Top of Page
Main

Curiosity Classrooms

Curiosity Classrooms are an innovative learning environment meant to provide pre-k through second-grade students with sensory-rich, hands-on learning experiences. Through the support and partnership of Chicago Children’s Museum, Curiosity Classrooms directly enhance the STEAM concepts that students are learning.

Curiosity has always been at the heart of our classroom learning experience, and our Curiosity Classrooms are the next step in enhancing STEAM (science, technology, engineering, arts, and math) concepts. It allows students to use materials that promote problem-solving and creativity, as well as share their ideas and discoveries.

Additional benefits of Curiosity Classrooms include:

  • Encouraging and training teachers to integrate similar developmentally appropriate, hands-on learning strategies into curricular units in the classroom
  • Engaging parents and encouraging family learning at home
  • Complementing in-school learning with visits to Chicago Children’s Museum

And our Curiosity Classroom doesn’t just benefit our students—we’re planning to use this space to launch parent trainings on how to best support your student’s learning. This will help strengthen the connection between what our students are learning at school and their experiences at home.

 

Purpose

A Curiosity Classroom is a welcoming, flexible space that: 

  • Inspires students and teachers to be curious and explore 
  • Supports an evolving STEAM learning curriculum 
  • Supports state and city curriculum standards 
  • Provides direct, hands-on learning 
  • Inspires collaboration and cooperation 
  • Includes permanent features & changeable loose parts 
  • Leaves room for teachers to bring their own ideas

CPS Curiosity Classroom

Purpose

A Curiosity Classroom is a welcoming, flexible space that: 

  • Inspires students and teachers to be curious and explore 
  • Supports an evolving STEAM learning curriculum 
  • Supports state and city curriculum standards 
  • Provides direct, hands-on learning 
  • Inspires collaboration and cooperation 
  • Includes permanent features & changeable loose parts 
  • Leaves room for teachers to bring their own ideas

CPS Curiosity Classroom

Principles

Key principles of the Curiosity Classroom: 

  • Use materials that invite problem solving, self-expression and creativity 
  • Wonder, observe, question, test, fail, try again 
  • Provide authentic materials, equipment and tools 
  • Invite children to document and share ideas and discoveries 
  • Focus on STEM concepts that can be directly experienced and are open-ended
  • Include direct experiences with the natural and living world

Amy Spar

Vice President of Strategic Initiatives, Chicago Children’s Museum