Children's ideas and decision-making are central to an event-based approach. They are encouraged to plan and enact events in real-life contexts drawing on their experiences. An event-based approach may include investigations, problem-solving, and play. It provides a context for learning that is sustained for the short or long-term and provides opportunities for children to connect knowledge and practice. They draw on knowledge and experiences that are socially and culturally significant from home and the community when planning and enacting events. This approach has been identified as having positive impacts on literacy and numeracy learning.
If utilised effectively, possible characteristics may include: active, agentic, collaborative, creative, explicit, language-rich and dialogic, learner-focused, narrative and playful.
Event-based approach unpacked
Teachers may:
- evoke children's interests and experiences, orienting them towards the staging of an event
- guide planning, preparation, rehearsal and enacting events
- promote child agency, including children's ideas and thoughts in event decision-making
- explicitly teach and model the desired skills of collaboration and cooperation
- access practical teaching and learning resources aligned to age-appropriate pedagogies via the Curriculum gateway (search 'K2 sandpit') or the EFI catalogue (search 'K2 capability suite').
Children may:
- plan, prepare, rehearse and enact events in real-life contexts
- identify, explore and compare culturally diverse activities and objects
- express their opinions and listen to the opinions of others throughout the event-based approach
- identify the thinking used to solve problems in given situations
- share their thinking about possible courses of action.
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approaches of age-appropriate pedagogies in action: event-based approach to further explore the approach.
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