Implementation and Cases of Exploratory Thematic Activities in Kindergarten

Author: Compiled by the Shanghai Municipal Education Commission Teaching and Research Office
Publisher:
Publishing Date: 2001-06-01
Features: The creation of "Exploratory Thematic Activities in Kindergartens" is a breakthrough in the curriculum structure of Shanghai's second-phase curriculum reform. Through this activity, we aim to truly embody the child as the subject, fostering their sense of agency; to truly develop their individuality and teamwork spirit in thematic activities; and to truly cultivate their interest, sound personality, and potential in exploratory activities. "Implementation and Cases of Exploratory Thematic Activities in Kindergartens" is one of the research achievements of the "Exploratory Thematic Activities in Kindergartens" project organized by the Teaching and Research Office of the Shanghai Municipal Education Commission. Curriculum and textbook reform is a multi-factor systematic engineering that requires a balanced and comprehensive consideration of the relationships between various factors and links, avoiding isolated, one-sided, or extreme approaches to issues in curriculum reform. We must place early childhood education within the broader context of modern education systems, addressing the relationship between early childhood education and subsequent education; place it within the context of quality education, addressing the relationship between single-subject courses and integrated courses, as well as the relationship between game activities, teaching activities, physical activities, life activities, and exploratory thematic activities; and place it within the context of the knowledge economy and the information age, addressing the relationships between knowledge and technology, science and humanities, intelligence and personality. Curriculum and textbook reform is an engineering of inheritance and development—it must inherit the fine traditions of early childhood education and advanced domestic and international experiences while also making breakthrough reforms, using these breakthroughs to drive the overall development of early childhood education and adapt to the needs of the times. We must study theories such as Piaget's, Vygotsky's, and Gardner's Multiple Intelligences, but more importantly, apply, enrich, and develop these theories in practice. In early childhood education, not only should there be teaching activities, game activities, and life activities, but new courses and activities can also be introduced. Exploratory thematic activities are a new type of course and a new form of activity, of course still immature and lacking experience, requiring further development in practice. We hope, under the requirements of quality education in the new century, to systematically integrate various courses, activities, and teaching models that contribute to the holistic development of children's moral, intellectual, physical, and aesthetic education into a scientific system. Curriculum and textbook reform is an engineering that combines educational philosophy reform with practical operational reform. It must be guided by reforms in educational philosophy to drive reforms in practical operations, while also using the practical results of operational reforms to embody the reforms in educational philosophy. Today, we have proposed new concepts such as "innovation spirit and practical ability" and "student-centered development," which have been recognized and supported by the education community and society at large. This is the trend of educational development. The current challenge lies in how to operationalize these concepts and how to embody them. "Exploratory Thematic Activities in Kindergartens" is a new approach, a new attempt. We hope, through this systematic curriculum and series of operations—including "Exploratory Thematic Activities in Kindergartens," "Exploratory Curriculum in Primary Schools," "Inquiry Curriculum in Junior High Schools," and "Research Curriculum in High Schools"—to lay a solid foundation for the innovative spirit of our nation.