Project Overview

The Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region implemented the kindergarten education scheme starting from the 2017/18 school year as one of its medium- to long-term measures to explore the feasibility of setting up resource centres to meet kindergartens’ needs for more space for various learning activities.  In order to provide more space for children's play and exploration in the short run, collaborating with the Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department (AFCD) and capitalising on the AFCD’s resources, the Education Bureau commissioned the Early Childhood and Elementary Education Division (ECEED) of the School of Continuing Education (SCE) at Hong Kong Baptist University to develop learning and teaching (L&T) resources for Hong Kong Wetland Park (HKWP) and Lions Nature Education Centre (LNEC) and provide a design for enhanced settings and facilities/equipment at LNEC by capitalising on the existing facilities for kindergarten children, teachers and parents.

The project was implemented smoothly after its inception in April 2017 and completed in September 2018. ECEED team members devised different activities with a focus on free exploration and play-based learning based on themes such as nature, environment and life. The interactive learning activities helped to stimulate the children’s five senses to explore and discover the natural world.

In Phase I, the Countryside Adventure and Wetland Footprints resource packages were produced for the HKWP and LNEC respectively and released in the 2018/19 school year. The design rationale  was that, with respect to the learning area of “Nature and Living” covered in the Kindergarten Education Curriculum Guide (2017), the resource packages were aimed at developing children’s curiosity and inquisitive minds; fostering their exploration through the five senses and observation methods; understanding the close relationship between nature and human beings; developing their respect for, and appreciation and awareness of, the natural environment and resources; and nurturing their love and care for nature.

In addition, engaging in outdoor activities and getting close to nature plays a crucial role in children’s growth and development.  Through free exploration, interaction with nature, various kinds of tasks and experiments and applying multiple senses to explore, this can enhance children’ understanding of natural science and cultivate their sense of responsibility in protecting the natural world.  Owing to a lack of space, most kindergartens in Hong Kong may not be able to provide an adequate outdoor environment and facilities to foster children’s free exploration and play. Therefore, the outdoor space and facilities from HKWP and LNEC were adopted to design the Learning and Teaching Package and engage children’s learning outside the classroom.  

 In Phase II, a free play area was designed for the LNEC and a related resource package developed. The rationale for designing a free play area is to practice the concept of "child-oriented" to enhance children’s motivation to explore. Children can play freely, choosing the activities they want to engage in independently, and move around the various play areas to explore the different materials, games and peers to play with without being restricted by teachers’ rules and regulations. 

Project link: https://www.edb.gov.hk/en/edu-system/preprimary-kindergarten/free-quality-kg-edu/resourcecentres.html

Project Team Members

Dr Amelia Lee (Team Leader)
Associate Dean (Programme Development) cum
Head of Early Childhood and Elementary Education
School of Continuing Education
Tel: (852) 3411 5407
Email: amenylee@hkbu.edu.hk 

Dr Sam Lau 
Principal Lecturer
College of International Education
School of Continuing Education
Tel: (852) 3411 3027
Email: samlau@hkbu.edu.hk
 
Dr Pauline Yuen 
Senior Lecturer
Early Childhood and Elementary Education Division
School of Continuing Education
Tel: (852) 3411 1952
Email: paulinay@hkbu.edu.hk 

Ms Carol Lee
Lecturer
Early Childhood and Elementary Education Division
School of Continuing Education
Tel: (852) 3411 5402
Email: leesinsin@hkbu.edu.hk 

Ms Janet Hung
Lecturer cum HKBUK Principal (Resigned)
Early Childhood and Elementary Education Division
School of Continuing Education

Ms Stephanie Tong
Lecturer (Resigned)
Early Childhood and Elementary Education Division
School of Continuing Education

Ms Kate Yun
Assistant Lecturer
Early Childhood and Elementary Education Division
School of Continuing Education
Tel: (852) 3411 5497
Email: kateyun@hkbu.edu.hk 

Ms Katty Kam
Assistant Lecturer
Early Childhood and Elementary Education Division
School of Continuing Education
Tel: (852) 3411 1912
Email: kattykam@hkbu.edu.hk 

Ms Mandy Li
HKBUK Vice Principal (Resigned)
Early Childhood and Elementary Education Division
School of Continuing Education

Ms Ng Yin-kam
Part-time Lecturer 
Early Childhood and Elementary Education Division
School of Continuing Education

Dr Leslie Fu
Part-time Lecturer 
Early Childhood and Elementary Education Division
School of Continuing Education

Mr Yeung Siu-wing
Teaching Consultant
Department of Education Studies
Faculty of Social Sciences
Tel: (852) 3411 7184
Email: syeung@hkbu.edu.hk