The first round of the the three-part rotation cycle came to a close Thursday, with all students having completed their first rounds in science, geography, and history.Grade 8 students, during the course of every term, rotate through three subjects, and experience intensive activity in a single subject for approximately 80 minutes/day for four days a week. After a month has passed, they then move on to the next subject, and finally, after about another month, on to the third.
That means students in the science stream see a lot of Mr. McGregor, while students in geography spend that time with Miss O'Gorman. Mr. Jones rounds out the teaching roster walking students through the history program. Students, therefore, have the opportunity to experience all three teachers, in a model that has some similarity to the full rotations they can look forward to next year in high school.
In addition to gaining some experience with high school-type timetables, our students also benefit from a wide array of exposure to various teaching/learning styles. Again, in addition to preparing them in a meaningful way for what lay ahead, it also allows for a certain degree of variety of approach, serving as a motivator to learning in its own right.
Pictured above is 8C student Justin Lacourse with his completed science project detailing cellular structure and growth. This project serves as a culminating activity for the first term science program.
