(Newswire.net — April 28, 2014) Singapore , Singapore — At Singapore American School (SAS) Early Childhood Center (ECC), the students celebrated the 100th day of school engaged in fun number activities. They learned a song about a 100-legged worm, with each student adding a leg. They decorated a 100th day cake with 100 M&M™s and the highlight was a visit from Zero the Hero. [1]
“If you want children to be intelligent, read them fairy tales. If you want them to be more intelligent, read them more fairy tales,” said Albert Einstein, whom everyone would agree was a highly intelligent person.
In many places, communities, governments and advocates for families and children agree that educating children before the age of five years old, when traditional educational systems start, is important. At SAS, not only are children ages under ages five years old part of a fun learning experience but they are learning to use their imaginations and creativity as well.
In the SAS Early Childhood Center, the fairy tales take on added fun, enticing participants to expand their imagination by offering journeys to unknown lands, meeting new friends and conquering problems. After numerous readings and several versions of a fairy tale, the teachers don costumes as fairy tale characters and playfully act out the story, modeling an array of skills like role-playing, character development, sequencing skills, vocabulary and turn-taking. All these are essential skills in building literacy.
Children use puppets, create masks, paint houses and bridges, and construct castles with blocks as props to retell stories. During their perceptual motor class they may climb a beanstalk or two. They may make porridge and compare what is “too hot” or “just right”.
The most fun though comes when they put on costumes and re-enact the story.
“While students assimilate these many experiences, it is the wonder of play that stimulates their imagination, encourages creativity and builds special relationship with both books and friends,” said Geri Johnson, Primary School and Early Childhood Center Deputy Principal.
The Singapore American School Early Childhood Center is one of the only programs in Singapore accredited by the Western Association of School and Colleges out of the United States. Their program is built around an international curriculum which is aligned with the Pre-Kindergarten program and Primary School program.
Established in 1956, the school primarily serves the American and international expatriate communities of Singapore. SAS is registered with the Singapore Council for Private Education, affiliated with the Office of Overseas Schools through the U.S. Department of State, and is accredited by the Western Association of Schools and Colleges (WASC).
For more information about Singapore American School visit www.sas.edu.sg.
[1] With gratitude to Geri Johnson, Primary School/ECC Deputy Principal and the editorial staff of SAS Crossroads, March 2014 issue.