This year’s Senior Kindergarten musical, Aunty Ant’s Big Adventure, was nothing short of magical—and not just because of the story or the cast of little performers.

Presented in-the-round, with the audience surrounding the performers on all sides, the production created an intimate, shared experience, drawing children and families together in every song, dance, and scene. But it wasn’t just the physical space that brought things full circle. From writing original songs, designing costumes and developing characters to choreographing dances and illustrating a picture book of the musical, students were empowered in every aspect of bringing Aunty Ant’s Big Adventure to life.

This musical was as much about the journey as it was about the performance itself. Senior Kindergarten students took ownership at every stage—giving students the voice and choice in making this story come to life.

Little performers take the lead

Through this musical, students embraced key traits of the IB learner profile, turning the performance into a big milestone in their senior kindergarten journey:

• Inquirers: Using exploration from our Outdoor Discovery Centre and knowledge about their own world, students brainstorm story ideas and develop their own characters. They were encouraged to ask questions and learned that inquiry is at the heart of both creativity and learning—a value that’s central to IB education.

• Thinkers: Students were challenged to use their imagination and solve creative problems, from determining the best designs for a costume to learning how to use tools and recycled materials to cut, paint, glue and merge their creations. This aspect of critical thinking showed them that solutions often come from collaboration, resilience and understanding multiple perspectives.

• Communicators: Working in groups to rehearse, choreograph, and sing, the young performers practised communicating with one another and with their audience using both Chinese and English. They also learned how to share, take turns to express ideas clearly and listen to the ideas of others.

• Risk-Takers: For many, this production meant stepping into the spotlight for the first time. Students learned the importance of courage and resilience, embracing challenges with confidence. Our process-based approach is tailored to each child’s developmental stages, and helps them grow as performers in a joyful and supportive environment.

Full circle of learning

Aunty Ant’s Big Adventure is a wonderful example of the true inquiry and authentic learning experiences we develop for our young learners at CIS. By involving students in every layer of the musical, students not only further developed their artistic skills, they learned the importance of the design cycle—planning, trialling, failing, redesigning, and not giving up.

This production was about showing children that learning is more than following instructions, it’s about making choices, exploring different ideas, and growing together. Beyond sparking a love for the arts, this process helped students discover the power of collaboration and the joy of seeing their ideas come to life.

Through musicals like this, even our youngest students see that the classroom learning is just the start, and that their creative journeys have endless possibilities.