We have an exciting new space at the City School in our Thai house, dedicated to storytelling and writing. Over the past few weeks, Ms. Rachael, our Literacy Coordinator, has invited the children into this space to explore a delightful inquiry-based learning approach and to take a journey through literature, and dream up ideas. In the corner of the room was a large, mysterious object cloaked in black. This provoked much animated chatter, as the children made predictions about what could be hiding behind the curtain. A beautiful gold, mirrored, Wardrobe of Wonders was revealed. Some children noticed a key in the lock, but the wardrobe was too strong-willed to be opened. What lies behind its doors?

Our K2 children had some wonderfully enchanting ideas: ‘A silly alien with 130 eyes. A unicorn, some roses, some princesses, and an upside-down bee,’ ‘It is raining inside and there is thunder and lightning and a beautiful tree and a beautiful waterfall.’ Our Year 1 children were curious and probed further: ‘It won’t hurt us. We have our own magic and are powerful,’ and our upper primary children were equally as captivated, as their imagination took them beyond our galaxy and to flashes of moments in the past and the future. The children at our international primary school Bangkok had the opportunity to create and share graphic representations of their ideas.

What do we need to open the Wardrobe of Wonders? One of our Y1 children offered a beautiful suggestion: ‘Maybe the magic power is inside of us? Maybe if we write enough stories, the door will open?!’ Truly inspired, the children have set about writing their own books – we will see if this opens the wardrobe!