environment
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Studying ecosystems
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Taking action in support of sustainable practices
       

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Specialist Classes

The ELC places the arts centrally within its teaching and learning program. Through expressive exploration, children have an opportunity to represent and understand a variety of ideas, emotions, values and cultural beliefs. Specialist programs in dance/drama, music and visual art are scheduled across the morning and afternoon programs. These classes are designed to support Home Room curricula content and further develop the intellectual and expressive potential of children through aural, spatial, kinaesthetic, interpersonal and visual experiences. Children are given many opportunities to generate and develop ideas, gradually develop skills and techniques, bring new products into existence and develop the confidence to share their work through presentation to others.

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Dance
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Dance
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Dance
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Dance
       
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Dance
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Dance/Drama
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Drama
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Music
       
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Music - creating
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Music/Dance
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Visual Art - painting
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Visual Art - painting
       
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Visual Art - clayworks
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Visual Art - modelling
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Visual Art - icebergs
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Visual Art - painting
       

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Visitors and Excursions

The ELC philosophy incorporates the belief that children learn best when they have the opportunity to learn through ‘first hand’ experience. This includes excursions outside the ELC where the children are encouraged to explore their learning within a range of community settings.

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National Gallery of Victoria
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Botanical Gardens
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Japanese band
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Botanical Gardens
       
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African Drum
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Yarra River
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Collingwood Children's Farm
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Indigenous culture
       
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Indigenous music
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details
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details
       
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