The S1 Course reflects the Experiences and Outcomes from Curriculum for Excellence in Social Studies, people place and the environment. The course is designed to promote active learning, thinking skills and problem solving in relevant contexts about our world.

In S1 pupils are taken around our amazing world with every new unit. Each one will offer a new environment to explore and a new skill to practice.

Course Content:

Wild Isles (The British Isles)

This units will take pupils on a journey exploring the different types of landscapes found around the British Isles while practising their map skills.

Dangerous Deserts (Sahara Desert)

Will you be able to survive in a desert? This topic investigates the many dangers which can be found in a Desert Environment. By looking at our case study – the Sahara Desert, pupils will understand the different human and physical reasons which lead to the process of desertification.

Violent Volcanoes (Ring of Fire)

Pupils will investigate how volcanoes are created and understand the process of tectonic movement on a global scale. Pupils will lead their own learning and explore an up-to-date case study which will highlight what impact these natural disasters can have on people and the landscape. Pupils will have the opportunity to create a 3D model of a volcano.

THE GREAT S1 MAP OFF

Throughout the year pupils will be taking part in a competition where they will be memorising countries, capitals and shapes of countries around the world. This culminates in a final round where the top team from each class gets to go head-to-head to find our champions.

A variety of active learning and teaching strategies will be involved, from teacher led explanation and discussion to individual work; paired work; group work; researching and presenting information; interpretation and analysis of various sources of information; self and peer evaluation of work produced.

iPads are used thoughtfully to enhance learning to raise attainment.

We use a variety of assessment approaches to allow learners to demonstrate their knowledge and understanding, skills, attributes and capabilities in each subject:

• Observing day-to-day learning within the classroom.
• Coursework, including end of unit tests.
• Project work where pupils lead their learning.
• Teams’ submissions including homework and quizzes.
• Peer and self-evaluation.

Assessment is an integral part of our teaching and learning process and we recognise that regular positive and constructive feedback is very important to help pupils progress. As a result, learners receive high-quality feedback to support their understanding of their progress in learning and what they need to do to improve.

All pupil assessments are routinely graded and recorded by the teacher and the results are stored centrally, these results are used by staff to track the progress of the individuals and ensure that their needs are being met. Pupils received written feedback and next seps as well as verbal feedback. Staff report formally to parents via Tracking Reports and at parent consultations as per the school calendar.