Bringing the world into the classroom.
Permanent classrooms are physical spaces designed to encourage hands-on, play-based experiential learning. The classrooms are outfitted with permanent themes and activities that encourage conversation, engagement, and curiosity.
While the classroom environments are the fixed learning spaces in a school, the fixtures and features are designed specifically for the spaces and are developmentally appropriate and meant to advance foundational skills throughout the school year. Combined with the experiential learning theory, permanent classroom environments provide an immersive, hands-on setting for learning. Experiential learning acknowledges that humans are active participants in the learning process. Studies show that informal experiences make up between 70-90% of our learning over the course of a lifetime. The experiential learning model is helping bridge that gap between traditional classroom settings and real-world experiences.
Many of us remember trips to the zoo or a museum as young children. The experience likely left a lasting impression. Imagine bringing those experiences into the classroom for everyday learning! That’s the power of experiential learning in permanent classroom, providing opportunities for inquiry-based learning.
Permanent classroom environments are ideal for school districts that would like to focus on consistent themes across school years while building background knowledge.
In many cases, permanent classrooms are designed using several different themes spread across a school building or even a school district. Classes cycle among the rooms or buildings to allow students to experience each themed environment over the course of a year. From learning in a medical-themed classroom to transitioning to a space-themed environment, the level of possibilities becomes endless.
Not only are these classrooms more engaging than traditional settings, but they also provide a great deal of consistency to educators. These themed learning environments focus on building teacher capacity around experiential learning that centers on “learning by doing” and continually reflecting on shared experiences.
For young children, experiential education embodies the active participation, social engagement, and meaningful connections that we know are the pillars of play-based learning. Play is how young children learn!
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Exploration Zones by Exhibit Concepts® is the only design-build firm that offers full educational support and classroom resources that are unique to each themed learning environment. As a company with a vision to constantly grow and evolve, coupled with many years of experience, it was a natural progression to include education centers in our portfolio of work. Quality early education sets the stage for a lifelong love of learning and it’s our vision and interest to be innovators in the field and to continue to provide cutting-edge spaces for young learners.
