What is a Learning Area?
A learning area is a field of knowledge, skill
and attitude encompassing a subject or concept.
It has specific learning standards demonstrating
continuity and progression. The learning area
integrates instructional (learning based activities)
with the extended programme (based on projects
and activities beyond the classroom). Within the
curriculum, the learning area interlinks various
subjects creating an engaging learning process.
Each learning area has set learning standards
for each level. These learning standards demonstrate
continuity and progression as the student progresses
from a lower age group to a higher age group.
Early Childhood Development (ECD) Section
Learning Areas :
- Early Exploration and Concept Building
: Early Science and Emerging Numeracy
- Language and Literacy: Urdu and English
- Child Care, Social, Personal and Moral
Development
- Music Movement & Artistic
Development
Learning Area: Early Exploration
and Concept Building / Early Science and
Emerging Numeracy
This learning area focuses on construction
of conceptual foundation in science and numeracy.
Children’s curiosity and skill to learn
though observation in capitalized to teach
classification, problem solving, reasoning
and communication. Classroom activities include hands on and minds on practices
and process. Strands and units of early science from ECD I to ECD IV actually
refer to the early cognition concepts. It emphasizes on the use of basic
science skills to explore common materials, objects and living things, children
are expected to develop skills in posing simple question measuring, sorting,
classifying and communicating information about the natural world. While
developing early science and social studies concepts, children begin to explore
different material substances (sand, water, other solid and liquid etc.),
different place and their characteristics (home, school market, park etc.)
it also includes basic concepts of history, civics and geography which focuses
on cultural learning, children’s own cultural values and introduction
to the concept of diversity in societies, living with each other, exploring
common social issues such as cleanliness, saving resources, etc.
Emerging
numeracy includes numbers and number operation, patterns, shapes and space
and data collection and its interpretation which discuses
the concepts such as size differences and proportions
(more/less, longer/shorter, thick/thin, inside/outside,
on/below etc) geometric shapes as well as one
to one correspondence , counting, combing,
sorting and comparing sets of objects. This
learning area also enhances different mathematical
skills such as to compute, to compare, to sort,
to classify etc. while learning mathematics
children will be actively engaged using concrete
materials and appropriate technologies such
as computers.
Learning
Area: Language and Literacy: Urdu and English
This learning area focuses on language,
literacy and basic concepts of the world, forming
major aspects of a child’s development
process. Language and literacy focuses on language
skills development and using language for communicating
and learning. It provides students with the
opportunity to develop language skills and
broadens their conceptual understanding of
the world around them.
Learning
Area: Child Care, Social, Personal and Moral
Development
this learning area focuses on a child’s
physical development, health care and nutrition.
A child’s personal experience during
his/her early schooling year’s shapes
their development and skills enhanced during
their later years. Development of personal
and social skills takes time and occurs at
different weights. Major strengths in the area
include; physical development, nutrition, and
health, social, personal and moral development.
Learning
Area: Music Movement & Artistic
Development
This
learning area
emphasizes
the enhancement
of children’s
creative abilities
including music, movement and art. These are
enjoyable ways for young children to develop
their physical skills, stimulate their imagination
and promote creativity. Children explore and
express their thoughts and feelings through
art, music, drama and movement. The music movement
and artistic development includes singing,
theater, drama, puppet, poetry, story telling,
dance, painting and other art initiatives.
Junior-Secondary Section Learning Areas:
- English Language Development
- Native Languages Development
- Logical/Mathematical Development
- Development of the Knowledge of the World
(includes the learning area programmes for Science
and Social Sciences)
- Aesthetic Development through Arts
- PrISM (Personal, Intellectual, Social and
Moral Development).
Learning Area: English
English language development comprises of Language
and Literature. This learning area has “Instructional”
and “Extended“ modes. The instructional
programme focuses on language and literature and
is offered as a day-to-day teaching and learning
process in school. The Extended programme addresses
language proficiency and caters to students’
based on existing English teaching and learning
practices.
The extended programme covers “Speaking
proficiency” (Class III - X); “Reading
Initiative” (Class III - VIII); “Research
Project” (Class IX - X) and “Creative
Writing” (Class III - X).
Learning Area : Native Languages
Native languages play a part in maintaining regional
identities, culture and contribute to national
solidarity. Although, Urdu is the primary focus,
importance is placed on regional languages to
develop a better understanding of different linguistic
and ethnic groups promoting unity among students.
The Native Languages area emphasizes different
languages especially Urdu, Sindhi and other regional
languages.
Learning Area: Mathematics and
Logical Thinking
This learning area is designed to encourage learners
to become mathematically literate by thinking,
reasoning, communicating mathematically and to
appreciate the value of mathematics by applying
this knowledge flexibly and confidently to solve
real life problems. Major strands in this learning
area include; Number and operations, Patterns
and Algebra, Space and Shapes and Data Handling.
Besides the formal curriculum, students are exposed
to mental mathematics, puzzles and problem solving
tasks to accelerate their learning.
Learning Area: Science
This area provides students with learning experiences
to help them understand and interpret the world
in which they live. Beyond developing foundational
knowledge, it encourages students to explore,
pursue new knowledge and develop an intelligent
and responsible approach to science and technology.
In line with the National Curriculum’s conceptual
framework, the Science area develops the four
key learning skills - cognitive, emotional, social
and spiritual development.
The science programme for Junior Secondary Class
reflects the needs of the students by encouraging
them to develop a scientific attitude and process
skills, to practice scientific methods. The Junior
Secondary Science programme is delivered in two
major components:
Formal Instruction Programme
It comprises of skills, attitude and understanding
(science concepts). Approximately 80% of
allotted time is spent on core topics focusing
on intellectual competence, critical consciousness
and high moral values. At each level, a correlation
of topics, various resources and process skills
have been introduced.
Extended Programme
To achieve the goal of teaching and learning
science in junior secondary section, learners
are involved in the extended programme of “Inquiring
Minds,” which gives learners an opportunity
to promote certain skills as well as develop an
attitude for scientific inquiry.
Learning Area: Social Sciences
Education aims to develop an individual’s
knowledge, skill and positive attitude so that
they become self-confident, capable and committed
to setting goals, making informed choices and
acting in ways to improve their own lives and
their community. The broader focus of the Social
Sciences learning area is to equip the student
with worldly knowledge. It includes the following
subjects; Social Studies, Islamiat, Economics
and Commercial Geography.
Keeping in mind, the student’s nature and
needs, the programme is inquiry-based in its concept
delivery. The inquiry approach helps students
answer questions, problem solve and make decisions
using process, communication and participation
skills. This develops their thinking skills and
gives students varied learning experiences in
the same subject area.
The Social Sciences utilises a thematic approach
to help students gain a gradual and clear understanding
of its varied aspects. The themes are; People,
place and environment, Time, continuity and change,
Culture, Civic ideals and practices and Production,
distribution and conception.
Learning Area: Aesthetic Development through
the Arts
This learning area has been established with the
aim of providing exposure to our students to the
creative and aesthetic world within and outside
them. This programme, although in its very initial
stages of development, incorporates the basic
elements of art and offers opportunities to students
to explore their hidden potentials in the fields
of drama, visual arts, music and movement and
dance.
Learning Area: PrISM
A student’s personality is a blend of various
attributes contributing to his/her development
and needs to be fostered in a special way. The
PrISM Development Programme is designed to nurture
a student’s holistic personality. The Learning
Area focuses on a child’s Personal (Pr),
Intellectual (I), Social (S) and Moral (M) development.
These aspects are further developed into intra,
interpersonal development, moral and social development
sub-topics.
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