Hands-On Learning
Hats off to ‘hands on’
Learn, then apply what you’ve learned in exciting ways. Those are the main tenets of Paideia’s extensive commitment to hands-on learning.
But we dare not leave out the best part: the sheer joy of discovery, of solving real-world problems that students get through hands-on learning. And it’s available to every pupil at Paideia.
Case in point:
Our three- and four-year-olds have designed and constructed prototypes for a new seed-planting device. (Adults, if you want to know the most efficient way to plant a seed, humbly consult these experts.)
Five ways — and counting …
Based on their nature, five study areas at Paideia offer unique opportunities for hands-on learning, and these include: Urban Agriculture, Civic Engagement, Sustainability, STEAM and the Travel Program.
Case in point:
A group of 8th-graders used one of Paideia’s STEAM labs to design virtual reality experiences based on studying structural racism in the U.S. They then invited parents and guardians to share what they learned.
Applied learning gets to be a habit of mind — and heart
By no means are stories of student ingenuity limited to these five areas, which are filled with compelling examples. Hands-on learning is practiced in myriad creative forms across the school, with each classroom making its mark.
Paideia students engage in cross-age teaching, whereby older students mentor younger students, both in classrooms and at places like Pi Farm. And the older students are the first to admit that younger students have a cool thing or two to teach them.
Before you know it, some hands-on learners become entrepreneurs, bringing both their ideas and generosity of spirit to the world.
Two seniors have done just that with PiBlooms, giving flowers from the farm a second life brightening the rooms of nursing home residents and other community members.
