The ‘Il-Ktieb tal-Istaġuni’ project or ‘The Book of Seasons’, by Il-Perla Kindergarten at the University of Malta funded by the Arts Council Malta and in collaboration with the Gabriel Caruana Foundation together with a number of artists, signifies an important endeavour in nurturing children’s creativity, cultural and environmental awareness.
Stemming from a child’s curiosity about natural cycles, this project aims to intertwine artistic expression with environmental exploration, fostering holistic learning experiences.
An opportunity was also given by the Arts Council Malta to present at a meeting between prospective participants of the scheme as an opportunity to showcase successful stories of projects demonstrating the integration of creative and cultural elements into children’s education.
Vision & Mission
The project aims to explore children’s developmental curiosity, deepen their connection with nature’s cycles, and enliven children’s literature through immersive storytelling, ultimately cultivating positive attitudes towards learning and fostering confident, engaged learners.
The emphasis is on the environment as a pivotal aspect of learning, extending beyond the classroom. Through visits to farms, bookbinding studio, and art spaces, children engage with their surroundings, fostering emergent learning processes tailored to their interests.
Objectives
The project targets outcomes such as developing a strong sense of identity, positive self-image, social adeptness, effective communication skills, and nurturing positive attitudes towards learning.
“Children actively participate in creating personalised books, showcasing creativity in narrative invention and storytelling.”
Spanning a 10-month period, the project employs activities ranging from observation and collection of natural materials to storytelling, creative representation, and book creation.
Unique methods include encouraging multisensory exploration, fostering collaboration, and targeting physical development skills. Children actively participate in creating personalised books, showcasing creativity in narrative invention and storytelling.
Challenges such as health and safety concerns, climate change implications, and catering to diverse needs are addressed. In conclusion, the ‘Il-Ktieb tal-Istaġuni’ project exemplifies the power of integrating arts and environmental education in early childhood development. Its findings underscore the importance of nurturing curiosity, creativity, and environmental consciousness in young learners.
Acknowledgments
The success of this project is attributed to the collaborative efforts of various individuals, including Raffaella Zammit, Glenn Calleja, Esther Cuschieri Huy, Patrick Galea, Martina Camilleri, Antoinette Borg and the staff at Il-Perla Kindergarten, Johanna Gatt, Abigail Church, Antoine Scerri and Maninmekala Ramanathan.
