The Octopus’ Garden | Play Based Animal Biology, Art & Math

𝗪𝗲𝗹𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗲 𝘁𝗼 𝘁𝗵𝗶𝘀 𝗰𝗹𝗮𝘀𝘀 𝘄𝗶𝘁𝗵 𝗔𝗹𝗶𝗰𝗲 𝗖𝗮𝗺𝗽𝗯𝗲𝗹𝗹, 𝗳𝗿𝗼𝗺 '𝗜𝗻 𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗥𝗲𝗮𝗹 𝗪𝗼𝗻𝗱𝗲𝗿𝗹𝗮𝗻𝗱'!

From May 2023, group classes from 'In The Real Wonderland' will only be offered on Outschool on a limited/ occasional basis. One-on-one, individually tailored play-based learning sessions will continue to be available on Outschool for the remainder of 2023.
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In this class for young children, we will use stories, literacy, and science to inspire art, sculpture, experimentation, mathematical thinking and play as a way of immersing ourselves in the world – and the mind – of the amazing octopus.

Some people have said that octopuses are one of the most fascinating creatures on earth (and sea!). They have no bones, which allows them to transform their bodies into bizarre shapes, and squeeze through the tiniest of spaces. They can see and taste through their skin, and can transform into the most unimaginable colours to communicate. The octopus has a beak, three hearts, a mouth in its armpit, most of its brain in its tentacles and gives kisses with its suction cups. It is harder to imagine a more alien-like creature. Yet, scientists have discovered some remarkable similarities between octopuses and humans – particularly the capacity for learning, playing, feeling, mischief, curiosity, and connection with others. 

This class uses a teaching approach known as "scientific playworlds", which helps young children develop high-level STEM skills through imaginative play, art and story-telling. Research shows that, compared to circle time classes, this interest-led and play-based approach increases memory retention of science, maths and language concepts, and promotes children's longer-term interest in STEM (Chung, 2016; Fleer, 2017; Williams, 2010).  Each session, we will start by sharing and discussing the story of Inky, a New Zealand octopus who made a daring escape from his aquarium to return to the sea. Our stories will represent diverse characters, including neurodiverse characters. Each week, we will consider Inky’s story from these different perspectives, and explore these ideas in-depth through open-ended art, play and conversation. 

Our weekly explorations will include:

𝗪𝗲𝗲𝗸 𝟭: 𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗘𝘀𝗰𝗮𝗽𝗲 𝗔𝗿𝘁𝗶𝘀𝘁
One of the most mind-boggling things about octopuses is their ability to fit through the smallest of spaces. In this session we will create our own ‘octopus’ to explore this amazing ability. 
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𝗪𝗲𝗲𝗸 𝟮:  𝗖𝗼𝗹𝗼𝘂𝗿𝗳𝘂𝗹 𝗖𝗼𝗺𝗺𝘂𝗻𝗶𝗰𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗖𝗮𝗺𝗼𝘂𝗳𝗹𝗮𝗴𝗲
The colours of an octopus can be out of this world. After exploring the different ways that octopuses use colour to communicate and camouflage, we will create an abstract artwork using all the colours of the octopus. 

𝗪𝗲𝗲𝗸 𝟯:  𝗜𝗻𝗸𝘆 𝗕𝘆 𝗡𝗮𝗺𝗲
Octopuses make their own ink to defend themselves. In this session we will create a beautiful inky artwork to help understand and explore this unusual ability.  

𝗪𝗲𝗲𝗸 𝟰:  𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗢𝗰𝘁𝗼𝗽𝘂𝘀' 𝗚𝗮𝗿𝗱𝗲𝗻
Today we will explore what the world might feel and look like from an octopus’ perspective, and create an underwater garden that any octopus would be happy to live in. 

𝗪𝗲𝗲𝗸 𝟱: 𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗢𝗰𝘁𝗼𝗽𝘂𝘀, 𝗠𝘆 𝗙𝗿𝗶𝗲𝗻𝗱
To finish our class, we will consolidate all of our learning by creating a beautiful octopus sculpture. 


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Ｉｎｃｌｕｓｉｖｅ　Ｐｌａｙ　＆　Ｌｅａｒｎｉｎｇ　Ｅｘｐｅｒｉｅｎｃｅｓ...Ｆｏｒ　Ａｌｌ　Ｌｅａｒｎｅｒｓ

All children have preferred ways of engaging with learning content. 

Typically, children learn best when they can engage with content in a way that reflects their own unique preferences. 

I endeavor to ensure that this class is inclusive of all learners (including E and 2E learners). I do this by structuring classes, activities and conversations so each child can choose to engage in the whole class, using whatever way is most appropriate, meaningful and rewarding for them.

In this class, where we will be exploring the life and world of octopuses, I structure each experience so that children may elect to engage through any one or more of the following ways:
~ sensory experience
~ exploring and discovering the properties of materials
~ manipulative and fine motor activity
~ sorting/ aligning/ categorising/ patterning activity
~ exploring cause and effect
~ problem-solving
~ construction
~ imitation and role play
~ fantasy/ imaginative play and creativity
~ art and artistic play

Because I maintain very small group sizes, I am able to ensure that each child is able to participate in whatever way is most meaningful for them. This means that each child is able to enjoy the benefits of a group class, while at the same time being supported with an individualised and personalised learning experience.
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Ｔｅａｃｈｉｎｇ　Ａｐｐｒｏａｃｈ

This information will help you decide if my approach is a "good fit" for your child.  

This class is capped at a maximum of five learners, to ensure each child has the best possible child-led, personalised learning experience. I believe that learning comes not from memorising abstract facts, but though children being able to create and make sense of new ideas. To guide this learning, we need to have immersive, two-way conversations with children. Small class sizes allow me to work personally in this way, with each child. 

Child-led learning means that your child decides how they participate and what they focus on in our class. In this class, I do not tell children what to think about, or what to focus on. Instead, my goal is to understand your child's unique internal motivation. I do this by using stories, art, creativity and conversation to spark engagement. I then support each child to respond to these ideas and to follow their interests in a way that the class content and material comes to life for them. This helps make their learning become meaningful and sustained. 

You may see some differences in my classes, from the traditional US-based pre-K/ K/ early elementary and seated classroom approach. My aim is to extend your child's learning beyond our allocated screen time, through teaching and classroom practices such as:

🦋 Child-led learning (not teacher-led instruction)

🦋 Shared understanding (not imposing meaning)

🦋 Individualised and humanising relationships (not standardised expectations)

🦋 Hands-on, authentic play (not lectures)

🦋 Deep experimentation with creative, scientific, mathematical and relational process (not factory produced products or worksheets)

🦋 Collaboration and meaning (not rote memorising)

🦋 Imaginative resourcefulness (not mundane replication) 

🦋 Growing children's passions (not their performance)

🦋 Reading and responding to children’s cues, behaviours and signals (not managing, pathologising or fixing them)

🦋 Being an adult who is in calm control (not an adult who is battling for control and compliance)

My teaching approach tends to suit families who are seeking a humanising and wholistic learning experience for their young child.