Learning Vision @ Sengkang Hospital opened in May 2018. Being a new Centre, there was a need to foster a bond and establish a trusting relationship with our respective stakeholders such as our Parents and the Hospital in order to better provide a more holistic learning experience for our children.
'Steps to a Healthy, Happy Me!’ was launched to encourage a healthier lifestyle in a more holistic way, which not only covers having a Healthy Body, but also having a Healthy Heart and Mind. Tying it into our curriculum, we broke down the project into 3 sub-categories and found ways to incorporate a healthy lifestyle at home, in school or in the offices. Having events throughout the span of the project would also allow our Parents to take some time off and spend the day with their children.
Over the span of the 3 academic terms, the Kindergarten 1 children discussed and explored ways to maintain a healthy lifestyle and to apply it to their daily lives through strong partnership with parties outside the school. In addition to staying physically healthy, the children investigated the importance and methods to achieving positive mental and emotional health.
Throughout the implementation of this project, activities and areas of exploration were in accordance to Learning Vision’s curriculum and termly themes.
‘Steps To a Healthy, Happy Me!’ were broken down into 2 sub-categories and in each term, the children explored different aspects of the project split two ways between the 2 Kindergarten 1 classes that were involved.
Being a healthy person includes having a healthy heart beyond its physical state. Having a healthy heart means being kind and empathetic towards one another. Through the cubbies of Kindsville, they learnt different ways to always help someone in need, be it at home, in school or outside. The children read through the storybooks given by the Singapore Kindness Movement and explored the Kindsville website.
As part of the collaborative efforts between the Centre and the Medical Social Workers (MSW) of Sengkang Hospital, 2 MSWs visited the Centre to spend the morning with the children. They engaged the children in a sharing session about what they do and how the children can contribute back to the hospital. After the session, the children had a deeper understanding that kindness and selflessness means putting others before themselves and making sure that the community around them is happy.
To honor the Medical Social Workers, the children participated in the Social Workers’ Day celebration at the community hospital where they helped the MSWs raise awareness on the significance of their job and the importance of helping others. In the form of the Kindness Flower which they have prepared, the children gave the staff of Sengkang Hospital a tiny token of appreciation in exchange for a Kindness Pledge made by each individual that they approached.
In addition to having a Healthy Heart, the children learnt the importance of having a positive mental and emotional health under the topic of heaving a Healthy Mind. Through the movie ‘Inside Out’, the children talked about each emotions, and identified situations that would cause different individuals to feel differently. Children also discussed how they can keep their mind healthy. Through ideas from books and the internet, each of them shared an activity that would help people feel relaxed or happy.
One suggestion the children made to having a healthy mind would be to go outdoors for walk and play. They had frequent outdoor sessions of Nature Appreciation. The teachers took the opportunity to bring lessons out so that the children may occasionally enjoy a change of environment.
Making up the 3rd and most important component of being a Healthy Person, the children learnt about the importance of having and maintaining a Healthy Body. The children identified two key points that would contribute to having a healthy body: exercise and a healthy diet.
When discussing on having a healthy diet, the children explored more on the parts that make up a healthy meal as well as alternatives that are available. They also looked into a Singaporean’s meal, and found different ways to recreate our favorite local dishes to keep them yummy yet healthy. Parental involvement was present in this component as families were encouraged to explore the different dishes and produce their own healthier versions of it in ‘My Learning Journal: Making Healthier Choices’.
After trying out the dishes at home, the children came back and presented their weekend activity with the class, highlighting the major changes that they did in their recipes. Healthy food can be delicious too!
Between their day-to-day activities, lessons and routines, the children made it a point to have frequent ‘brain breaks’ as part of their efforts to having a Healthy Mind and a Healthy Body. Their ‘brain breaks’ could vary from simple stretching exercises or coordination games to a full 3-minute Zumba workout together.
As an extension of the lesson, the children went on an excursion to the Katapult Trampoline Park that taught them that exercising goes beyond the traditional jogging or visiting the gym with alternatives to keep them active and healthy while having fun!
The children made a visit to Kin Yan Agrotech Farm as an extension to the lesson on Healthy Eating. They learnt all about the vegetables that they eat and found out a lot of interesting facts. The children even had a hands-on experience when exploring Aloe Vera as well as growing their own pea sprouts, which they were encouraged to consume after a period.
To encourage a healthy lifestyle at home, we organized a workshop where parents gathered to learn different skills, techniques and physical activities that they can do with their child as well as the whole family with fun and simple exercises.
To encourage family bonding and going outdoors, we organized a ‘Family Day @ The Zoo’ to celebrate the end of Term 2 where we invited families of LV@SKH to spend time and unwind together. They had an enjoyable day in the sun with teachers and friends.
As we reached the end of the project implementation, the children planned for a Healthy Carnival to consolidate all that they have learnt since January. Keeping in mind the project objectives, the children brainstormed, planned and took part in the event which included themselves, their families, families of LV@SKH as well as some staff from Sengkang Hospital.
Through this project, the children have learnt all about empathy as well as the importance of self-care. It is essential to inculcate these values to the children especially when giving back to the community as we are shaping future (empathetic) leaders in the process. Above all, we had fun learning beyond the classroom.
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