ANNUAL REPORT 2019
ENGAGED STAKEHOLDERS
Children and
communities
KU
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KU views children as citizens, active
contributors within and to their
communities, and highly valued
stakeholders within KU. Throughout
KU centres, the voices and actions
of children help shape our programs
with amazing results. Each KU
centre further enhances the
experiences of children by building
connections with its community
to inform practice, learn and share
information, and to advocate on the
issues that matter most.
KU Bradfield Park’s Mary Elizabeth’s
House project showcases what can
happen when educators look to
children as co-constructors of their
own learning. This year long project
was incited from one astute and
inquisitive observation from the
preschool children at the centre.
“After reading the book ‘Inside Mary
Elizabeth’s House’ by Pamela Allen,
the children were puzzled as to how
the monster featured in the story was
able to get in and out of the house if
it could not even fit inside,” explains
Director Kamila Jendykiewicz.
The children’s curiosity led them
to write a letter to the author, who
wrote back “…I made up the story
of Mary Elizabeth and I was so busy
and anxious to help her, when I
made up the monster I forgot to
build a house that was just right
for both of them. Would you like to
make a house that is just right for
them both?”
“We said ‘yes’ and from there the
magical journey began.”
Driven by the children’s evolving
ideas, the house was gradually and
collaboratively constructed as a
learning community with the support
of KU Bradfield Park educators. With
each new contemplation, new lines
of inquiry were launched, and the
educators introduced resources such
as ‘Makedo’, green screen technology,
animation and digital book making to
further enhance learning.
The project enabled the children to
engage in an incredible range of
meaningful learning experiences,
and empowered them to be
capable, active participants in their
own learning.
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