Curricular Practices

Adolescence Theme - Class VII

With the theme of ‘Metamorphosis और मैं, the Class VII children explored ‘Adolescence’ through a number of curricular experiences in the weeks leading up to the 1st Parent Open House.

In the Circle Time, the students headed to the back lawn to take part in an activity where a blindfolded child in the centre of a circle would try to tag two others as the students shouted out instructions to help them. It was an enjoyable experience fostering self-confidence, trust and teamwork.

The children discussed the different aspects of change they have noticed in their lives - “started defining social relationships”, “change in facial features”, feeling that “I am not a kid anymore”. Working in small groups, they created meaningful roleplays on how they developed the skill to resolve the little conflicts that arise in their lives related to social dynamics in the classroom, screen overuse and sportsmanship on the pitch. The children also composed original songs -

“Who we are, and who we’ll be,
What we do, and what we’ll see.
We are on a path that’s taking us far,
Where surprises appear like shooting stars.
Let’s walk ahead with a smile on our face,
For we all know, it's just a phase”

Along with their own changes, they observed the cycles of growth and transformation that take place all around them in nature - a caterpillar turns into a butterfly, trees exchange oxygen and carbon dioxide. Each group also planted a fruit sapling which the children will nurture as they grow together and which will remain as a mark of their time at Shikshantar when they move on.

At the Open House, parents expressed their surprise and joy at the maturity shown by the students and wished them well as they continue on this amazing journey of growth.

The curricular practices of Middle and Senior School build on the holistic approach of the early years. Linkages to formal work, skill development and academic rigour gain importance. As a school committed to facilitate learner-friendly and experiential education, Shikshantar is also committed to enable a high level of academic rigour in all its classes from primary and middle to senior secondary. This because we believe in facilitating a viable programme of teaching-learning that enables Shikshantar students to compete with students from other schools and cultures across India and the world.

Theme-based project work is organised for all classes every day till Class VIII. For Classes IX-XII, project work is integrated with subject teaching. Project-based learning enables children to make overt connections between their own sense of enquiry, creation of knowledge and syllabi. Experiential learning includes observation, hands-on-engagement with material, investigation and analysis. It is organised to specifically enrich skills development in languages, mathematics and scientific thinking. Festivals, visual and performing arts and sports are also made more meaningful through project work.

Magic with Pen – Class V

During the project 'Magic with pen ' a short story was shared with children which concluded that the life of the pencil may seem ordinary, but it holds valuable lessons about personal growth. ''Embrace your potential, sharpen your skills,embrace imperfections, leave your mark, stay resilient, collaborate, use your time wisely and reinvent yourself. Later, children wrote thoughtful write ups on 'Parable of Pen' to welcome the new member in their lives. A child wrote a beautiful poem which says, ''You will do great things only if you allow yourself to be shared. You will endure pain when your ink is refilled, but you will only become a better pen... Children gave closure by writing a goodbye letter to the pencil for staying with them like a true friend and always giving as a mark of beginning their journey in Class V where they begin to write using Pen.