Humanities

Let’s explore our world… Our learning journey within Humanities begins in the Little Lions Early Years Centre, with some of our youngest students beginning to ask questions about the world around them. The students have been exploring History and Geography as a part of their ‘Understanding the World’ curriculum. Their enriched learning environment helps the students learn about the world through active involvement within their indoor and outdoor learning environments. These fantastic students have enjoyed exploring the lives and occupations of people within different communities. They have been immersed with exploratory based role-play opportunities and open-ended enquiries. Our youngest students in Lion Cubs have been using photos and stories to find out about their family history. Pre Nursery have looked at different occupations and used maps when acting as pilots! Nursery have continued the travel theme, looking at different areas around Thailand and have learned about castles. Meanwhile, the students in Reception have learned about famous landmarks, the continents and have enjoyed exploring different maps. The students in the Little Lions Early Years Centre have shown fantastic creativity and thinking skills this year, looking at the geography of our world and the importance of our own family history. A wonderful year of exciting learning in the Little Lions Early Years Centre!

I see, I think, I wonder… Moving on through the school into Key Stage 1, Year 1 and Year 2 have had an exciting year learning new geography skills and gaining historical knowledge. As a part of our enquiry based learning, Key Stage 1 have been leading their own learning, beginning to ask questions about the world and about events from the past. The students are starting to think critically about our topics and analyse different sources. In Key Stage 1, the students have had the opportunity to experience enriched roleplay activities through exploring their topics, which in turn has strengthened their fantastic vocabulary skills. Year 1 explored how transport has changed throughout time and they were able to investigate different forms of transport in their ‘Transport Museum’ including looking at kayaks and surfboards! They are now experts at looking at photos from the past and using historical vocabulary to describe history. Year 2 have worked hard on analysing sources during their work on the topic of pirates and have become skilled geographers, also using their critical thinking skills to find out why some animals are endangered! Year 2 launched an exciting Pirate Day where parents were invited to learn from the students and see all of their fantastic pieces of pirate work. They even sampled some pirate hardtack biscuits! Key Stage 1 have improved their speaking and listening skills this year, communicating their ‘wonders’ about the world and using these as a starting point for enquiries. Their passion, engagement and creativity have been wonderful to see this year as Key Stage 1 delved into understanding the world around them.

“It’s so fun learning about the past! I love the fun songs!” - Harriet (2H)

“I liked learning about pirates and speaking like a pirate!” - Iona (2C)

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Ask, investigate, create! As History and Geography progresses throughout Lower School, Lower Key Stage 2 have worked hard on bringing Humanities to life with continuous exciting experiences throughout the year! Year 3 and Year 4 have excelled in their collaboration skills, working together during their mini-enquiries in their topic lessons. You probably noticed the day the dinosaurs took over the school! In combination with Science, this was Year 3 taking part in an archaeological dig and exploring dinosaurs on their ‘Dig It’ day. The Year 3 students were fully immersed in roleplay, exploring how dinosaurs survived in the past and how the Earth has changed since then. The brilliant Year 3 students also explored how historical events have influenced art throughout time and produced fantastic African masks. Year 4 have demonstrated brilliant critical thinking skills this year, investigating where clothes were made and even designed a garment factory in teams! They evaluated the true cost of clothing, thinking about the bigger picture. Year 4 brought history to life during their ‘Wow Greek Day’ taking a plunge into the life of people during Ancient Greece. Lower Key Stage 2 have mastered their atlas skills, identifying countries, cities and can confidently describe different climates and biomes. What amazing enquirers they have become this year!

“I loved learning about where our clothes come from. It was a surprise for me and now I think more carefully about what I buy.” - Ching Ching (4L) “Aztecs were awesome! They did some really interesting things!” - Ryuu (3F)

The Humanities learning experience continues to thrive well into Year 5, where the students have excelled with their geography skills and historical knowledge. Year 5 are enquiry experts and have fully embedded their enquiry based learning skills in both Geography and History units. The students have applied their geography skills this year during their enquiry unit based on rivers and have celebrated their knowledge by sharing their learning during a Parent Exhibition. Year 5 impressed all during this exhibition and proved they were expert geographers, describing the importance of rivers. During the event, they shared the knowledge gained from their enquiry unit including field trips, 3D models and a range of research projects. It is safe to say Year 5 have truly become experts with enquiries! They have also delved into learning about the impact World War II has had on the world and have become skilled analysers when using sources and artefacts. Their in-depth learning shone through during a class assembly, when teaching the students in Pre Prep about the war and the impact it had. Excellent history learning continues after school in extracurricular activities too! Harrow Historians have seen some avid historians explore, learn, discuss and share this year. These keen historians across Pre Prep have learnt about significant events of the past and influential people in history, led by their own interests. An enquiry about The Great Fire of London saw the students create their own artwork representing the city. Harrow Historians have used drama, art and games to help investigate space, famous women throughout history, medicine and kings and queens. How proud we are to have such enthusiastic historians among us! “The arts and humanities teach us who we are and what we can be.” - Ronald Reagan

In Prep Humanities, we build on the strong foundations of learning in Pre Prep to continue to challenge our students to think critically about the world around them, exploring the global context from a historical, geographical and religious perspective.

In Year 6, we have gone on a journey through time, exploring history right from our early ancestors to the ancient civilizations that have shaped our world today. Alongside this journey into history, Year 6 have also ex-

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plored some key geographical concepts from both human and physical geography. We have investigated the formation of waterfalls, developed map skills, explored Antarctica and modern-day urban issues. This blended approach to the study of humanities ensures they build the skills of an able humanity scholar.

As students move into Year 7, we have been excited to also introduce the study of Religion, Philosophy and Ethics. This approach provides a holistic outlook on the world today to help students fully appreciate the nature of the world they experience outside of our classrooms.

We have completed historical enquiries into the Roman Empire, the Crusades and the impact of the Black Death in medieval times. In Geography, we have used intellectual confidence to consider the impact of deforestation in Madagascar, studied the processes behind our weather and completed virtual fieldwork. In Religion, Ethics and Philosophy students have investigated what it means to be a religious believer through analysing different philosophies about God, forms of worship and religious pilgrimages.

Through engaging with enquiry questions across the humanities disciplines, our students have been encouraged to take ownership of learning, work collaboratively and think outside the box. It has been exciting to see our students develop skills to explore their learning more critically.

“I came, I saw, I conquered.” - Caesar

In addition to all the exciting learning going on within our classrooms, we have been lucky to run the Roman Challenge Day for Year 7 students this

year. It was an action-packed day with each House group competing to be crowned victorious as the strongest legion in our Roman Army.

It was great to see such creativity in action as some students arrived in homemade armour, shields, swords and were truly ready for battle. Throughout the day, the level of collaboration was exemplary as students threw javelins, fired catapults at Roman enemies, built an army camp and took part in a final mock battle. Suriyothai were the victorious House on the day but the effort and engagement from all students was a joy to see. It was a great opportunity for all to apply their learning about the Romans and put it into action.

In Year 8, students have embarked through a challenging and diverse curriculum that has encouraged them to be open-minded, to think critically and show resilience. Through their studies in the History department, we have seen students analysing the age of exploration, revolutions, changes in industry and the way these have shaped society in both the past and the present. Geography has mirrored this focus on societal developments through a consideration of migration policies, the role of the United Nations and the impact of tourism. In Religion, Philosophy and Ethics, global issues such as gender equality and inspirational people have been investigated with a philosophical focus.

The students in Prep have demonstrated an increased ability to make connections between their learning, to be proactive and confident learners with the skills of humanity scholars, who are fully prepared for the next step in their Humanities learning journey.

“The minds of scholars are libraries.” - Eliza Cook Throughout Year 9, students are further equipped with the skills, knowledge and passion to be successful in the Humanities subjects at IGCSE at beyond.

Our Geographers have honed their understanding of the relationship between Geography and the world around them through the study of

volcanic hazards, earthquakes and climate change. Students have worked collaboratively to complete a project on climate crusaders to consider the impact of climate change of different groups within the world today.

This contextual exploration has extended into IGCSE where our Geographers have considered the impact and causes of urbanisation in Bangkok. This development of contextual knowledge has been a key focus across the phases.

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Our Historians have focused on the main issues surrounding WWI during their Year 9 studies. This has included an in-depth study, analysis and evaluation of the events that led to this major historical event. The unit culminated in independent research and the application of skills of originality to develop plans of attack for WWI Trenches.

These skills of independence have been further refined by IGCSE Historians who have worked to complete project work and presentations on the origins of the Cold War. We have also seen some excellent examples of analytical coursework on Weimar Germany. In Religion, Ethics and Philosophy, students have been engaged in a philosophical approach to modern day ethical issues. They have considered medical ethics and the morality of genetic engineering, issues related to the death penalty, and crime and the application of moral decision-making theories.

This moral and philosophical thinking has been further enhanced by IGCSE Religious Studies students through a focused study of religious practices, beliefs and a comparative study of attitudes towards moral themes.

The final part of the Humanities learning journey at Harrow Bangkok ends with the opportunity to study Geography, History and Travel and Tourism at Sixth Form.

Our Year 12 Geographers have shown the extent of their skills through a challenging and advanced study of weather and climate. They have been reflective learners who have worked collaboratively to develop mastery in relation to both their skills and knowledge of the topics studied.

This same sense of agility can also be seen in Year 13 where the students have fully applied themselves to the study of global development. It has been an interesting year to explore physical geography with numerous natural hazards occurring to make the learning topical. For example, the recent volcanic eruption in Iceland.

In Travel and Tourism, students have organised birthday parties for students in Lower School and boarding trips to a water park to demonstrate their independent skills. They have also enjoyed the experience of external speakers from the Thai Tourism authority to develop their knowledge of the tourism industry.

Our Year 12 Historians have sharpened their debating skills with frequent and lively debates on contentious aspects of US history. They have explored big questions such as: How adequate was Hoover’s approach to the Great Depression?

This spirit of debate and collaborative learning has also been seen in Year 13, where students have immersed themselves in the study of Russian history. The extent of this was evident in the production of an homage to Lenin in cake form.

As our students end their learning journey with us, we have been pleased to see their exploration of Humanities continue at university level. There are a number of students opting to study History, PPE and Liberal Arts as they take the next step in their learning.