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LEARNING AND TEACHING AT SCHOOL

THE ESSENTIAL ELEMENTS OF THE CURRICULUM

The curriculum is made up of 5 essential elements, each of which contribute towards the overall design of our curriculum and the learning experiences the children ultimately experience.

CONCEPTS:
What do we want students to understand?

Eight fundamental concepts, expressed as key questions, propel the process of inquiry and help to encourage a transdisciplinary perspective. These concepts drive the units of inquiry which teachers and students design and which lie at the heart of the curriculum model.

The following concepts are used:

• Form: What is it like?
• Function: How does it work?
• Causation: Why is it like it is?
• Change: How is it changing?
• Connection: How is it connected to other things?
• Perspective: What are the points of view?
• Responsibility: What is our responsibility?
• Reflection: How do we know?

SKILLS:
What do we want students to be able to do?

Five sets of transdisciplinary skills are acquired throughout the curriculum. These represent the capabilities that students need to demonstrate in order to succeed in a challenging world. These include:

• Thinking skills
• Social skills
• Communication skills
• Self-management skills
• Research skills

ATTITUDES:
What do we want students to feel, value and demonstrate?

The programme promotes and fosters a set of attitudes that represent dispositions that are expressions of values, beliefs and feelings about learning, the environment and people. These include:

• Tolerance
• Respect
• Integrity
• Independence
• Enthusiasm
• Empathy
• Curiosity
• Creativity
• Cooperation
• Confidence
• Commitment
• Appreciation

ACTION:
How do we want students to act?

Students are encouraged to reflect, to make informed choices and to take action that will help their peers, school staff and the wider community. They may do this in various ways, including:

• Choosing to take action
• Taking personal action
• Taking wider social action
• Reflecting on actions taken

We also provide for the teaching of an additional language other than the school’s language of instruction in order to support the international perspective of the curriculum. The additional language offered at Clearwater Bay School is Mandarin.