From Seeds and Soils, EY2 of BINUS SCHOOL Simprug Cultivate Skills and Nature Connection

It’s a pleasing sight to see our young children fueling their natural curiosity and embracing the joy of discovery by enthusiastically engaging in planting activities! The EY2 students had this fun and enriching opportunity, led by Ms. Jocelyn Modejar, EY&EL Affective Coordinator & PYP Vice Principal.

This session demonstrates BINUS SCHOOL Simprug’s commitment to providing hands-on learning experiences to shape specific affective and socio-emotional skills while integrating BINUS SPIRIT values. By participating in the planting, students not only learned to get their hands dirty and explore soil properties, but also enhanced various skills and deepened their connection with nature. 

Getting Down to Earth: Exploring Soil and Seeds 

What might initially seem like a simple academic activity, the planting session was carefully designed by Ms. Jocelyn, the lead of the EY&EL Affective program. Her intention is clear:  to nurture the students’ emotional development and well-being, which are key components of the BINUS SCHOOL Simprug Early Years Affective program.

Introducing what might seem like just dirt, Ms. Jocelyn introduced two different types of soil, explaining their textures, colours, and functions to the young Binusians. The children were then invited to touch the soil, feeling it run through their fingers and stick to their palms, engaging their sense of touch.

Using tools like hand shovels and polybags, the students learned the process of preparing for planting by patiently filling the polybags with the designated amount of soil. Ms. Jocelyn and the teachers also allowed them to choose their very own favourite fruit plant, from cucumber to watermelon. By facilitating them to do so, the EY2 students trained a sense of ownership, which also encouraged them to care for their chosen plant throughout the growing process.

Each of the planting steps, guided by Ms. Jocelyn, fostered a positive and collaborative atmosphere as they explored. This hands-on learning also cultivated patience as they observed the seed. These include fine motor skills, as well as soft skills such as curiosity and appreciation of nature, patience and sense of ownership or Responsibility, even empathy and caring for their plants.  

Moreover, the planting steps also introduced them to early scientific inquiry and sharpened their observation skills, which are invaluable assets for these aspiring IB learners. 

Nurturing Growth Skills: Learning Responsibility and Care 

Once the seeds were planted, students were taught to water them and then watch the magic of nature’s process transform the planted seed into a flourishing plant. The small act further nurtured their understanding of responsibility and caring concepts, connecting students’ activity to the Unit of Inquiry and the effort of the socio-emotional approach that BINUS SCHOOL Simprug implements. 

While each of the planting activities was filled with laughter, curiosity, and a sense of accomplishment, students also deepened their understanding of the plant’s life cycle. They eventually absorbed the science of the plant’s basic needs to go through the life cycle safely and the concept of the plant’s growth. Accordingly, they develop curiosity about the natural world that can lead them to broader scientific exploration. 

Furthermore, the ongoing process of assisting their plants’ growth can also encourage them to demonstrate striving for excellence, perseverance, and innovation, which are three key values of BINUS SPIRIT.

What Ms. Jocelyn and the teachers facilitated was going beyond simply guiding our EY students into the world of gardening. More importantly, they inspired our little BINUSIANs to connect more deeply with nature, stepping away from excessive digitalisation and being fully present in their enriching surroundings. 

Correspondingly, BINUS SCHOOL Simprug hopes that it will further promote their understanding of Integrity, efforts for Responsibility, and fostering Teamwork, which fully represent our school’s SPIRIT principles. 

Developing Essential Skills Through Nature

In essence, activities like planting sessions significantly enhance the development of essential skills of our little Binusians, laying a foundation for more complex learning.

The process of digging soil using tools, planting seeds, and watering trained and strengthened their fine motor skills, as well as hand and brain coordination. By getting their hands dirty, touching, rubbing, and feeling the soil’s textures, they had an enriching experience to explore and develop their sensory sense and awareness. 

Furthermore, upon learning how to plant the seed correctly and care for its growth, the EY2 students also strengthen their problem-solving skills along with responsibility. The plant’s growth transformation allowed them to learn the art of observing patiently, leading to a deeper understanding of the scientific concept related to living things.

This hands-on experience fully reinforces a wide range of capacities, from hard and socio-emotional skills to an early scientific approach, which will benefit them as they progress through their educational journey. 

Exploration Activities for EY Growth

Hands-on exploration effectively builds young learners’ skills. BINUS SCHOOL Simprug will continue this engaging method, making learning tangible and nurturing SPIRIT values for their future.