Wouldn’t it be wonderful if your learners embraced continual learning to the extent that they didn’t even realize they were learning all the time? Today, techniques to uplift lifelong education and enthuse your students with learning bubbles that pop!
What in the World are Learning Bubbles?
Think of learning bubbles as small, physically distinct clusters in your learning environment that invite children into targeted experiential learning. By designing designated physical areas dedicated to one subject, teachers present informal opportunities for students to focus and delve into topics in depth. Learning bubbles are at their best when scattered strategically throughout the learning environment; without realizing it, children float seamlessly from one “lesson” to another.
Why Bother with Learning Bubbles?
Because learning bubbles pop students into the world of continual learning! But first, a caveat. Children learn best when everything around them makes it easy to learn. Getting rid of a formal “classroom” mindset is a great start, but that doesn’t mean your environment (or home) has to be a mess. With forethought and creativity, you can design stimulating spheres without massive messes.
Real-Life Learning Bubble Examples
Things I Did with My Children
With the goal of creating learners who considered learning a lifetime adventure, instead of an activity to be completed in a particular time and place, I sprinkled learning bubbles all around the house during my homeschooling years.
Our living room and master bedroom coffee tables housed a delicately selected (but seemingly random) assortment of books and learning aids that intrigued my children, luring them into settling down at the very spot to enjoy a carefully disguised learning moment. By switching out learning materials to mirror the topics we were currently studying in literature, social studies, science, foreign languages and math, I hoped to create dot-to-dot puzzle connections within their minds that enhanced content absorption and retention.
In a back room we called the “library,” a walk-in closet magically repurposed itself into a mini-library within a library, complete with a sizable bean bag chair and fluffy pillows. Aptly christened the “Book Nook,” this cozy little gem of a learning bubble provided countless of hours of fun, relaxation and stretching beyond the classroom.
Nestled into a 90-degree wall corner lined floor-to-ceiling with bookshelves, our “Science Corner” not only served as an any-time-of-day learning bubble, but also rescued me on more than one occasion when a migraine headache knocked me out of teaching mode. “Spend an hour in the Book Nook and an hour in the Science Corner, and then come see how Mom feels.”
Strategically tucked behind the family room sofa or smack dab on the toy chest, a literature learning bubble popped up after every trip to the library. By arranging library books in a visually appealing vista, I displayed the full range of titles that we had collected during that week’s library trip, instead of hiding the covers in one big stack of books. This practice consistently encouraged my children to crack open books they might have otherwise not chosen.
Float a Variety of Learning Bubbles!
Color outside the lines when designing learning bubbles in your teaching environment. Consider floating a selection of these unexpected, yet delightful bubbles.
Storytelling Puppet Theater: Provide puppets and a small theater where students can create and act out stories.
Alphabet Bingo: Play a bingo game with letters and corresponding objects (A for apple, B for ball).
Math Manipulatives: Use counting bears, pattern blocks, or dice for hands-on math activities.
Word Building with Magnetic Letters on the Refrigerator: Have magnetic letters and words for learners to create words and sentences.
Writing Workshop: Turn your computer into a word processing and creative story generation tool.
Engineering Challenges: Create engineering challenges with materials like LEGO bricks or K’nex.
With a dash of planning and a cup of ingenuity, you can spice up the second semester and take learning bubbles to new heights!
Daring to Dream Beyond the Classroom?
Discover the potential that lies beyond traditional educational boundaries. Whether you’re an aspiring educator-entrepreneur or looking to create a transformative learning space, edTonomy is your partner in this journey of innovation and empowerment.
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