Nandanam Kindergarten

We begin with the understanding that the “first principle of true teaching is that nothing can be taught” and that “the teacher is not an instructor or a taskmaster but a helper and a guide.” Keeping this in mind we work towards the integral development of the children following the guidelines given by The Mother and Sri Aurobindo. Along with sensory integration and sensory development, the focus is to develop and refine the mental, vital and physical part such that “The Soul/Psychic Being” can come to the forefront to help guide the child.

We work a lot through project-based learning since we feel that it is a very effective and holistic tool, starting with topics that are close to the children and widening the horizon each time.

We essentially and strongly feel that children should have the freedom to explore the world within and around them and to grow at their own pace and in their own way, trying always to come in contact with their psychic being and being guided by it.

We have at the same time realized that to prepare them for this, sometimes a guiding hand and even a planned and structured activity can help. So, we try to balance between these two ways of working as we also try to balance between group activities – where they learn to coordinate with their friends and develop social qualities – and individual activities where they have the freedom to do things in their own way.

Our classrooms have spaces for individual as well as collective work. Each child has a personal tray which is his/her own space. Corners for art and craft, games and puzzles, reading, maths, mirror with clothes to dress up, doll house, a sand pit, green board for scribbling and nature corner are available as easy access for all the children when they come in.

Besides the classrooms we have organized special classrooms for activities like Play of Painting, Blocks, Awareness through the Body, Montessori – practical and sensory work and our playground is equipped with various climbing, balancing, swinging and sliding structures. Children go to swim once a week, the climate permitting.

Every week children go for outings to various places in Auroville so that the learning happens not only in school but through the discovery of the whole community.