At St Clare's the Prep classroom is a fun and exciting place where students are made to feel welcomed and connected with others.
Our Prep classrooms include an open space for group and individual activities, with a large carpeted area for storytelling, singing and dancing. A wet area for painting and construction flows out to an outdoor learning space. A kitchen and preparation area is shared between two classrooms.
Our Prep classrooms contain furniture, resources and equipment that allow for a holistic, play-based approach to learning. The classrooms contain vibrant colours, soft seating and adjustable tables that can grow as our learners grow. Our flexible and contemporary learning spaces allow Prep teachers to communicate and connect with students in new and different ways.
The classrooms are structured to provide a balanced curriculum for children to engage in the five contexts for learning:
Play – dramatic play, exploratory play, manipulative play, physical play, games with rules
Real life situations – making a garden, celebrating events, e.g. a birthday, Fathers’ Day, new baby, etc. sharing what we’ve done and learnt this week, or plans for the week
Investigations – inquiring, exploring, questioning, testing ideas, using equipment, observing, solving problems
Routines and transitions – transitions promote learning and help organise children as they move from one learning situation to another
Focused learning and teaching – can be planned or can occur spontaneously at the teachable moment
The five contexts for learning:
enable children to use their skills and understandings as capable learners
enable children to have ownership of learning
enable links to be readily built to children’s interests, knowledge and family & community experiences
provide opportunities for choice
provide opportunities for learning associated with the curriculum
promote positive dispositions
© Brisbane Catholic Education, St Clare’s Yarrabilba (2021, 2024, 2023)