Little Village Explorers - IG01
Discovering Stories of Homes, Tools, and Traditions

Experiential Learning Itinerary Overview

Theme: Where We Are in Place and Time

Focus: Understanding heritage, daily life, and cultural identity across generations

Program Title: Little Historians – Discovering Village Life

Age Group: Grade 1 (5–7 years)
Venue: Model Village Experience – Rangoli Gardens
Learning Approach: Experiential • Inquiry-Based • Sensory Exploration • Play-Based Learning
Program Structure: Pre-Tour Engagement • On-Tour Cultural Exploration • Post-Tour Reflection

Program Overview

The Little Historians experiential learning program invites Grade 1 learners to explore how people lived in earlier times through an immersive village environment. During the visit, the Model Village becomes a living learning space where children observe traditional homes, explore everyday village tools, travel in a tonga cart, participate in traditional games, and experience storytelling and cultural music.

Through guided observation and playful exploration, students discover how homes, objects, transport, and community traditions reflect the way people lived in the past. Children collect simple “story clues” throughout the day such as shapes, sounds, and traditions which help them understand how daily life expresses culture and heritage across generations.

The experience encourages curiosity, imagination, and reflection while helping young learners begin to recognise differences between village life in the past and their own lives today.

Learning Approach

The program follows the inquiry-based learning philosophy of Cambridge Primary, where children learn through observation, exploration, and conversation rather than direct instruction. Activities are designed to be age-appropriate and sensory-rich, allowing children to learn through movement, storytelling, play, and real-world experiences.

The learning journey is structured in three phases:

Pre-Tour Activities
Students are introduced to village life through pictures, sounds, shapes, and creative tasks. They create their Village Explorer Badge and begin thinking about what they might discover during their visit.

On-Tour Exploration
At the Model Village, children rotate through interactive zones including a village discovery walk, traditional games, and a tonga ride experience. Throughout the visit, they observe cultural objects, listen to stories, and participate in playful activities that reflect village life.

Post-Tour Reflection
Back in the classroom, students reflect on their discoveries through drawing, storytelling, role-play, and creative activities. These reflections help children connect their experiences to the broader idea of how culture and daily life change across time.

Skills Developed

The experience supports the development of key Approaches to Learning skills, including:

• Observation Skills – noticing shapes, objects, and sounds in the environment
• Thinking Skills – recognising how tools and homes were used in the past
• Communication Skills – sharing discoveries and listening to stories
• Social Skills – participating in games and group activities
• Self-Management Skills – following safety instructions and exploring responsibly

Learning Outcomes

By the end of the program, students will be able to:

• Identify basic features of traditional village homes
• Recognise simple tools and objects used in everyday village life
• Participate in traditional games and cultural activities
• Observe and describe a traditional form of transport (tonga ride)
• Recognise sounds and experiences connected to village environments
• Share discoveries from their Village Explorer Mission Card
• Describe how people’s homes, tools, and traditions tell stories about their lives in the past