Transforming Early Years education: Enhancing creativity and sustainability in Tanzanian classrooms
During the October break, International Baccalaureate (IB) Early Years educators at the Aga Khan Nursery and Primary School, Dar es Salaam engaged in a hands-on professional development session to foster creativity and environmentally sustainable practices in classrooms to enrich young children’s early learning experiences.
Aligned with the Aga Khan Education Service (AKES), Tanzania’s mission to create safe and stimulating environments for learning, the session aimed to advance teaching practices that promote children’s health, emotional well-being and lifelong curiosity. A central focus of the session was enhancing dramatic play areas at the school, which are vital for building children’s social and emotional skills, such as empathy and collaboration. The training empowered teachers to design spaces that spark active and meaningful imaginative play.
"Recognising the importance of imaginative play, educators shared strategies for creating environments where children can safely express emotions, practise social skills and build confidence," said Early Years Coordinator Mubanga Mulenga.
In line with AKES, Tanzania’s commitment to environmental sustainability, teachers also discussed creative methods for repurposing everyday materials – such as cardboard boxes – to create interactive, eco-friendly play setups. Handmade or repurposed materials allow children to interact with resources tailored to their developmental stages, fostering problem-solving and independence skills. By using recyclable items, teachers are able to build awareness of environmental issues in students from an early age.
The session also encouraged teachers to create personalised learning resources. Rather than relying solely on commercial toys, teachers were inspired to make handmade or repurposed materials to meet specific developmental needs.
"I love using role play and hands-on resources in Early Years teaching," Diana Marcus, a KG1 teacher shared. “It lets students engage in real-life situations, come up with ideas and truly remember what they learn. This approach has become my favourite because it encourages student ownership and active engagement."
Another key focus was developing effective documentation techniques in Early Years education. Teachers practised ways to capture moments that reflect each child’s development, interests and needs, helping educators assess progress and tailor activities to each child’s learning journey. Additionally, tools, such as video recordings and observation journals, were explored to observe students’ interactions and learning processes. This use of observation tools enhances teachers’ ability to document learning as it happens, providing families with valuable insights into their child’s progress and daily experiences in the classroom.
As educators deepen their child-centred teaching methods, the Aga Khan Education Service, Tanzania is committed to building the capacity of its educators to provide holistic education as a strong foundation for early learning and each child’s development.
Photos (top to bottom):
- Teachers engaging in a hands-on session to enhance their teaching practices.
- Early Years students utilising cardboard boxes and other toys to explore their imagination.
- Early Years students working together to learn how to sew, developing their social skills.
