Mendel Elementary School Pre-Kindergarten students display their Panda Pride with Tiny Panda Town

YOKOTA AIR BASE, JAPAN – The Pre-Kindergarten Team at Mendel Elementary School recently unveiled Tiny Panda Town, an immersive, student-created community inspired by the Building Unit in the Creative Curriculum. This intentional planning provided young learners with an opportunity to apply their critical thinking, collaboration, and problem-solving skills, aligning with the Objectives for Development and Learning (ODL) for early childhood education.

Learning Through Play and Inquiry

The development of Tiny Panda Town stemmed from an essential question in the Building Unit: How do buildings and structures help our community? Through hands-on exploration and guided discovery, students learned about different types of buildings, their functions, and the teamwork required to construct a town. Teachers facilitated discussions, read stories about architecture, and encouraged students to design their own buildings through block play and art projects, reinforcing the Objectives for Development and Learning in early childhood.

By actively engaging in the design and construction of their town, students demonstrated:

• Creative Expression (Objective 4.1) – Designing and decorating their unique buildings while expressing their artistic ideas.
• Oral Language Development (Objective 3.2) – Communicating their ideas with peers, teachers, and visitors, fostering language growth.
• Social-Emotional Growth (Objective 2.3) – Working together to solve challenges and complete their town, promoting cooperation and self-regulation.
• Cognitive Development in Math and Science (Objective 5.2 & 6.1) – Measuring, balancing, and experimenting with different materials to create stable structures.

The unveiling of Tiny Panda Town was marked by a special ribbon-cutting ceremony, where students proudly welcomed parents and stakeholders into their carefully designed community. As part of the event, students took on leadership roles by introducing their establishments, explaining their creative process, and sharing their learning experiences. This experience fostered oral language development, as students confidently communicated with visitors and showcased their achievements.

The highlight of this project was a parent engagement event, where families were invited to explore the town their children had built. Tiny Panda Town featured key establishments inspired by student interest and classroom discussions:

• Ms. Miller’s Art Museum – A showcase of student-created paintings and sculptures, highlighting their creativity and artistic expression.
• Ms. Hawkins’ Bakery – A pretend-play bakery featuring handcrafted playdough pastries and treats, allowing young bakers to explore imaginative role-playing.
• Ms. Brown’s Construction Site – An interactive building zone where students displayed block structures and original blueprints, demonstrating their understanding of design and construction.

Parents were encouraged to ask their children about their roles in the town, fostering rich conversations and reinforcing the importance of play-based learning as outlined in the Objectives for Development and Learning.

Building Skills for the Future

The Tiny Panda Town project was a testament to the power of inquiry-based learning in early childhood education. By integrating the Objectives for Development and Learning and Creative Curriculum, the Pre-Kindergarten Team at Mendel Elementary empowered students to think critically, collaborate meaningfully, and take pride in their work. The excitement and engagement from students and parents alike highlighted the success of this innovative learning experience.

Tiny Panda Town was more than just a classroom project—it was a foundation for lifelong learning, creativity, and community awareness. The Pre-K Team – Ms. Maria Brown, Ms Joselyn Hawkins, and Ms.  Andrea Miller, look forward to continue fostering curiosity and hands-on exploration in future units!