EXPERIENCE FOR DEEP LEARNING
Prakriti is a K-12 school with learner-centred curriculum and interdisciplinary learning methods. All learning at Prakriti is through experiences that build on the learner’s context. Inquiry and observations takes a learner out of the comfort zone to engage in deep learning. One child’s learning from an experience can be entirely different from another. We encourage diverse view-points and integrate those for building a wider perspective.
OUTDOOR LEARNING
Learning happens outside the classroom, in the lap of nature and with diverse community. Our classrooms emerge at monuments, archaeological sites, museums, design schools, art galleries and botanical gardens. When we are school, we prefer to sit under the trees and work.
GROW WITH NATURE
As urban consumers, Prakriti children are made aware of the challenges of unsustainable farming. We learn the dependencies in our environment by growing our food. Learning directly from farmers makes the children aware of the science of farming. We also have the children and parents cook with farm-fresh produce to appreciate the taste of local grains and vegetables.
EMPOWER WITH INDIVIDUALISED LEARNING
We have small class size of at most 20 children per class. Our teachers, work with children on one-to-one basis and develop their plans keeping each child’s learning styles in mind. We develop individual learning plans to provide mentoring and resources to hone the interests and instincts each child possesses
CONNECT WITH LEARNING SPACES
Both our campuses have been designed to inspire creativity and concentration. Our spaces are open, green and inclusive designed in an interesting geometry to inspire children to study. We have no doors classrooms to make it all a boundary-less and free space that inspires inner discipline to be responsible.
DEVELOP INNER DISCIPLINE
A reflective environment for self-awareness and inner discipline are key elements of our classrooms. Our children start their day with mindfulness exercises, have daily circle time for sharing personal experiences and ‘bubble time’ for resolving conflicts. Each class creates a constitution for itself and revisits rights, responsibilities and consequences from time to time.
LEARN FROM DIVERSITY
We actively support a cultural and talent exchange with children from poor economic backgrounds. Children learn from them on their “life-hacks” and gifts of talent and in exchange we share our knowledge and experiences. That’s why we support the year-round residency of children from Janwaar castle, each one of whom is an award-winning skateboarder and take our children to volunteer at SETU School (Noida) and Kechala School (Orissa)
Celebrating Festivals as Virtues
At Prakriti, key festivals or seasons are celebrated as celebration of virtues in ourselves: we celebrate Loving-Kindness in August, Truth & Courage in October, Generosity in December and Sustainability & Gratitude (Mannan) in February. Our parent community participates whole-heartedly in the festivals with pot-luck, theatre, dances and making green products.
TURNING PASSION INTO PROJECTS
The consistent practice at Prakrit is to have learners explore their interests further by undertaking projects that allow them to go deeper. These projects are mentored by the facilitators just to set the direction and curate resources if needed but the learners are on the driving seat. They need to present their work which is not a research finding but a product that is original, born out of their exploration.
SPORTS FOR EVERY LEARNER
At Prakriti everyone goes through sports training every day in the morning. We firmly believe that play is vital to growth as it develops strength of the mind, stamina and flexibility. We introduce learners to at least three (3) sports in a year. By the time they are in Grade 8, they make a choice to specialise and compete in any one sport. Every learner must demonstrate their learning on the Sports Day which is non-competitive.