The Four Learning Elements
FOR OUR KIDS TO FORGE A SUSTAINABLE FUTURE
Our children are the future. Literally. And we need to prepare them to lead the regeneration of our planet and the reconnection of humankind. What fundamental skills do they need to fulfill this mission?
Does this mission sound too ambitious to you? Here at School of Wonder we believe that each child who grows up truly knowing and loving themselves and the planet we live in will leave their mark on their lives, communities, villages, and societies, one that will “cosmically” add up to make this miracle happen. We help each child develop the mindsets, tools, and competencies to engage with their inner experiences and outer environment by focusing on four key areas of self-growth. Let’s raise wholesome and happy humans and trust the Universe to do the math.
Whether your child becomes an engineer, a doctor, an artist, or a banker, these are the four learning elements that we believe will make them noble contributors to this ambitious and necessary global mission:
COMMUNITY: the art of understanding feelings and connecting with yourself and others
Learn to identify, name, accept, share, and honor your feelings, needs, and wants—and those of other people. Develop empathy (not just in theory, but to feel it in your body) and to use nonviolent communication to understand others—as well as to help them understand you.
AUTONOMY: the art of becoming a self-directed and mission-driven person
Clarify your passion and your goals. Build the courage and the practical skills to walk your own path.
CREATIVITY: the art of using your imagination to solve challenges and express yourself
Cultivate your inner wonder and unleash the creative self. Become a lifelong learner and learn to self-express through different outlets of creativity. Use design thinking to become a creator instead of just a consumer. Let curiosity lead your way and sharpen your creative intelligence.
EARTH STEWARDSHIP: the art of taking care of the earth and becoming a committed global citizen
Become conscious citizens of this 21st century, explorers, travelers, and anthropologists. Explore different facets of yourself and the world we live in. Understand that we’re a part of something larger than ourselves.
These four categories of non-cognitive skills gravitate around a firth element, sometimes forgotten in the school system. We are talking about CORE VALUES — the art of loving yourself and others to connect to the core, to trust yourself and listen to your inner voice, to discover your values which are the heart and lighthouses for personal growth.
Reading messages backwards is an essential skill that kids learn at School of Wonder, but we’re still not very sure which learning element it belongs in!
Currently, the educational system focuses on academics and one of these groups: social emotional learning skills (SEL skills), which we group under “Community”. Here at School of Wonder, we believe that we must go beyond teaching one particular skill set in order to promote the growth of the whole child.
Learning social emotional skills is learning the language of the heart. It helps our kids become more aware of what it means to be human. But what can the heart truly know without understanding what makes us different? Discovering the diversity of our world is what expands our vision and deepens our knowledge. The heart can only be as big as the awareness and commitment of its holder. In our technological age, creativity and empathy become the new forms of intelligence that our brains need to develop. But creativity alone is like a key without a lock. It’s not rooted. And empathy without core values underneath—like integrity, honesty and self-respect—is like a missed connection.
Our goal is to help kids become CONNECTORS, DOERS, CREATORS, and EXPLORERS through ADVENTURE-BASED LEARNING. We facilitate a respectful and judgment-free learning environment where kids can feel confident to express and discover themselves freely. Our Wonder Adventures are designed with School of Wonder’s 4 Learning Elements as the compass.
Thank you for reading about our learning framework! To see it in action, join us on one of our upcoming adventures!