Social Studies at Deira International School
The Social Studies curriculum provides an integrated and holistic course of study contextualized to meet the needs of students in the United Arab Emirates. Using relevant topical content, the curriculum provides scaffolded spiral learning opportunities in which students develop relevant and up-to-date information literacy skills to explore political science, economics, anthropology, psychology, law, archaeology and sociology. Ultimately, the Social Studies curriculum aims to arm students with an awareness of the world around them to help them navigate and be successful in the future that those present today cannot even imagine, to make informed and reasonable decisions as members of a tolerant and culturally diverse society in an interdependent world.
As a Social Studies team our aim is to deliver a wide and varied experience that teaches students the skills needed to be proficient communicators in the real world. Our aim is developing a passion and critical eye for UAE culture and heritage in our students which will give them a solid basis for learning in any future country. Our KS3 curriculum develops the necessary skills and knowledge to succeed at GCSE and IB level, with an emphasis on engagement and enjoyment through the topics that are studied. The Social Studies curriculum makes a significant contribution to the curriculum of the school due to the subjects focus upon the study of places and the impacts of people and events past and present. All aspects of Social Studies require pupils to critically enquire and personally reflect on space, place and historical events. The department aims to create informed, inquisitive and analytical pupils who can appreciate the world beyond their experiences.
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Curriculum Intention
Students will learn about the basics of European geography and history through the Renaissance, the colonial period up through the World War and formation of the EU.
Students will have a deep understanding of social, political and economic systems. They will better comprehend events. Trends, personalities and movements in local, national and world history. Their studies will help them interpret human actions and prepare them for new careers and lifelong learning. Learning is based on their KS2 Curriculum Studies.
Students in Year will develop the full range of the IB Learner Profile skills. Particular focus will be placed upon ‘Caring’, ‘Reflective’ and ‘Thinkers’ learners.
Curriculum Implementation
Teaching Methods:
Presentations, group, individual, pairs, collaborations, class discussions and debates, using material and research from a variety of sources. These include:
1. Ministry of Education resources
2. Cross-curricular links
3. Staffing within the Social Studies department is made up of Humanities, Business, Computer Science and English specialists, all contributing to the rich material. This provides depth to curriculum development and planning, particularly in line with the new Ministry of Education content standards.
Assessment
Students will be formatively and summatively assessed during each term. Each term has a pre-content, mid-term and final review. The final assessment will be based on concepts presented in the lessons. These are delivered though Microsoft Forms.
Wider Curriculum
Links to STEAM, ALL curriculum subjects, National Events – theses include Presentations during National Day and Artwork, World Record attempts on Flag Day and organizing and arranging events for International Day – CCAs, Trips, Guest Speakers, IB.
Educational Visits for Year 7 will include: Organic Farm – In a collaboration with the companies, engaging guided tours around the plantations. Students will be able to learn about organic farming practices adapted to the Gulf Environment. Topics of study will include Organic Farming and Urban Farming, Food Cycle and Waste, Transport and Sustainable Mobility, Carbon Footprint and Climate Change. Aventura Parks – Students will visit Aventura Parks in order to make the best of one of the densest and most beautiful Ghaf tree forests in the UAE: The natural forest of Mushrif Park in Dubai. They will explore the green outdoors, with the most thrilling activities off the ground and between the trees, a beautiful place where fun meets fitness and thrill meet nature. Topics that will be covered include: Desert Forests, Local Fauna and Flora, Actively Integrating, Nature in the City, Organic Urban Farming, Upcycling, Soil Erosion and Waste Management.
The topics studied are selected to instill within students a passion for the subject and the UAE. They have been carefully chosen by the Ministry of Education to interest, engage and challenge our students. The knowledge gained from the chosen topics give the perfect base of knowledge and skills required for further study in Year 8 and into the IGCSE and IB curriculum
Curriculum Impact
The Social Studies curriculum provides an integrated and holistic course of study contextualized to meet the needs of students in the United Arab Emirates.
Using relevant topical content, the curriculum provides scaffolded spiral learning opportunities in which students develop relevant and up-to-date information literacy skills to explore political science, economics, anthropology, psychology, law, archaeology and sociology.
Ultimately, the Social Studies curriculum aims to arm students with an awareness of the world around them to help them navigate and be successful in the future that those present today cannot even imagine, to make informed and reasonable decisions as members of a tolerant and culturally diverse society in an interdependent world.
Curriculum Intention
Students will learn about Asia starting with China, then moving to South Asia geography, history and trade. They finish with Russia and surrounding countries up through the cold war and up to present.
Students will have a deep understanding of social, political and economic systems. They will better comprehend events. Trends, personalities and movements in local, national and world history. Their studies will help them interpret human actions and prepare them for new careers and lifelong learning.
Students in Year will develop the full range of the IB Learner Profile skills. Particular focus will be placed upon ‘Balanced’, ‘Communicators’ and ‘Knowledgeable’ learners.
Curriculum Implementation
Teaching Methods:
Presentations, group, individual, pairs, collaborations, class discussions and debates, using material and research from a variety of sources. These include:
1. Ministry of Education resources
2. Cross-curricular links
3. Staffing within the Social Studies department is made up of Humanities, Business, Computer Science and English specialists, all contributing to the rich material. This provides depth to curriculum development and planning, particularly in line with the new Ministry of Education content standards
Assessment
Students will be formatively and summatively assessed during each term. Each term has a pre-content, mid-term and final review. The final assessment will be based on concepts presented in the lessons. These are delivered though Socratives.
Wider curriculum
Links to STEAM, ALL curriculum subjects, National Events – theses include Presentations during National Day and Artwork, World Record attempts on Flag Day and organizing and arranging events for International Day – CCAs, Trips, Guest Speakers, IB.
Educational visits for Year 8 will include: Emirates Soil Museum – The Museum has both an indoor and an outdoor exhibition that is designed to make students eager to learn more about the world of soil. Every field trip to the Museum includes debates, role-playing, experiments, games and workshops for students to gain a better understanding of the topics addressed. Areas of study will include: Composting, Planting, Identifying types of Soils, Water and Soil Analysis, Permaculture, Artistic Planting and Urban Farming. Waste to Energy facilities – Students will get to learn about innovative ecological alternatives to landfill dumping by exploring how the waste you collect can be processed into fuel via a waste converter technology or upcycled into new material. Students can engage in a clean-up to collect waste, and then take part in an environmental inspection contest and an upcycling activity.
Students will then visit a recycling facility to get involved in recycling first-hand. Students will study the following topics: Waste to Energy, Circular Economy, Waste Management, Recycling and Up-cycling, Environmental Crisis, Pollution and Carbon Footprint.
Curriculum Impact
The curriculum aim is to provide an integrated and holistic course of study, contextualized to meet the needs of the students in the United Arab Emirates and at Deira International School.
As with other subjects’ success in Social Studies will be demonstrated to a large extent by students developing their knowledge base and skill set, and therefore, achieving outstanding internal assessment results.
This of course is not the full picture. The learning and discussion of the content of Social Studies naturally ties in with the focus of the IB learner profile. As outlined in this document these subjects can quite clearly play a significant role in developing well rounded global citizens.
Students should be able to understand how humans interact with one another and the natural environment. Describing how and why this varies between countries and how this has changed over time.
Curriculum Intention
Students will learn about the geography, history and trade of countries to Africa, the Americas and the MENA region.
Students will have a deep understanding of social, political and economic systems. They will better comprehend events. Trends, personalities and movements in local, national and world history. Their studies will help them interpret human actions and prepare them for new careers and lifelong learning.
Students in Year will develop the full range of the IB Learner Profile skills. Particular focus will be placed upon ‘Open-minded’, ‘Inquirers’, ‘Principled’ and Risk-takers’ learners.
Curriculum Implementation
Teaching Methods:
Presentations, group, individual, pairs, collaborations, class discussions and debates, using material and research from a variety of sources. These include:
1. Ministry of Education resources
2. Cross-curricular links
3. Staffing within the Social Studies department is made up of Humanities, Business, Computer Science and English specialists, all contributing to the rich material. This provides depth to curriculum development and planning, particularly in line with the new Ministry of Education content standards.
Assessment
Students will be formatively and summatively assessed during each term. Each term has a pre-content, mid-term and final review. The final assessment will be based on concepts presented in the lessons. These are delivered though Socratives.
Wider Curriculum
Links to STEAM, ALL curriculum subjects, National Events – theses include Presentations during National Day and Artwork, World Record attempts on Flag Day and organizing and arranging events for International Day – CCAs, Trips, Guest Speakers, IB.
Educational visits for Year 9 will include: Ghaf Tree Planting – a tree-planting field trip and activity, in collaboration with GoumBook and Sandy Seeds, focused on the Ghaf Tree. The aim of the program is to make the UAE greener and more sustainable, and to raise awareness about the local ecosystem and water conservation, providing a hands-on experience. The project is aiming to make the UAE greener and more sustainable. It will also raise student awareness about the local ecosystem and water conservation, providing a hands-on experience. Beach/Desert Clean Up – teaming up with Step-up Dubai, a youth community organization, in order to allow schools to protect our beautiful natural environment and support marine life and underwater ecosystems. Areas of study will include Gulf Wildlife / Marine Life, Land and Sea Pollution, Consumer Society, Teamwork and Upcycling.
Curriculum Impact
The thematic units specified in Year 9 (as in the rest of KS3) introduces the students to the full range of experiences that are addressed in the IGCSE and IB curriculum across DIS. Thematic interleaving of the skills ensures retention of information and regular implementation of skills in order to embed understanding. Each learning episode makes explicit references to the skills being assessed thereby developing students’ understanding of the curriculum and equipping them with the necessary skills and language for learning needed to take charge of their own learning experience.
The study of Social Studies naturally allows students to develop key life skills, such as those listed in the IB Learner Profile. The very nature of the content covered for example will result in student being open minded, caring inquirers.
Students will continue with their Social Studies journey into Year 10 where we seek to instill a lifelong desire to be inquisitive about people, places and significant events past, present and future.