You might have enrolled your child in a Footy, Soccer, Netball or Cricket club through which they will have fun, learn a bit (or a lot), and perhaps realise their potential as a star player. How would you feel about getting your child involved in a similar activity in critical thinking based on simple math and science that they are taught anyway?
Someplace where interested kids get together, have a go at fun, fundamental problems and skills involving thinking. An atmosphere as supportive as at a sports club, (Parents can come along, cheer or encourage?) a place where it is cool to have a go at problems, learning and practising. A place where it is perfectly OK to ‘fail’ or make mistakes, where you can work alone or with others as a team. Perhaps it will help your child realise their potential as a scientist, or an engineer or an artist. It might bring out the champion of thinking in the child. We will invite retired and working professionals in Alexandra to come by and share their knowledge and wisdom with our children, to mentor and guide them in learning. We will arrange alluring, cool rewards and prizes for children who shine mentally. We will encourage aspirations and learning in all fields, not just math and science.
Learning/teaching approach: This will have many elements of an adventure. We will role play pioneers in maths and science. We will pretend that we are the first humans to tackle a problem with no readymade solution. We will give our minds the time to wrestle with fundamental problems of math and science. We will try and invent original solutions. We will have fun and struggle. We will learn not to be daunted by mental challenges. Above all, we will endeavour to have fun thinking!
From this year on, we will encourage every child to pursue at least one idea or interest to design and develop a product or project over many months and present it at the end of the school year. We will work to provide resources, support, guidance, and facilities to complete the project and try to match them with a mentor in this process.
Contact Alexandra Secondary College for information on enrolling your child in HungryMinds if attending ASC.
For more information on HungryMinds, for children not attending ASC contact Alexandra Community Hub during office hours Monday to Thursday 9am to 4pm. Note closed on Code Red Days and hours may vary during holidays.
