Exploratory Learning

At Farragut, we believe the best learning happens when students are not just absorbing information, but actively exploring it. That’s why we use an exploratory learning model—an approach that sparks curiosity, builds critical thinking, and helps students see connections across all subjects.

Rather than memorizing facts in isolation, students move through a cycle of discovery:

A surprising demonstration, real-world problem, or thought-provoking question captures students’ attention and activates what they already know. Their curiosity drives the learning.

Spurred by their curiosity, students investigate a topic through hands-on, collaborative activities and collect evidence around possible hypotheses.

With evidence in hand, students build explanations and strengthen their reasoning. Teachers help them connect discoveries to concepts and acquire the language they need to deepen understanding and communicate with others.

New knowledge is applied to real-world situations. For example, lower schoolers might design a prototype for a water filter, while Upper School physics students apply math and engineering principles as they build and test bridges, drones, or rockets. In English, Lower School students might research historical figures and write stories about them, and Upper School students might analyze how themes of justice in a classic novel resonate with current events.

Reflection and feedback are built in at every stage. Students demonstrate their understanding in a variety of ways—through experiments, presentations, performances, and portfolios—and identify where they want to grow next.