Interdisciplinary Learning Units (IDU) at WIS Next Week
Dear Parents,
Have you ever wondered how culture shapes our perspectives or how sleep patterns affect our performance and hormones? Maybe you would like the opportunity to try Tai Chi or spend time understanding and applying your signature character strengths.
Next week West Island School collapses its timetable from 27-29 May enabling students to investigate a variety of subjects and wider learning experiences using a range of approaches including inquiry based learning, skills development, well being practices and for the older students, uninterrupted time to focus on academic learning objectives relating to course requirements. School aims will guide our learning and students will work independently and collaboratively to deepen their understanding of local and global contexts.
Below is an outline of the three days including the faculties assigned to each year group.
Year 7
Year 7 will investigate how Identity and meaning can shape cultural perspectives and ways of life by inquiring into Tai Chi, Kung Fu and Dragon Boating through practical sessions and research based tasks. The inquiry will be interdisciplinary with students working across PE and Chinese supported by their Head of Year, Ms Boesenberg.
Aim: Collaborate in authentic inquiry that is personally meaningful through local and global contexts
Year 8
Monday: Led by their Head of Year, Mr Betteridge, students will investigate their signature character strengths applying them to relevant issues including managing their digital presence and navigating relationships with peers. This work builds on sessions with Year 8 throughout the year and provides an opportunity for individuals to identify how they will develop their skills as they move into Year 9.
Aim: Grow determination and resilience by reflecting on individual challenges and character strengths
Tuesday and Wednesday: Students will work with the Individual and Societies faculty to understand the challenges faced by children affected by conflict and the difficulties states face in resolving conflicts and supporting victims of conflict. Using a UN simulation, students will examine whether States are fulfilling their obligations and produce. Informing them of the big picture will be Philip Thorpe from the United Nations Human Rights commission.
Year 9
Students will work across English, Maths and Creative Arts.
Monday and Tuesday: Maths and Creative Arts
Maths: Inquiry into our Number System, breaking down how numbers work, and considering alternative counting systems, most notably the Binary number system. Students will then consider how computers use binary and how binary ciphers are used.
Students will finish the day by considering how mathematics and numbers can help us protect our planet from climate change.
Creative Arts: Creative Arts team will challenge students to develop original ideas through six phases of creative thinking. Students will choose a medium to express their ideas, either through visual arts music, drama, textiles, dance or film and media.
Wednesday: English
Students will inquire into poetic devices resulting in student led creative analytical presentations on a poem of their choice. An excellent opportunity to preparation for GCSE English Literature.
Aims:
Collaborate in authentic inquiry that is personally meaningful through local and global contexts
Master learning through a sustained process that asks us to produce, review, evaluate and refine
Year 10
Monday: The right fuel and lifestyle for healthy living and study. A series of practical sessions including Tai Chi, Acro Yoga and workshops on nutrition and the science of sleep.
Aim: Embrace challenge and support for all aspects of learning
Tuesday: Students will extend their English writing portfolio of skills in preparation for Year 11. The focus of the day is ‘Responding to Reading’ and learning how to express a point of view of a contemporary topic of interest through the text type of a letter.
Aim: Master learning through a sustained process that asks us to produce, review, evaluate and refine
Wednesday: Considering future pathways. Students will hear from Alumni about their journey from school to employment, listen to an experienced Headhunter from JP Morgan talk about the skills employers look for and take part in a workshop on interview skills led by an experienced public speaker and master of ceremonies.
Aim: Take ownership of their own learning
Year 12
Year 12 IB students will receive guidance on the writing on their Extended Essays or participate in Group 4 projects, while ID and IBCP students will be working on a combination of the IBCP reflective project, Group 4 IB science project, and work experience depending on the individual student.
Please note registration is as normal at 8.15am as is the school catering facilities and bus service. On Monday school will finish as usual at 1.20pm and CAS activities will continue in the afternoon.
Kind Regards,
Mrs Haworth
Vice Principal
