In the crisp, cool weather of Hanoi, Dewey’s youngest Primary students stepped outside their familiar classrooms to begin an experiential learning journey in Math and Vietnamese at the Vietnam Space Museum and the Vietnam Military History Museum. This activity is part of TDSers’ outdoor learning project series, bringing textbook knowledge to life in a more engaging and relatable way than ever before.
The visit to the Vietnam Space Museum opened up a vibrant world of science for our young learners. There, students were able to visualize concepts from Natural Sciences and Mathematics through simple, intuitive models: the idea of sets came alive through groups of planets; comparisons were illustrated by the size, color, and distance of celestial bodies in the Solar System. Instead of merely solving exercises or applying formulas mechanically, students learned through multisensory experiences closely connected to real life.
Saying goodbye to the realm of natural science at the Vietnam Space Museum, TDSers then entered a solemn space where historical artifacts served as “living texts” for them to listen to and observe firsthand. The powerful, heroic stories helped students deeply appreciate humanistic values—core themes found in many literary works. Through note-taking, they practiced summarizing information and transforming personal emotions into concise, expressive writing. This is how Dewey nurtures students’ language competence.
The trip may have ended, but it opened up a richer worldview for our students. These experiences have become essential stepping stones for them as they continue to grow and mature.
