In their first years of adolescence, children are led by a greater interest in the world around them, and are ready for greater academic challenges and social experiences. Formal Sciences are introduced in middle school – often by Specialist Teachers in addition to the Class Teacher who is with the students since Grade 1.
In middle school, the learning takes on a cyclical, interconnected quality. By observing phenomena around them, students trace scientific laws and mathematical principles in action. In Math, as they move up the grades with fractions and decimals to Business Math, Geometry and Algebra, practical applications help students see how various aspects of the world are linked.
The Literature and Language curriculum also grows more intricate, permeating all the subjects. Writing, research, classroom presentations, science reports and the creation of main lesson notebooks increasingly demand initiative and focussed thinking. Beginning with Grade 6, Block and Term exams conducted through the middle school years help students self-evaluate and prepare them for the school leaving (Board) exams.
(Ages 11 – 13)