creativity – FRIDAY BLOG

Meet Philippa: Inspiring Curiosity in Preschool

Warm, creative, and deeply connected to curiosity and community, Philippa brings a joyful sense of exploration to Saklan’s Early Childhood program. With a passion for Project Based Learning and a love of diving into topics sparked by children’s genuine interests, Philippa helps make Preschool feel like an adventure every day. Whether she’s guiding students through meaningful projects, sharing her creative spirit, or finding inspiration in nature and art, Philippa embodies the curiosity, collaboration, and creativity at the heart of Saklan.

What drew you to Saklan initially?

I first heard about Saklan from my friend Hannah (Saklan’s Business Manager), who had nothing but wonderful things to say. When she told me that Saklan was becoming a project school, I knew right away it was the perfect fit. Project work is truly my favorite way to teach and learn.

One of the things I love most about Saklan is the sense of community. Everyone brings something unique to the table, and we all get to share our passions with each other and with the children.

My favorite part of working in the ECE program is diving into topics the children are genuinely curious about. Their excitement makes every day fun, and I feel so lucky to be part of a place where learning feels like an adventure.

You bring so much creativity to your role. How do you fuel your own creativity outside of school?

Outside of school, I stay inspired by diving into lots of different hobbies. I love trying new things! Learning new crafts and exploring different art forms is something that really fuels me. Recently, my daughter and I started needle felting together, and for years we’ve been making little clay sculptures. During our Fall Break, we made some ornaments for our tree out of clay and paper mache.

Some of my favorite art to create is nature-inspired sculpture. We spend many weekends exploring new hiking spots, especially along the coast. Beaches, tide pools, and Northern California’s amazing plants always spark fresh ideas. Being out in nature and discovering beautiful new places keeps my creativity going.

What excites you most about projects in the ECE when it comes to the Project Approach style of grounding the learning in a topic that is of interest to the students?

What excites me most about projects in ECE is how naturally young children learn through curiosity. When a topic truly interests them, their questions, ideas, and investigations become so rich and genuine. The project approach allows us to take that spark and turn it into deep, meaningful learning, right at an age when their wonder is at its highest.

It’s inspiring to watch preschoolers make connections, test theories, and share discoveries with so much joy. They explore with their whole selves, through art, movement, storytelling, and hands-on experiences, and the learning becomes something they truly own. Being able to guide and support that process, while following their lead, is one of the most rewarding parts of teaching in the early childhood years.

Head’s Corner: How Life Imitates Project Work (and Vice Versa)

Pop Quiz! Which of the following statements applies to Project Work at Saklan?

A. At the start of a Project, the end product is unknown
B. Project often takes unexpected twists and turns
C. Project is driven by prior experience and curiosity
D. All of the above

The answer, of course, is D—but you knew that already.

Now, go back and reread A, B, and C. This time, replace the word “Project” with “Life.”

That isn’t just a clever switch—it’s the reason project-based learning prepares students so well for life. Through project work, our students are practicing the very skills they’ll use every day: embracing uncertainty, exploring new ideas, and following their curiosity wherever it leads.

That’s what’s been on my mind lately, especially as we turn our attention to this year’s Fund-a-Need. What began as a straightforward plan to update some of our traditional play structures has grown into something much more meaningful, just like a good project.

The shift started with something small: a water spigot installed near the redwoods. That’s all it took. The kids flocked there, drawn by the natural beauty, the water, and the freedom to imagine. What emerged was an impromptu play zone, rich with storytelling, collaboration, and creativity.

Then came a visit from a landscape architect. And just like that, our focus shifted—from replacing monkey bars to reimagining our redwood grove as a nature-based play and exploration space, inspired by the children themselves.

This is what happens when we listen to kids, honor their play, and trust in the process. It’s life. It’s Project. It’s learning in motion.

This year’s Fund-a-Need will help bring this vision to life. With your support, we can transform our redwood grove into a place where imaginations continue to bloom.

Let’s build a space worthy of their creativity.

Creativity & Fine Motor Skills

The Owlets have been working on a mini-inquiry into one of their favorite things: sticks! To kick off their exploration, the Owlets brought in sticks they found at home to examine. They noted the differences in the sticks and brainstormed many ways they could be used.

After brainstorming creative ways to use sticks, the Owlets practiced wrapping sticks with ribbons, threading beads on them, painting them, creating pictures with them, and transforming them into unique wands, and beautiful nature-inspired paint brushes. It’s been a wonderful way to nurture their creativity and fine motor skills.

The preschoolers had a wonderful time experimenting with making their sticks into nature-inspired paintbrushes! They crafted their own brushes using various materials from nature and then had fun painting with their creations to see the unique effects they could achieve.