CLSP – Cambridge Lower Secondary Programme (Grade 6 – 8)

English

Cambridge Secondary 1 English enables learners to communicate confidently and effectively and to develop the skills to respond to a range of information, media and texts with understanding and enjoyment. Learners who follow this framework will develop a first language competency in English based on a curriculum designed to be successful in any culture and to promote cross-cultural understanding.

For Cambridge Secondary 1 English, the curriculum promotes an enquiry-based approach to learning to develop thinking skills and encourage intellectual  engagement. The curriculum is presented in five content areas or ‘strands’. These are further divided into ‘substrands’. The five strands and substrands are:

1.      Phonics, spelling and vocabulary
2.      Grammar and punctuation
   1. Reading
   2. Writing

3.      Reading
   1. Fiction and poetry
   2. Non-fiction

4.      Writing
   1. Fiction and poetry
   2. Non-fiction

5.      Speaking and listening

ICT

ICT Starters gives schools a flexible framework to develop learners’ ICT competence. Modules are delivered according to the needs of each learning situation and age of the learners – across the curriculum or as a separate course of study.

Learners develop key ICT skills in a range of applications including word processing, computer graphics, databases, spreadsheets, email, internet, presentations, video/animation and web authoring.

Technology projects methodically integrate technology into curriculum effectively to create meaningful learning opportunities for students. Each technology project contains theme-related assignments that use Microsoft and Adobe applications. It helps the students to:

• Write a report, article, or letter using Word
• Produce an presentation, ad, or story with PowerPoint
• Record, calculate, graph, and analyze data with Excel
• Store and manipulate data on a topic using Access
• Create a digital scrapbook using Photoshop

They also consider wider issues such as internet safety and adapting their work to the audience.

The students at TIPS are encouraged to participate in the various art forms offered at our school. The arts @TIPS engages the students and encourages them to express if dance or drama forms to stimulate their imagination and critical thinking abilities. The students are provided with variety of options to pursue their passion and follow their dream.

Dance

Dancing is the act of moving the body in rhythm, usually in time to music. It seems natural for people to express themselves through rhythmic movement. Dancing is both an art form and a form of recreation. Dance as an art form may tell a story, set a mood, or express an emotion.

Music

Music includes the study and exploration of sound and the expressive use of musical elements. Students will join together in musical activities using their voices, bodies and simple instruments to develop concepts about sound and musical awareness.

Students will be exposed to and work on, a wide range of musical stimuli. They will participate both individually and in groups. Students will read, develop and record musical ideas in composition.

Drama

Drama includes the development of creative skills, verbal and non-verbal expression, an awareness of the perspectives of others, and aesthetic appreciation. Drama enables all students to communicate in powerful ways that go beyond their spoken language ability.

Students will be exposed to a number of activities that will develop motor skills, which may later be applied in various physical activities within and beyond the school setting. They will become aware of a number of positive leisure-time pursuits.

In P.E, students are exposed to a wide range of physical and health-related activities and experiences so that they can make informed choices throughout their lives.

Students are encouraged to participate in an active lifestyle and recognize the ways in which exercise affects their body and their overall fitness or well-being, developing an understanding of the role of physical activity in a healthy lifestyle.

Students also come to recognize that P.E takes place within a cultural context that should be appreciated. P.E offers students the opportunity to set themselves physical objectives, gaining pleasure or satisfaction from accomplishing these physical tasks or challenges and reflecting on their performance.

Along with the structured curriculum for PE, students get opportunities to participate in various individual and team games to test their metal in the field.

We also organize annual interschool Swimming Tournament, Soccer Challenge, Badminton fest and martial arts competitions amongst various activities.

To provide students with the real life exposure, we engage them in various relevant and challenging activities which not only engage them but sharpen their understanding of the world.  Following are some of the activities mentioned.

Robotics

One of the fundamental goals of the Robotics Program is to inspire and excite future generations of researchers, engineers, and scientists. One is never too young to start learning about robotics and robot programming. Robotics at TIPS has developed in several programs specifically for children from Grade 3 through high school.

But there is much more to robotics education than just teaching about robots. Students at all grade levels are fascinated with robots, and educators have found that teaching with robots provides a new and exciting way to interest and motivate their students.

STEM

STEM is an acronym for Science, Technology, Engineering and Math education. We focus on these areas together not only because the skills and knowledge in each discipline are essential for student success, but also because these fields are deeply intertwined in the real world and in how students learn most effectively. STEM is an interdisciplinary and applied approach that is coupled with hands-on, problem-based learning.

SPARK

The SPARK lab activity guides provide students with hands-on and minds-on learning experiences, making it possible for them to master both the scientific inquiry process and the tools that prepare them to conduct extended scientific investigations.

Debate

Debates are a great tool for engaging students and livening up classroom curriculum. Using debates in the classroom can help students grasp essential critical thinking and presentation skills. Among the skills classroom debates can foster are abstract thinking, clarity, organization, persuasion, public speaking, research, and teamwork and cooperation. Debate gives students an opportunity to present their views and also helps them learn to become tolerant to views that might oppose theirs. It is a great strategy to promote peer learning.

MUN

Students take part in the Model United nation as a delegate and debate with other nations’ representatives about the various significant national and international issues. This prepares them to be unbiased and well informed leader of tomorrow and understand the global issues and their implications today!

Field Trip

A Field trip is a visit to a place outside the regular classroom which is designed to achieve certain objectives, which cannot be achieved as well by using other, means Facilitate the learning of abstract concepts. Taking students on a field trip makes learning more effective as they will be able to gain vast ideas on the topic. Motivate students through increased interest and curiosity. Field trips can add variety to the regular classroom instructional program and they tend to be special and enjoyable learning experiences.   Field trips make students aware of learning activities in everyday life.  It enhances the curriculum. Give students experiential learning experiences.

Film, Movie and Video

It is known that children start their learning process with the use of picture books and are much more likely to engage with a book that has pictures than text-heavy book. In the middle school, students also make their own meaningful videos and short films to showcase their understanding of this media of learning and instruction. Undoubtedly the visual medium reaches its limits of illustrative learning at TIPS.