LONDON, June 18 (Xinhua) -- Primary school-age kids are being given lessons in Beatlemania at one of the most unusual school classrooms in Britain.
The award winning Beatles Story museum in Liverpool said Monday its Discovery Zone, a fun educational area for primary schools, has been given an exciting new upgrade to educate children on The Beatles' early lives, rise to fame, music and their connection to Liverpool.
The new investment into the educational facilities at the Beatles Story has seen a full refurbishment of the Discovery Zone, incorporating exciting new features linking the story of the Beatles, their early lives and rise to fame with key areas of Britain's National Curriculum for primary schools.
Children learn about the legacy of Liverpool's most famous sons, John Lennon, Paul McCartney, George Harrison and Ringo Starr, through creative play on a giant interactive floor piano, touch-screen interactives and many other fun learning zones, connecting topics geography, history, fashion, technology, art and music.
Top of the list of new features is a new giant interactive floor piano, inspired by the popular film, BIG, children starring American actor Tom Hanks.
Also featured within the new area is an interactive touch-screen timeline, teaching the story of the band members from the 1940s through to the 1970s alongside detailed information about key world events, putting the Beatles into a historical context.
A replica record store allows teachers and children to experience a moment in time in a 60s-style record shop and learn how to play vinyl records.
The "Here, There and Everywhere" wall teaches children the geographical locations where The Beatles visited, thus spreading and their message of Peace and Love, and Beatlemania, around the world.
Shelley Ruck, education officer at The Beatles Story, said: "We have been working very hard to make improvements to our programs and interactives within the Discovery Zone. There are some new exciting and educational activities that will really engage children in a fun and dynamic way and link back into the National Curriculum, getting children out of the classroom into a unique learning environment."
Primary school visits to the Discovery Zone combine with a tour of The Beatles Story's main exhibition and optional access to the Chill Out Area for lunch.
The Beatles Story is the world's largest permanent exhibition devoted to telling the story of The Beatles' rise to fame.
