EARLY YEARS
CURRICULUM OVERVIEW
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Introduction -
Early Years Curriculum Overview
Green School’s vision is of a natural, holistic, student-centered play-based learning environment that empowers
and inspires our students to be creative, innovative and green. Green School Early Years programme offers a
student-centric education built around a developmentally appropriate version of the three frames of learning.
Our Mission is to educate young leaders in global citizenship. Our purpose is to champion a new model of
learning that connects the timeless lessons from nature to everything we do and inspires students to think
creatively and playfully about their world.
The Early Years programme in all classes is built around seven areas of learning :
1. Physical Development (Gross Motor and Fine Motor)
2. Social Emotional
3. Language Development
4. Cognitive
5. Creative Expression
6. Bahasa Indonesia
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The Big Four
The Holistic learning at Green School focus on The Big Four which are Emotional, Intellectual, Physical and
Expressive.
Green School Skills
In Green School, we believe that students learn more from how they are taught than from what they are taught.
Our pedagogical belief is that learning is most impactful when it is: holistic, inquiry-based, real, interconnected,
collective, challenging, democratic, interpersonal, iterative, safe and lifelong. These learning principles
are designed to create a sustainable environment in which students can grow and nurture their skills and
competencies.
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By nurturing ‘Green School Skills’ in our students we prepare them for their journey as learners for the rest
of their lives and as passionate friends of the environment. Students learn these skills through every part of our
program, including projects and lessons that align with the Green School purpose of
‘A Community of Learners Making Our World Sustainable’
Green School Skills
Think Creatively Adapt
Bend like bamboo
Be original. Be imaginative
Think Critically Be Aware
Dig deeper. Ask why. Look within. Figure yourself out.
Make connections.
Think in Systems Communicate Solve Problems
Step back and see the whole picture Process, organize, & Figure it out. Go for it.
coherently express ideas
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Three Frames of Learning
The pedagogy used in Green School is the Three Frames of Learning. This defines how we deliver the content
of our courses in the classroom. This scaffold is designed to provide a consistent, relevant, well-rounded and
comprehensive learning experience. The three frames of learning are:
1. Thematic Frame
2. Proficiency Frame
3. Experiential Frame
Thematic Frame
This frame is an interdisciplinary approach to learning where units are focused on a particular theme. Thematic
units inspire students through relevant concepts and real-world experiences. Thematic lessons are holistic in
that they engage multiple styles of intelligence and learning (the Big Four). They are aligned with Green School’s
purpose and ‘Learning and Living Ambitions’ in that teachers lead activities designed around Green School Skills
in each Thematic Unit. Each learning neighbourhood approaches thematics differently to match our practice with
human development and growth.
Thematic Lessons in Early Years are used for developing high engagement / love of learning and initial concept
building. They supply the creative, experiential, meaningful context for topics studied. Whenever possible,
thematic lessons are Integrated, cross-curricular and infused with the full range of the arts (visual, practical,
musical, dramatic).
Proficiency Frame
The Proficiency frame focuses on core, discrete intellectual competencies that require repetition to reach
proficiency, namely in Literacy and Math. Students know their skills and how to advance them to the next level.
Attention to detail for individual learners maximises success in this frame.
The proficiency frame in Early Years is dedicated to learning specific core skills, which form the basis of literacy,
numeracy and language other than English (Bahasa Indonesia). The lessons are driven by what the children are
learning and are differentiated to meet students’ needs.
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Experiential Frame
Experiential learning at Green School is the “hands-on getting dirty” part of Green School. Whether it means
working in the school gardens, creating art, building out of bamboo, learning first aid, or carrying out work
experience, you will find students exploring and problem solving around the campus and around Bali. Students
in every Learning Neighbourhood engage in real-world practical projects that deepen their understanding of
their physical place in the world.
In Early Years, this frame is dedicated to linking school to the real world. Sometimes mystery guests visit to deliver
lessons in their areas of expertise (see below). Lessons that make up the experiential frame include: Jalan Jalan,
Cooking Class, Green Studies, Physical Education, Music, and Yoga.
Mystery Guests
In Early Years, one exciting feature of the experiential frame is the ‘Mystery Guest’ who visits weekly. These members
of the Green School community provide a link to real-world experiences through their stories or activities. For
example, some parents have conducted science experiments with students as other faculty members have come
in to tell stories about their work as a part-time musician. Other families have shared cultural traditions with the
Early Years community that everyone has enjoyed.
Jalan Jalan
This program is designed to link learning to life outside of school. The courses give students valuable life
experience by connecting them to local and global communities, and engaging them with people, projects and
important environmental and human causes - local, national and global. In Early Years, students go on Jalan Jalan
(meaning ‘walkabout) once per term as they leave campus to explore the island of Bali on field trips to places
such as Bali Bird Park, Splash or Yellow Coco.
Mindfulness
Social and emotional skills of mindfulness play an integral role in self development. Mindfulness offers strategies
for helping students to focus their attention, improve self-regulation skills, build resilience and develop a positive
mind-set whilst at school and in life. Mindfulness as a practice in class and school wide is a feature of each day.
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IRESPECT Values
As a school we subscribe to a set of values - I RESPECT. These are the values of Integrity, Responsibility, Equity,
Sustainability, Peace, Empathy, Community, and Trust. At all times we should be teaching and modeling these
values and supporting our students in doing the same. We encourage all teachers to honor and recognize theses
values in our students at all times with on-going dialogue, discussions, and reinforcement.
Integrity – being honest and ethical with thoughts and actions.
Responsibility – being accountable for thoughts, actions and deeds.
Empathy – understanding and caring for the feelings of others.
Sustainability – ensuring that your own body and surroundings are cared for so
they are clean and healthy for as long as possible.
Peace – contributing to a state of harmony.
Equality - respecting everyone as an equal and as an individual.
Community – being part of a group seeking common goals and taking care of each other.
Trust - building and maintaining strong relationships with each other, the school and the environment.
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For more information, please visit us at:
[Link]
Admission enquiries:
admissions@[Link]
Green School Bali
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