Page 6 - Quintile_37 web

6 • • • Issue 37 • QSI Quintile

AZerbAiJAn

Baku International School

early Childhood rocket Science! subject area. An astronaut from the European
education Space Agency, Matthias Maurer, participated in
In October 2017, one of Baku International a practice EVA with the teachers, and gave them
It takes a team to educate preschool children. School’s Secondary Science teachers, Audra Phelps, valuable feedback on the structure and focus of
At Baku International School, preschool teachers had the privilege of leading a group of teachers in a how an EVA should be conducted with students to
and paraprofessionals take their responsibility very field research program called MINAR5/Spaceward closely model his own training as an astronaut.
seriously. They strive to make students confident Bound UK. QSI was well represented, with teachers
and successful as they begin their educational from three schools—BIS, QSI International School Developing activities like an EVA for classroom
careers. Preschool is the beginning of a larger of Yerevan (Lilit Hakobyan), and QSI International use is a great way to get students involved in
picture. It is the transition to and foundation of School of Minsk (Elizabeth Kurten). This research authentic science by practicing current field
the academic years to come. That is why the school and education initiative, in collaboration with the methods that NASA scientists and astronauts use.
gives students an atmosphere in which they feel UK Centre for Astrobiology, involved scientists and BIS students will have some amazing opportunities
secure and confident in their early years. engineers from NASA and universities worldwide. to practice science in the years to come!

The preschool classrooms at BIS split into The teachers and researchers met in northern
several learning areas, arranged to encourage England at the Boulby Underground Laboratory, in
creativity and learning. For example, the main the Boulby potash mine, which is 1 km below the building better and
learning areas in the 2-year-olds class offer real-life ground and stretches out 15 km under the North better buildings!
sensory activities to develop both fine- and gross- Sea. This is a great place for researchers to use as a
motor skills. In addition to curriculum areas, other Mars analogue because it closely mimics lava tubes Baku International School has been going
spaces important to the children’s daily routine on Mars, and could be used as a possible place through a really amazing transformation over the
include: the art center, library, dramatic play, and for habitation in the future. NASA researchers past several years. This year the new library and
building manipulatives areas. often travel to Mars-analogue sites to test their garden/play area had a HUGE facelift. The garden/
equipment and analyze life that can survive playground area pays homage to Azerbaijan’s
In the 3-year-olds class, students work on gross- extreme environments to help their exploration of history, which is famous for its petroglyphs
motor skills by playing games and participating the surface and subsurface of Mars in a search for dating back at least 5,000 years. Petroglyphs were
in sports. They build upon their work in the possible life outside of this planet. Teachers joined incorporated in the design of the caves both inside
2-year-olds class by honing fine-motor skills with the team as research assistants. They helped gather and out. The children love sitting in there, a sort
activities such as lacing, cutting, drawing, tracing, samples and test equipment, and learned about of a hideout where their imaginations run wild.
writing, and putting puzzles together. In this time, techniques used to analyze samples for chemical Additionally, there is a stream fed by a beautiful
they learn how to share with each other, how to play composition, signs of life and DNA sequencing. In waterfall that meanders through the center of this
fairly, and how to work diligently. addition to the current field method training that garden/play area. Amidst the rolling hills you will

Early childhood education allows a
child to discover themselves through
varied educational activities—inside
the classroom and out.

find quaint little bridges that allow visitors to cross
the river to relaxing gazebos and caves that can be
explored. The children love to roll down the grassy
hills, which is a novelty in the city of Baku. They
love to sit and play on the “life size” hippopotamus,
crocodile, and tortoise. Older students and adults
enjoy time in the gazebos or better still sitting in
the balcony that overlooks the garden/play area and
listening to the cascading sounds of the waterfall.

The re-construction continued when the gym
with atrium ceiling was converted into a two-story
In the 4-year-olds class, students continue teachers received, they also worked diligently to library! Not only is it a style showpiece with its
to develop through play and a more academic produce lesson activities that make the content and coffered ceiling and skylights, it is one of the most
environment. Here the students refine their fine- methods accessible to students in a classroom. welcoming and cozy spaces in our building. Older
and gross-motor skills, and social and emotional students, parents and teachers love to spend free
development. The 4-year-olds class is a bridge The main education focus for this expedition time there even if they are on their laptops or just
to the 5-year-olds class, where they begin to put was to create a model for a student-driven EVA hanging out during lunch. It is also a popular place
more emphasis on the core curriculum, such as the (Extra-Vehicular Activity). EVAs are what for meetings and small assemblies.
alphabet, letter sounds, and number sense. astronauts do on the International Space Station
and did on the moon when they were sent out of In addition to a new 5-Year-Olds classroom,
The 5-year-olds class is a big jump for many their HAB (habitat) to explore their environment. the Music Room has moved from the stage of the
students coming from preschool. The transition Students can use this model to explore their own auditorium to a properly equipped large and lively
can be challenging, as more emphasis is placed on environment, whether that be the school yard or room complete with a mini-stage for musical
academic skills and less on organized play. Here a field trip into an unexplored area and feel as if practices, which may also be used for performances
at BIS, setting up routines, slowly adding more they are astronauts exploring an unknown planet. of other types such as Readers’ Theater or Poetry
responsibilities and learning as students build their Teachers also gathered resources for a variety of Readings. Outdoor balconies and terraces equipped
stamina, makes this transition as smooth and as different activities that could be done on an EVA, with picnic tables make Baku International School
easy as possible. making this activity adaptable to any age and the best place to be inside and outside!