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Exemplar Schools

What’s our Intiative?

The Exemplar Schools were Peepul’s very first intervention, serving as the foundation for all subsequent programmes and demonstrating what effective public education could look like.

In 2017, Peepul partnered with the South Delhi Municipal Corporation (SDMC) to turn around an under-resourced government school in Lajpat Nagar through a Public–Private Partnership (PPP). Starting with just 9 students, the school grew to 200 students in a year, soon developing a waiting list — a rare achievement for a government school.

Over time, Peepul took on two more schools in Delhi, creating a network of three Exemplar Schools. Today, these schools serve nearly 1,500 students, acting as beacons of excellence and proof-points for scale. They continuously inform and guide Peepul’s system-level programmes by showing what an effective, inclusive, and joyful learning environment looks like in practice.

The model has gained national and global recognition, with the Lajpat Nagar school being shortlisted among the Top 10 World’s Best Schools for Innovation in 2023.

Key Interventions

Inclusive Classrooms

Exemplar Schools focus on children’s “attendance to attainment” journeys. Classrooms are:

  • Print-rich and engaging to spark curiosity and participation.
  • Guided by an inclusive, experiential curriculum that makes learning joyful.
  • Supported by regular assessments and data-driven interventions, enabling teachers to tailor instruction to every child’s needs.

This child-centred approach ensures that students are not just present in school, but also making meaningful academic progress.

Empowered Teacher

Teachers receive continuous professional growth opportunities through:

  • Comprehensive pre-service and in-service training.
  • Micro-trainings on phonics, unit planning, behaviour management, and use of teaching-learning materials (TLMs).
  • Support systems that help teachers refine classroom practice and deliver high-quality instruction.

Community Outreach

Strong community engagement is central to the model. Initiatives include:

  • “Chai pe Baat-Cheet” and “Kamaal ki Class” for open dialogue and trust-building with parents.
  • Identification of community champions to strengthen school–home partnerships.
  • Regular home visits by Peepul officers to encourage consistent attendance and reinforce learning beyond the classroom.

These efforts ensure that families are active partners in their children’s education, extending the impact of the school into the home.

This year's highlight

2.5×

more Grade 3 students met oral reading fluency benchmarks (31% vs. 12%).

80%+

classrooms showed use of structured lesson plans and targeted strategies.

Our reach

3
Schools
1,525
Students

Stories of Change

[vc_row type="in_container" full_screen_row_position="middle" column_margin="default" column_direction="default" column_direction_tablet="default" column_direction_phone="default" scene_position="center" text_color="dark" text_align="left" row_border_radius="none" row_border_radius_applies="bg" overflow="visible" overlay_strength="0.3" gradient_direction="left_to_right" shape_divider_position="bottom" bg_image_animation="none"][vc_column column_padding="no-extra-padding" column_padding_tablet="inherit" column_padding_phone="inherit" column_padding_position="all" column_element_spacing="default" background_color_opacity="1" background_hover_color_opacity="1" column_shadow="none" column_border_radius="none" column_link_target="_self" column_position="default" gradient_direction="left_to_right" overlay_strength="0.3" width="1/1" tablet_width_inherit="default" tablet_text_alignment="default" phone_text_alignment="default" animation_type="default" bg_image_animation="none" border_type="simple" column_border_width="none" column_border_style="solid"][vc_column_text]Do you remember studying mathematics in school? How did you feel? Did numbers feel comfortable, or did they scare you? Maths has always seemed like this huge mountain students have to climb - full of tricky equations and complex numbers. What if we could flip that around? Imagine if maths turned into a fun playground, a place for curiosity and exploration. With the right tools and creative approaches, numbers can come alive, making learning joyful and sparking a lifelong love for the subject. Why do we need to make learning maths fun? - Strengthening Foundational Numeracy At Peepul, we believe foundational numeracy is the cornerstone of mathematical learning. Without a strong base, children find it difficult to grasp more advanced concepts. In many government schools, children struggle with foundational maths skills like number sense and basic operations. Traditional rote learning often leaves them confused, disinterested, and fearful of the subject. But even in resource-limited classrooms, maths can come alive through playful, low-cost methods—like games, visual tools, and hands-on activities. These interactive approaches don’t just make learning fun—they build real understanding, boost confidence, and spark curiosity. When children see patterns, solve problems, and explore maths in everyday life, they develop critical thinking that powers all future learning.

How to make maths fun with simple yet effective ideas? 

Let’s dive into 6 simple but powerful ideas to make maths not just accessible, but also enjoyable!

1. The power of play in mathematical learning

Who doesn’t love to play a good game? Picture this: a classroom buzzing with laughter as children solve equations together, turning multiplication into a team challenge. This isn’t just wishful thinking; it’s happening in government schools where teachers are making maths fun, visual, and interactive. Maths is everywhere: from budgeting and shopping to building bridges, analysing data, and saving lives. Careers in engineering, finance, sports, and tech all depend on it. When students connect maths to the real world, motivation skyrockets. When children start linking maths with real-life problem solving and doing so collaboratively, it’s like flipping a switch; their curiosity kicks in, and suddenly, learning feels like a breeze.  At the same time, this methodology also helps teachers in breaking the ice with children.

2. Building teacher confidence

When teachers open themselves to learning alongside their students, it builds trust and helps them identify teachable moments. At Peepul, we understand that teachers often need a little extra support when it comes to putting these creative methods of making learning fun into action. Peepul’s teacher training programmes in India are designed to help teachers in several ways:
  • Learn innovative teaching techniques and build confidence. 

  • Learn how to deliver engaging lesson plans that capture students' attention. 

  • Understand the different ways children learn. 

  • Adapt activities to fit various learning levels. 

3. Interactive teaching strategies

 Collaborative problem-solving can help children learn and retain mathematical concepts.
  • Group activities that spark joy - Breaking the students into small groups or in pairs for some fun maths games and competitions can actually stir things up. Activities like "Maths Relay" or "Number Detective" can get them to work together and help them understand maths concepts. Apart from maths, these activities nurture team skills as well!

  • Movement-based learning – Children love moving around. Imagine this – children learning about addition using a huge board of Snakes and Ladders. Or using Hopscotch to learn skip counting. They could use their bodies to create all sorts of geometric shapes. Mixing physical activity with maths can work wonders. 

  • Real-world mathematics – The basic idea behind teaching children maths is to make them understand real–world applications. Imagine this – one student playing the role of a shopkeeper, and the other one a customer who has come to buy something. This could be a great way to make a story problem with addition and subtraction come alive!  

4. Creating a supportive learning environment

  •  Celebrating progress, not just perfection - It’s important to build a classroom where mistakes aren’t seen as failures but rather as chances to learn. The idea of “productive struggle” really works - students can understand that tough problems make their brains stronger.

  • Peer learning and support – It is essential to encourage children to explain things to one another. When they teach their classmates, they’re not just helping others out; they’re also solidifying their own understanding. This again brings value-based learning and life-skill development. 

5. Technology integration

 
Technology has transformed the way maths is taught, turning lessons into more interactive and engaging experiences.
Integrating technology not only makes lessons more engaging but also gets students ready for the digital world that awaits them. For instance, using mobile phones for fun maths games, or creating some simple power point presentations.

6. Assessment through play

 Evaluation doesn’t have to be stiff or stressful. With a dash of creativity and by weaving in games and activities, we can turn assessments into a positive experience. Some of these creative options could include -
  • Maths Scavenger Hunt: Turn the classroom into a puzzle zone where students hunt for clues, solve problems, and apply concepts on the move.

  • Problem-Solving Competitions: Friendly challenges that get students thinking critically, working in teams, and racing against the clock to crack maths puzzles. 

  • Project-Based Assessments: Real-world tasks—like planning a school event budget or designing a dream house—that apply math in practical, creative ways. 

  • Peer Evaluation Games: Students take on the role of reviewers, giving feedback on each other’s strategies, and fostering deeper understanding and collaboration. 

  • Maths Portfolios: A growing collection of work that showcases each learner’s progress, creativity, and unique problem-solving journey. 

How is Peepul making learning math fun in government schools? 

 As a children education NGO in India, Peepul genuinely believes that every kid can find joy in maths if it’s introduced in a fun and engaging way. By turning maths from something that has to be done as a part of the curriculum into something that children are truly excited about, we are strengthening foundational numeracy in the classroom.

Introducing the Maths Toolkit 

Peepul developed the Maths Toolkit to accelerate foundational numeracy with a strong focus on making maths actionable. It takes maths from a purely abstract subject to something that is visual, concrete, and most importantly- doable.
The toolkit is a thoughtfully curated set of teaching-learning materials designed to make maths engaging and meaningful for foundational grades. Aligned with NIPUN Bharat, the NCF, and NCERT textbooks, and informed by the Homi Bhabha Centre for Science Education, the toolkit turns abstract concepts into hands-on learning. It includes 13 types of manipulatives and activity cards focused on Number Sense and Number Operations, suitable for both group and individual learning. Students can use these cards to engage with concepts like multiplication, money, addition and grouping for ones, tens and hundreds.
This toolkit is accompanied by a teacher manual that gives descriptions and instructions on how to use the different cards, and how it can be adapted for different levels of learning. With manipulatives and resources for the math wall, educators are equipped with a robust set of resources to make both maths teaching and learning accessible, visual and above all – doable.

The toolkit promotes deep conceptual understanding through concrete and pictorial experiences before introducing abstract thinking. Cost-effective and scalable, many activities can be recreated using simple materials, making it ideal for government school settings. By encouraging student-driven exploration, the toolkit aims to shift the maths class from passive to active learning spaces. 

Peepul – transforming the way children learn, and teachers teach  

 To make maths fun in government schools we must embrace creativity and a bit of enthusiasm. It’s not just about academic scores; it’s about making maths easy to grasp. This way, we’re not only boosting performance but also raising a generation of confident problem-solvers who actually see maths as something useful in their lives.

At Peepul, we’re all about improving education in schools. We understand how vital it is to create learning experiences that grab students’ attention. By altering and fine-tuning traditional teaching methods, we can truly transform maths education in government schools and help each child unlock their full mathematical potential. Donate for child education and save tax - let’s do this together!
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Peepul helps improve government school education by empowering teachers, creating high-engagement classrooms & strengthening school administration and the system. Join us in providing quality education to children and building brighter futures.

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September 4, 2025
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Engaged classrooms. Improved learning.

Peepul helps improve government school education by empowering teachers, creating high-engagement classrooms & strengthening school administration and the system. Join us in providing quality education to children and building brighter futures.

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