Akademik Veri Yönetim Sistemi
Creativity in Educational Research and Practice, cilt.33, sa.2, ss.75-79, 2014 (Hakemli Dergi)
This chapter presents and describes in detail a project called ‘Curious Child Time’ (CCT) designed and carried out for the last two years as part of the curriculum of a private kindergarten and primary school named ‘BÜMED Merak Eden Çocuk’ in Istanbul. The aim is to widen children's imagination, to improve their critical thinking skills, to enhance their communication and research skills, and to gain the confidence to present their work to their peers. The process is as follows: At the beginning of every school year, teachers ask their students to think about what they are curious about in their environment, and form questions in their minds. Then they tell these questions to their parents. Among these several questions, parents help their children to choose one and do research on it. Parents are informed about the Vygotskian method; therefore they know how to help their children with the research. After research is done, students do their presentations in class. Among the many questions that children form are: ‘How is fog formed?’, ‘Why are nights dark?’, and ‘Why does the Moon change shape?’ As a result of such a project; we have observed that children learn that being curious is a good thing; they learn to listen to and learn from each other; they learn how to do research; how to reach a piece of information; how to do a presentation; and they learn what each other’s interest areas are.