Early years

A new research-based series encourages early years educators to take advantage of everyday teaching and learning opportunities to improve young children’s scientific understanding, and shares four step-by-step activities for the classroom or learning at home.

Researchers have assessed the impact of physically active lessons on students’ educational, health and cognition outcomes. They found that implementing physical activity into classroom lessons has a positive impact on some domains.

In today’s Q&A, Indonesian early childhood educator Hikmah Mulia Dewi – who made the Global Teacher Prize top 50 this year – shares an example of a hands-on learning activity for students exploring the batik industry, and details of the programs she’s developed to involve parents and the community.

An early childhood teacher who founded her own preschools in Indonesia has beaten more than 10 000 nominees to be named one of the top 50 educators in this year’s Global Teacher Prize.

In today’s reader submission, Dr John Langrehr discusses how teachers can develop student mindsets for ‘3C thinking’ and shares examples of questions and statements you can use in the classroom.

How one Adelaide primary school has used Australian Early Development Census data to improve its transition and orientation to school programs.

‘I don’t know, but we can find out’ is one of the most powerful things you can say to students, says one educator. See why play-based learning works in her classroom.