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# 1.3 The knowledge and understanding children bring to their primary school learning

When a child or an adult engages in new learning, they rarely, if indeed ever, start from a ‘blank sheet’, but instead draw on their previous knowledge, understanding and life experiences.

A learner’s previous knowledge and understanding are developed through their daily lived experiences, active participation and social interaction within their households and communities over their life. The activities include assisting with household chores, caring for family members, undertaking religious practices, engaging in hobbies, or sharing stories, literature or other forms of media. Knowledge and understandings are also developed as part of social networks that go beyond the individual household to their wider communities in which they participate. The knowledge and understandings that children and adults bring with them to learning have been described as ‘funds of knowledge’ (González and Moll, 2005).

## Activity 3

Allow 10 minutes

#### Task 1

Read this short case study written by an Open University academic.

> I grew up in England, with English-speaking parents. In addition, I also learned a small number of Spanish words and phrases, as my father was born and grew up in Chile and would occasionally use Spanish expressions at home. My mother is from an Irish and Scottish family, so I also learned many Irish and Scottish expressions and used these regularly. While we occasionally ate South American food that my father would cook, we usually ate traditional English, Irish or Scottish food. My parents would regularly read to me and my brother and so we knew a wide range of stories. My mother is Catholic, and my brother and I went to church with her every Sunday and took part in daily religious rituals such as saying grace before eating. My father did not attend church or say grace, so I learned that not everyone believes in God.

Now make some notes on your own knowledge and understandings that you brought with you to your primary education. Were there any key influences that you remember? Use the following prompts to guide your thinking:

- your family background, e.g. culture, religion, languages spoken at home
- your hobbies, e.g. sporting clubs, sewing, cooking
- your interests/activities, e.g. the natural world, family trips to museums/galleries
- your family members and family friends.

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#### Task 2

What is the value of getting to know children’s experience outside the classroom? Complete this fill the gap activity.

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OpenLearn - Supporting children’s learning in primary education today
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