A Parent-Inspired Curriculum: Celebrating Holi in Kindergarten

At Whittle School & Studios, central to our Early Learning Center philosophy is a Reggio Emilia-inspired emergent and personalized curriculum that is co-created by teachers and children, as well as their families. We seek out every opportunity to engage families as partners to develop joyous learning at school and at home.

When Kindergarten parent, Prenisha Prem, offered to share with our young learners an important part of her and her daughter’s heritage, teachers Alice Yang, Alexandra Frosina, and Jenna Murdock jumped at the opportunity. With support from Early Learning Center Division Head, Stephanie Fitzgerald, our Kindergarten teachers and Prenisha wove into the curriculum a celebration of the ancient Hindu holiday, Holi.

Not only was this an opportunity to personalize a class’ learning to the interests of a student and their family, but also an opportunity to further inspire, educate, and empower students to be empathetic global citizens. At Whittle, we believe the challenges and opportunities of the modern world demand an education that exposes students to the world and provides them the knowledge and social skills to navigate multiple cultures. We seek to create experiences for our students that help them understand how diverse communities work by combining classroom learning with the real world and by cultivating the awareness necessary to become responsible local and global citizens.

With the help of Prenisha, students learned the history behind the holiday in the classroom before venturing outside to celebrate it. An ancient holiday, Holi originated in India as a celebration of the arrival of spring and has a varied and rich religious, cultural, and social significance both in India and around the world. Also known as the “festival of love” and the “festival of colors,” Holi is widely known for its joyful and colorful celebration. On Holi, participants throw and smear loose, vibrant pigment on one another while running and dancing through the streets.

Naturally, our Kindergarteners couldn’t wait for the opportunity to join in! Equipped with washable pigments, they took to the park outside school to celebrate it themselves. The epitome of joyful learning, the celebration left our Kindergarteners with a new appreciation for their classmate, her family, her culture, and the colorful world around them.

Find some of our favorite photos from the celebration below!