Hampshire House

Science Week at Hampshire House Sparks Wonder and Discovery

This week Hampshire House was buzzing with curiosity as we celebrated Science Week! From mixing vibrant colours to exploring the wonders of the human body, the weather, and the power of wind, our children immersed themselves in hands-on investigations that sparked joy, questions, and a genuine love of discovery.

Introducing science at a young age is one of the most valuable gifts we can offer children. Early experiences with scientific thinking help our children to make sense of the world around them. It builds confidence in their own ideas and develops the foundations for lifelong learning. When children are encouraged to observe, question, predict, and test their ideas, they begin to see themselves as capable investigators, not just receivers of information.

These experiences sit beautifully within our Reggio Emilia-inspired approach. In the Reggio philosophy, children are viewed as competent, curious protagonists of their own learning. We honour their theories, document their thinking, and provide rich environments that invite exploration. Science Week provided the perfect opportunity to deepen this way of working. Rather than simply delivering facts, we focused on dispositional learning, nurturing the habits of mind that support wonder, curiosity, and sustained investigation. By promoting the desire to look closely, to wonder and ask, “what if?”, we extend our children’s thinking, whilst encouraging them to share their discoveries with others. 

Throughout the week the children conducted a range of experiments. They explored colour mixing, watching with delight as primary colours transformed into new shades and discussing the changes they observed. They investigated the human anatomy, becoming fascinated by how our bodies work. Weather and wind experiments invited our toddlers to notice patterns, feel the force of moving air, and test their own ideas about what makes things move. Importantly, our preschool children were introduced to creating a hypothesis and following a simple scientific method. They learned to ask a question, make a prediction, test it, and reflect on what happened. These are powerful skills that foster both critical thinking and a lasting joy of science and discovery.

A special highlight was the visit from Megan Wright and Freya Campion, Kambala Senior School scientists. Miss Freya (known to all as Zach’s mum) and Miss Meg shared their passion for science in a way that was accessible and inspiring for our young learners. The children had a wonderful time investigating flowers and using the microscope and magnifying glasses to take a detailed look at the different parts of the flowers. Their presence connected the children’s classroom explorations to the wider world of scientific inquiry and showed them that science is something real people do with curiosity, care, and excitement.

Science Week has been a beautiful reminder that when we create space for wonder and investigation, children flourish. The questions they asked, the theories they offered, and the pure delight they showed in discovering something new are the true measures of a successful week. We look forward to continuing this spirit of inquiry in the weeks ahead, supporting each child’s natural disposition to explore, question, and make sense of their world

Simone Cooke

Director Hampshire House

Important Safety Message to Hampshire House Parents

A reminder to all families of the critical importance of adhering to the 5 km/h speed limit clearly signed throughout our school car park.

Children regularly embark from and disembark into vehicles in our Hampshire House Early Learning parking area.  Cars entering the carpark and travelling up the ramp at excess speed pose a serious and unacceptable danger to our students.

Please observe the following at all times:

• Strictly obey the 5 km/h speed limit in the carpark and on the ramp.
• Drive slowly and with extreme caution at all times.
• When your child is getting out of the car, always hold their hand.
• Do not allow children to walk unattended through the carpark.

The safety of every child is our highest priority. We thank you for your immediate and ongoing cooperation in making our car park a safe environment for all.

Thank you for your attention to this important matter.

Simone Cooke

Director Hampshire House