REGGIO EMILIA
The rainforest unit we did culminated with students designing and creating a diorama of an animal in the Chiapas rainforest environment. They wrote an informational text about the animal and then presented their final product to the class.
The Reggio Emiliana approach to learning allows for integration within the curriculum. Students are able to make their learning meaningful by relating it to their own experiences and current world issues. It is a hands-on, project-based, style of learning and instruction where all students participate and learn in a way that is meaningful to them.
At Eton School in Mexico City I had the opportunity to learn and work with the Reggio Emiliana framework. I taught second grade at the time and we completed four theme-based projects throughout the year. Students begin each unit with a provocation to spark their curiosity of the subject. Then students write and illustrate a personal experience related to the topic of study. This allows them to relate to the concepts and connect with the importance of the topic. Following this, the class creates a web of information they already know and possible strands for learning. Students formulate questions around the topic that are used to guide our learning. As students investigate the topic, they begin to brainstorm ideas for a final project. We also take a field trip and invite an expert into the classroom to share with us their experience.
Working in small groups on the Provocation activity
Researching their animal for the diorama project
Writing the informational text about their rainforest animal