Innovative preschool opens eyes of GU education majors

Published: March 28, 2024

Author: Dave Bell

For most area children, visiting the St. Louis Zoo is a once-per-year occurrence at best. But for students in the St. Louis Zoo Pre-K Program, it’s a daily occurrence.

In fact, their school is located on zoo property and many of their lessons involve experiences moving around the facility.

That unique setting is why about 40 Greenville University education students recently spent a day observing the innovative school and its impact on the children it serves.

“Our students certainly saw a unique way to do preschool,” said Crystal Foles, chair of the GU education department. “The students are outside constantly, learning about the animals and doing outdoor activities. We were able to observe how this unique setting impacted learning and behavior.”

The visit included a stop at the Teacher Resource Center, which is also located on the zoo property. The center provides resources on experiential and immersive learning to help teachers incorporate those practices in their own classrooms.

“By observing the unique setting and the emphasis on hands-on learning at the St. Louis Zoo Pre-K Program, we give our education students models they can apply in their future classrooms,” Foles said. “It helps them see the different ways that students learn in an experiential classroom where play and exploration are incorporated into learning.”

Opportunities like the trip to the St. Louis Zoo Pre-K Program are made possible by generous gifts to the Greenville University RISE-UP campaign.

Find out more about majors in education at Greenville University.