Connecting the science of the brain to the art of learning. We will be exploring ways in which we can use our brains to learn lots of new and different things every day, enabling us to gain the knowledge, skills and understanding that we will need to become successful adults. By finding out more about how we learn, and how we can improve the way that we learn, we will be better equipped for meeting the many challenges ahead of us. We will need to be metacognitive learners, scientists and internationally minded. How can we use our knowledge of the brain to help us improve our own learning? 

It’s... Brainwaves: The Brain

In Health and Wellbeing, we’ll be learning about:

• How the brain and nervous system works 
• How making connections impacts on the brain and learning
• Strategies that can help us remember things
• What it means to have a growth or fixed mindset
• How a growth mindset impacts on learning 
• How our emotions and stress impact on learning
• Using mindfulness to manage emotions and support learning
• Creating a positive and relaxed learning environment
• Different types of learning (Knowledge, Skills and Understanding) 
• How different types of learning are assessed
• Learning to be and learning about the Personal Learning Goals.

In International, we’ll be learning about:

• How to find out about global issues and their impact
• International mindedness and global competency
• Children taking action for a better world.

next...

Islands used to be isolated places, with unique cultures, geographical features and ecosystems. In today's increasingly-interdependent global community, even the most remote of islands are being ever-more affected by human existence. Explore the impact of humans on islands.

It’s... Earth as an Island

In Art, we’ll be learning about:

• Different techniques to represent islands artistically
• How artists get inspiration from the shape of the land
• Printing techniques.

In Geography, we’ll be learning about:

• Geographical terms to name and describe features of islands
• How island cities have developed over time 
• How changes on earth are causing issues for island communities
• How development of islands is causing issues for island communities
• Challenges when relocating island populations
• How maps are organised
• The climates on different islands and how this impacts life there.

In International, we’ll be learning about:

• The Sustainable Development Goals
• How our daily actions contribute to global issues
• How plastic in the ocean causes problems on islands
• How we can advocate for positive change.

In Music, we’ll be learning about:

• The features of different genres of island music
• What makes each island's music unique?

In Physical Education, we’ll be learning about:

• Creating dance routines to move to island music
• Orienteering and physical navigation challenges.

In Design, Technology and Innovation, we’ll be learning about:

• The main food groups and healthy eating
• Designing a menu based on island cuisine
• Staying safe while preparing and cooking food.

after that...

900 CE different ancient civilizations were rising and declining across the world. Stepping back to ancient Mayan civilization, the Kingdom of Benin and the rise of the Islamic empire. As historians we will use artefacts and historical sources to make observations about the life cycle of civilizations and the legacies they leave us. What happens when empires grow? What causes change and decline? 

It’s... 900ce

In History, we’ll be learning about:

• The Maya from the buildings and artefacts they left behind
• Maya religion and ceremonies
• The Maya writing and counting system 
• Possible reasons Mayans abandoned their cities
• What Benin City in West Africa might have looked like
• How to use different sources to find out about the Kingdom of Benin
• How the Edo/Benin people celebrate and worship
• What happened to the Kingdom of Benin
• What the ancient city of Baghdad was like 
• The spread of the Islamic Empire
• The achievements and inventions of the Golden Age of Islam
• Why the Islamic empire declined.

In International, we’ll be learning about:

• Why the prophet Mohammad and his teachings are important to Islamic culture 
• About some of the festivals and traditions of modern-day Maya and Muslims.

In Art, we’ll be learning about:

• How to create Islamic art.

In Music, we’ll be learning about:

• How to compose and perform West African percussion music.

followed by...

People have been telling stories since prehistoric times, not just to entertain but as a means of passing on their history, beliefs and culture. Many of these stories we refer to as myths and legends are stories that are as engaging today as when they were first told.

We will need to be historians, musicians and artists in order to gain a deep understanding of these stories from the past. Which societies are well-known for their myths and legends?

Have you ever considered which stories are legends and which are myths?

It’s... Myths and Legends

In History, we’ll be learning about:

• Significant myths and legends from ancient civilisations and different cultures
• How myths and legends connect to real life events
• Historical sources that tell us about myths and legends
• Modern myths and legends.

In Art, we’ll be learning about:

• 3D wall artwork that tells the story of myths and legends
• Representing mythical creatures
• Comic book drawings of superheroes.

In Design, Technology and Innovation, we’ll be learning about:

• Masks from different cultures and stories.

In Music, we’ll be learning about:

• Music inspired by myths and legends.
• Composing a motif for a mythical creature. 

In International, we’ll be learning about:

• Common themes to myths and legends from around the world
• Festivals, celebrations, religious events and their origin stories
• Brands with names connected to myths and legends.

then...

Our planet is teeming with different species of living things that thrive and survive all over the world, some in extreme environments. In this unit we will learn more about how we classify animals, how living things are adapted to their environments and how all living things are interdependent. As part of the web of life, humans also have an important role to play. How is human behaviour threatening the survival of many species? Can we preserve the biodiversity of our planet?

It's... Existing, Endangered, Extinct

In Geography, we’ll be learning about:

• Characteristics of different biomes found on earth
• Threats causing changes to biomes 
• Habitat loss
• Causes and impact of global warming 
• Using graphs and tables to gather information about changes to the environment.

In Science, we’ll be learning about:

• Biodiversity
• Reproduction – one of the seven characteristics of living things
• Different ways animals can adapt to where they live
• Food chains and webs and what happens when they are disrupted
• The role of decomposers (fungi, bacteria, insects) 
• How global warming impacts living things
• Evolution and adaptation
• How humans change land to meet their own needs land and the impact on other living things 
• Extreme environments where living things survive and thrive
• Endangerment and extinction.

In International we’ll be learning about:

• The role of NGOs in animal conservation
• Biodiversity hotspots and how to conserve them.

In ICT and Computing, we’ll be learning about:

• How to create graphs in data handling programmes 
• Using shared digital learning spaces.

In Design, Technology and Innovation, we’ll be learning about:

• How medical technology is helping humans 
• Designing and making limbs that move.

and finally...

Looking at artists from the past and from around the world and the way they were able to share and communicate their impressions of the world they lived in.  We will need to be artists ourselves and create impressions. Let’s find out about the impressions we have of the country we live in and communicate them in art, song, dance, music and more.  

It’s... They see the World like This

In Art, we’ll be learning about:

• The Impressionists
• Features of Japanese printed art 
• Making block prints
• Cubism
• Different types of abstract art. 

In Music, we’ll be learning about: 

• How music inspires artistic animation and storytelling
• How music can reflect place and time
• Musical impressionists.

In Physical Education, we’ll be learning about:

• Performing arts - dance
• Games and sports from around the world
• Teaching a new sport to others.

In International, we’ll be learning about:

• Advocacy and protest through art
• Using art to raise awareness of issues
• Unusual traditions from the host country and around the world.