Our Pre-Primary embarked on an extraordinary voyage as our entire PP block transformed into a bustling cruise port.

Drawing inspiration from the Reggio Emilia approach’s emphasis on the environment as the ‘third teacher’ and Te Whāriki’s principle of belonging and exploration, we created an immersive learning experience where our young learners didn’t just imagine, they lived it.

From issuing passports and boarding passes to navigating through meticulously designed docks and discovering cruise facilities, every corner became a canvas for authentic, experiential learning. Our students got engaged with rich, contextual vocabulary as they checked in at terminals, explored the captain’s deck, and discovered onboard amenities, transforming abstract concepts into tangible understanding.

This provocation honoured children as capable, curious explorers while weaving together the threads of dramatic play, spatial awareness, literacy development, and social interaction. As our students stepped into real world roles, they constructed meaning through active participation, embodying the very essence of learning as a collaborative, investigative journey.

When the environment speaks, children listen. When children explore, knowledge unfolds.