Students entering our light studio enter a space where they can dream, discover and deliver. This space challenges and expands childrens imagination. It is an opportunity for investigation and creative research. The space is flexible, ever-changing, and inclusive. It is open to adjustments and changes depending on each class project and exploration.
At D-PREP we believe all children are very capable and curious learners. The Light Studio is designed using important elements of the Reggio Emilia philosophy. The teachers are observers and are learning from the children during their exploration.
During Light Studio explorations, students have the time to interact with their environment. They manipulate and experience different materials and concepts. It is a process of understanding and experimentation with projects through explorations of light and shadow, reflection, refraction, projection, and even clay and drawing! The list is endless.
A day in the life of the light studio
In the morning, Nursery students might be exploring circles and colors in physical objects or in nature. While another group of students are focusing on creating and testing a communication system for their structure using accordion pipes.
Later, Kindergarten students are exploring light and discovering their drawings of plants being reflected above them on the wall. Students investigate plant structure and discover its details by using real plants and projections of plants.
In the afternoon, the Light Studio might change into a living and nonliving environment of experimentation and exploration for Primary classes. The plants are magnified using the handheld microscope and some students are drawing their findings.
While other students might be building an area of nonliving things for comparison. The Light Studio changes throughout the day many times.
Children need time to experiment and explore and discover the world that surrounds them. It is a time for your children to use all of their senses: sight, hearing, smell, taste, and touch.
During Creative Exploration, the Light Studio is one place where they are able to do this with high-level concepts and with focus.
