Ref: (42) in EDB(KGA2)/RC/2/1 Pt.5(C) Government of the HKSAR Education Bureau
1 November 2018
Education Bureau Circular No. 14/2018 Kindergarten Education Resource Centres
[Note：This circular should be read by -
(a) Supervisors and Heads of Kindergartens, Kindergarten-cum-Child Care Centres and Schools with Kindergarten Classes - for action; and
(b) Heads of Sections - for information.]
PURPOSE
This circular informs kindergartens, kindergarten-cum-child care centres and schools with kindergarten classes (hereafter collectively referred to as KGs) of the setting up of KG education resource centres by the Education Bureau (EDB), in collaboration with the Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department (AFCD), at the Lions Nature Education Centre and the Hong Kong Wetland Park under the AFCD. KGs are encouraged to optimise the resources to conduct free exploration activities for children and cultivate their attitude towards caring for the nature and appreciation of life.
DETAILS
2. The Government has implemented the KG education scheme starting from the 2017/18 school year to enhance the quality of KG education in various aspects including the provision of an environment more conducive to children’s learning through play and free exploration. To provide more space for children's play and exploration, EDB has collaborated with AFCD to capitalise on the resources at the AFCD Lions Nature Education Centre and the Hong Kong Wetland Park to set up KG education resource centres. This also cultivates children’s positive attitude towards caring for the nature and appreciation of life. In this connection, we have commissioned the Hong Kong Baptist University (HKBU) to take into account the developmental needs of children and the resources at these two sites, and develop two resource packages “Countryside Adventure” and
“Wetland Footprints” for KGs’ reference in optimising the resources at these two sites.
Teaching and Learning Resource Packages
3. The resource packages tie in with the learning area of “Nature and Living” in the Kindergarten Education Curriculum Guide (2017). Various free exploration activities are designed taking into account the developmental characteristics of children. The resource packages include
also includes teachers’ supplementary information booklet to introduceaquatic animals and plants.
The content of teachers’ guide includes design rationale, teaching principles and strategies, roles of teachers and four activity plans. Suggested adjustments in activities according to the proposed class levels (nursery class, lower class and upper class) have been included for each activity plan for teachers’ reference. We encourage KGs to use the resource packages flexibly for conducting activities taking into consideration of the developmental needs of children and tying in with the themes in their school-based curriculum.
Sites of AFCD
4. The AFCD Lions Nature Education Centre is located at Tsiu Hang, Sai Kung. We encourage KGs to conduct activities in the Field Crops and Arboretum Area. The proposed activities in the resource package “Countryside Adventure” include “I am a Little Farmer”, “Protect the Little Plants”, “Little Explorers” and “I Love the Nature”. Various crops are grown in the Field Crops, where KGs can conduct the activities “I am a Little Farmer” and “Protect the Little Plants”.
Children can experience the work of farmers through plowing, watering and building a protection net to understand the growing conditions and farming methods of crops, so as to cultivate the attitude towards loving the nature and treasuring the food. A variety of trees and fruit trees are grown in the Arboretum Area, where KGs can conduct the activities “Little Explorers” and “I Love the Nature”.
Through observations and explorations, playing games, appreciating and enjoying the nature in the surrounding of tall trees or in a spacious open area, children’s awareness of caring for the environment and preserving trees can be nurtured. In addition, there are also exhibition halls and outdoor areas, displaying various kinds of crops and arboretum, rocks, etc. Teachers can arrange visits or conduct extended activities as necessary.
5. At the Hong Kong Wetland Park in Yuen Long, the proposed activities in the resource package “Wetland Footprints” include “Who Lives Here”, “Underwater Friends”, “Exploring the Dipping Pond” and “Beautiful Nature”. We encourage KGs to conduct the activities through stories in the Life Zone and Dipping Pond. Different species of aquatic plants are grown in the Life Zone, which is also home to different kinds of small aquatic animals. KGs can conduct the activities “Who Lives Here” and “Underwater Friends” here. Children can explore the surroundings freely and observe the aquatic plants and animals in wetlands through discussion and sharing. They can also use assisting tools to get a closer look at the underwater environment, so that they can learn to care for the environment and treasure water resources. The common aquatic plants are grown in the Dipping Pond and they attract insects. KGs can conduct the activities “Exploring the Dipping Pond”
and “Beautiful Nature” here. Children can use their senses to observe the environment, feel and appreciate the nature. In addition, the visitor centre of the Hong Kong Wetland Park has thematic exhibition galleries to show the wide range of animals at wetland and importance of wetland in
Reservation and Arrangements
6. We encourage KGs to arrange students to visit the above-mentioned sites and conduct activities with reference to the suggestions in the resource packages. KGs must download the relevant forms from the websites of the AFCD Lions Nature Education Centre and/or the Hong Kong Wetland Park. To facilitate support from AFCD, such as loan of tools (for example tools for plowing/watering, underwater scopes) and free collection of children’s activity booklets, KGs must submit the completed forms at least 2 weeks before the activity. Teachers can also bring along their own guides and other tools as necessary. KGs are welcome to download the resource packages and information on reservation which have been uploaded to the following three websites:
EDB’s website
https://www.edb.gov.hk/en/edu-system/preprimary-kindergarten/free-quality-kg- edu/resourcecentres.html
AFCD Lions Nature Education Centre
https://www.natureintouch.gov.hk/learning/activity/school_field_studies/0/783
Hong Kong Wetland Park
https://www.wetlandpark.gov.hk/en/education/wetland-footprints-edb
Parent Participation
7. On the other hand, participation of parents is important in facilitating children’s development.
KGs are encouraged to introduce to parents these two resources centres and the proposed parent-child activities in the above-mentioned parent leaflets, and to encourage parents to take their children to explore the nature in the AFCD Lions Nature Education Centre and the Hong Kong Wetland Park, or other country parks during holidays, to relax and refresh, and guide their children in caring for the nature during the process.
BRIEFING SESSIONS
8. To help KGs have a better understanding on how to make optimal use of the resource centres and the related resource packages, EDB will introduce two resource centres and the resource packages in the briefings on KG education scheme to be held on 19 and 30 November this year. Details are at Appendix and have been uploaded to the Training Calendar (Course ID: KGE020190023) on EDB’s website. KG principals or teachers are invited to register through the Training Calendar.
ENQUIRIES
9. For enquiries, please contact the Kindergarten Administration 2 Section at 3540 6808 / 3540 6811.
Mrs CHAN SIU Suk-fan for Permanent Secretary for Education
Appendix
Kindergarten Education Scheme Briefing Sessions
The new KG education scheme has been implemented starting from the 2017/18 school year.
In the 2018/19 school year, we will continue to organise a series of briefings to provide relevant information. In this connection, we will organise briefings on 19 and 30 November 2018 on the following themes:
(1) KG Education Resource Centres (2) KG Financial Management
2. Schedule of the briefing sessions is as follows:
Date Time Venue
19 November 2018
(Monday) 2:30 p.m. – 5:30 p.m.
Lecture Theatre (WB), 4/F, West Block, Education Bureau Kowloon Tong Education Services Centre, 19 Suffolk Road, Kowloon Tong, Kowloon
30 November 2018
(Friday) 2:30 p.m. – 5:30 p.m. School Hall, Tsuen Wan Government Secondary School, 70 Hoi Pa Street, Tsuen Wan
3. Two briefing sessions are identical in content and the rundown is as follows:
Time Content Speakers
2:15 p.m. – 2:30 p.m. Registration ---
2:30 p.m. – 3:30 p.m. KG Education Resource Centres Representatives from HKBU, AFCD and EDB
3:30 p.m. – 5:30 p.m. KG Financial Management Representatives from EDB
4. KG principals or teachers are invited to register through the Training Calendar.
5. The briefing sessions will be conducted in Cantonese.
6. The briefing session will be cancelled on the day when Typhoon Signal No. 8 or above or Black Rainstorm Warning Signal is issued. In case Typhoon Signal No. 8 or above or Black Rainstorm Warning Signal is cancelled three hours before a briefing session, the session will be conducted as scheduled.
