Learning Spaces Beyond the Classroom

Author - Aastha Maggu

Kshamtalaya Foundation

Udaipur district, Rajasthan

Students in their morning assemblies during six-day long learning festivals start the day with energizing songs. A couplet from one such song is “mu to mela me hikwa ne aayo, mela ko rang to ghano ghano bhaayo” (I have come to learn in this festival, and I am in love with the energy of this learning festival).

Samastipur District, Bihar

Students enrolled in the home science course, as part of the assessment, are required to cook together. Prince Kumar, an eighth grader came into the kitchen and joyously supported his younger sister Sapna for assessment.

Jhamtse Gatsal

Tawang District, Arunachal Pradesh Udaipur district, Rajasthan

At Jhamtse Gatsal, children are encouraged to build a meaningful relationship with nature. Children learn about the varied sizes of plants and trees by touching the smaller plants and by hugging huge trees.

Beginning the day with a calm and intentional mindset helps children be more present to their learning. If the weather permits, the Jhamtse team conducts pre-class meditation sessions under open skies.

Varitra Foundation

Karnal District, Haryana

The Varitra team creates reading corners in schools to facilitate access to a diverse range of bilingual reading material and literature.

Building as Learning Aid (BaLA) is used to develop school spaces as a child-friendly learning resource for all students. The goal is to integrate the school building into the learning journeys of children.

Patang

Bargarh District, Odisha

Patang showcases its teaching-learning materials and reading material by putting stalls on a school campus. Ceating a fearless and fun environment in schools, they believe, will enable children to develop language competencies.

The kishora-kishori mela organised by Patang educates children about child rights, education, health and nutrition and other issues through exhibited materials and facilitating activities in the school campus.

Photo credits: Kshamtalaya Foundation, Jhamtse Gatsal, Varitra Foundation and Patang