Social Sciences in Grade Six

On Wednesday 12 June, the Grade Six Social Sciences students flipped the classroom. Instead of the content being taught and the teacher asking questions, the boys drafted their own questions after being provided with the study material. 

This teaching strategy was an attempt to enhance student engagement and ensure a deeper connection with the topic, resources and their value. Students were split into groups of four and were tasked with compiling six questions about the manufacturing of gold and chocolate, based on their notes. Thereafter, they received the questions of another group, which they had to copy and answer in their books. This interaction provided an opportunity for the boys to improve their self- and social awareness and enhance their collaborative skills. Several good questions were posed, but it was clear that more practice is needed in this area. Learning to ask good questions might not only improve students’ attention to detail, but also enable them to interpret questions, setting them up for success in discussions and formal assessments. This is an area that we will continue to explore, as we aim to develop the boys’ curiosity about the world in which we live.