The students are turning 13 years old and experience their pre-pubescent development. The interest in the opposite gender arises with a curious mix of materialistic and idealistic outlook on the world.
The boundaries are being challenged and some responsibility has to be handed over, so the children can get the experience of working together; also some elements of control need to be negotiated for the maturing student.
The timeless search for truth evokes questions and historical events, personalities and qualities of the development from the Birth of Christ through to the Renaissance give opportunities for inquiries and explorations.
Art and imagination remain an important medium as impulses are worked with and processed and find individual expressions.
English/History/Geography
Themes in English are:
- Arthurian Literature
- Literature of the Medieval World/ Age of Discovery/ Renaissance
- Creative Writing on Wish, Wonder and Surprise
- Language
Themes in History are:
- Middle Ages
- The Renaissance World
- Reformation
Students learn skills of using resources and analysis, perspectives and interpretation, research, explanations and communication.
Themes in Geography are:
- Voyages of Discovery
- Encountering the Landscape of the Newly Discovered World
- New Cultural Encounters of Tribal Societies
Students learn skills to use maps and doing fieldwork.
This period of inner development of the students resonates with key themes of the chapter in World History of the Great Voyages and the renewal of culture that took place during the Renaissance. Teachers support students to discover new perspectives that direct their attention towards the explanation of the outer world and away from the newly experienced unrest in their inner life. Students will be given many opportunities for active learning and group interaction.
Math/Geometry
This is an overview of the different strands in Math the students will be exposed to:
- Number: negative numbers expand to index notation, ratio and proportions, speed, distance and time
- Finacial Math: Percentages and profit and loss
- Patterns and Algebra: Formulas and algebraic expressions
- Measurement: measuring and developing formulas for perimeter, surface and area of 4 and 5-sided shapes, triangles and compound ahapes,
- Perspective drawing
- Geometry: parallel lines, angles, theorems, Pythagoras and Trigonometry
Science
This is an overview of the different areas in Science:
- Biological Sciences: Physiology, Composting and harvesting
- Chemical Sciences: Combustion Processes
- Earth and Space Sciences: Ring of Fire of Polynesia, link between lifestyle and environment
- Physical Sciences: Galvanic electricity, electric circuits and magnetic fields
Students will learn about the development and nature of science and the use and influence of science.
Professional Development, Health and Physical Education
Physical activities include for this age group aerobic conditioning, strength training, joint mobility, Fitness testing, track and field events, athletic events, a range of sports, like basketball, handball, cricket, volleyball, tennis and stick wrestling, orienteering, archery, sailing and horse riding.
Arts
Craft/Technology
At this age we start with the use of digital technology and the understanding of it from a mathematical point and the social boundaries.