Creating Wonder

Offering simple theory-based information,Creating Wonder celebrates the use of natural and recycled materials to support children as they experience wonder from the creative play and learning opportunities that develop from using these materials. Using these materials both indoors and outdorrs enables educators to create rich and rewarding environments in a cost-effective way.

Ages: 0-5 years

Creating Wonder

About the Authors

Jenny Aitken

Jenny Aitken is a highly experienced early years educator. She also co- authored A Sense of Wonder: Science in Early Childhood Education.

Jan Hunt

Jan Hunt is a highly experienced early years educator. She also co- authored A Sense of Wonder: Science in Early Childhood Education.
Picture of Elizabeth Roy

Elizabeth Roy

Elizabeth Roy is an Early Childhood TAFE teacher at Victoria University with extensive experience in the early childhood field. Her areas of expertise include early childhood development, science, nutrition, safe food handling and play-based curriculum theory and design. She also enjoys facilitating professional development for TAFE teachers and early childhood educators. Elizabeth is an experienced author who first published in 1986 and has co-authored thirteen health & human development and early childhood text books. Elizabeth and her co-authors Bess Sajfar, Jan Hunt and Jenny Aitken were thrilled to receive a Highly Commended citation in the Australian Awards for Excellence in Education – 2013 for A Sense of Wonder: Science in Early Childhood Education. Elizabeth has a passion for inspiring early childhood educators to make a difference and support young children to actively explore and wonder at the world around them.

Picture of Bess Sajfar

Bess Sajfar

Bess Sajfar is a sessional lecturer in Early Childhood/ Primary education. Her areas of expertise include early childhood mathematics, science, sustainability, nature pedagogy, the arts and play based curriculum theory and design. Bess started her career in the corporate world, but realised that her passion was teaching. Bess has worked in various educational settings from kindergarten, primary, vocational & tertiary education. She has a Master’s degree in education and is currently undertaking her PhD – Titled: A little green is good for the soul: edible gardens enhancing environmental thinking and awareness in early childhood curriculum and pedagogy.

In 2015 Bess was awarded an Australian Government Office for Learning and Teaching ‘Citation for Outstanding Contributions to inspiring early childhood students in science with the wonder of nature, through integrated and engaging curriculum teaching’. In 2010, she received special mention in the World Environment Day Competition for designing curriculum based learning to support sustainable practice. Also in 2009, Bess was part of a team that received a Vice-Chancellor’s Citation for Excellence in Teaching and Learning (TAFE).

Bess has co-authored a science teaching resource book, which subsequently was shortlisted and won highly commended primary teaching resource for the Australian Educational Publishing Awards in 2013.

Bess is passionate about supporting early childhood educators, who will in turn inspire young children to explore, wonder and learn