Lower Secondary (Age 11-14)
Lower Secondary is typically for learners aged 11 to 14 years. It sets clear learning objectives for the first three years of secondary education ( Grade 6, 7 and 8), on the pursuit of the CIE (Cambridge International Examination) Curriculum, working in either set or mixed ability groups. It gives schools a flexible framework for developing skills and understandings in English, English Literature, Mathematics, History, Geography, Science, an Optional Language, Art, Music, Information Technology and Physical Education.
English
Lower Secondary 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. The curriculum framework develops learners’ speaking, listening, reading and writing skills in English. Learners who follow this framework will develop their English language competency based on a curriculum designed to be successful in any culture and to promote cross-cultural understanding.
English Literature
English Literature aims to engage students in the study of literary texts of personal, cultural, social and aesthetic value. Reading through literary genres, such as Prose Fictions, Short Stories, Drama and Poetry, students learn about ideas and viewpoints concerning events, issues and characters that are expressed by authors in differing texts. Experiencing social and artistic value, they learn to value and draw upon historical, social and cultural contexts in various ways: Responding to Literature, Examining Literature and Creating Literature.
Mathematics
The curriculum framework explores six content areas: Number, Algebra, Geometry, Measure, Handling Data and Problem Solving. The first five content areas are all underpinned by problem solving, which provides a structure for the application of mathematical skills. Mental strategies are also an important part of the number content. The curriculum focuses on principles, patterns, systems, functions and relationships, so that learners apply their mathematical knowledge and develop a holistic understanding of the subject.
Science
This curriculum framework covers four content areas: scientific enquiry, biology, chemistry and physics. Scientific enquiry is about considering ideas, evaluating evidence, planning investigative work, and recording and analysing data. The scientific enquiry objectives underpin biology, chemistry and physics, which focus on developing confidence and interest in scientific knowledge. Environmental awareness and some history of science are also part of the curriculum.
History
This curriculum covers three distinctive timelines for 6th, 7th and 8th grade. Each year is split into three content areas – Ruling, Living and Working, and Moving and Travelling. This allows the students to gain a full knowledge of the timeline through these different approaches. They become historians, and begin to develop a new set of skills; interpretation, thinking and historical analysis. They begin to interpret sources and develop their own independent opinions to understand the current processes through past events.
Geography
Geography is unique in bridging the social sciences (human geography) with the natural sciences (physical geography). Human geography concerns the understanding of the dynamics of cultures, societies and economies, and physical geography concerns the understanding of the dynamics of physical landscapes and the environment. Each course is divided between Grade 6, 7 and 8 and helps students to develop an in depth understanding of the world we live in- physically, socially and culturally.
Physical Education
Physical Education is taken in a 45-minute period class, twice a week. Students participate in individual sports, team sports, lifetime sports and physical fitness activities. Ongoing personal fitness profiles are developed as students assess their fitness throughout the year.
Exploratory
At the CISM Lower Secondary, exploratory classes are designed for students to explore one semester each of Art and Music. In Music, 6th, 7th and 8th graders get to choose a 16 week of study between Band, Choir, or Strings.
An Optional Language: (Myanmar/Chinese)
As part of the regular curriculum, Myanmar and Mandarin classes are conducted 3 periods a week with emphasis on both receptive and productive skills. Consequently, being proficient in one’s mother tongue is an indicator for later academic success. It also provides students with a deeper inter-cultural awareness and engages them in the language, literature and culture of their home country.
The School Day
| Beginning of the day | 08:50 am |
| Registration | 08:50 – 09:00 am |
| 1st Period | 09:00 – 09:45 am |
| 2nd Period | 09:45 – 10:30 am |
| 3rd Period | 10:30 – 11:15 am |
| Lunch | 11:15– 11:45 am |
| 4th Period | 11:45 – 12:30 pm |
| 5th Period | 12:30 – 1:15 pm |
| 2nd Break | 1:15– 1:30 pm |
| 6th Period | 1:30 – 2:15 pm |
| 7th Period | 2:15 – 3:00 pm |
| End of The Day | 3:00 pm |
| Extracurricular Activities (Monday-Thursday) Optional | 3:00-4:00 pm |
Assessment
| A + | 90- 100% |
| A | 80- 89% |
| B | 70-79% |
| C | 60-69% |
| D | 50-59% |
| F | Below 50% |
Lower Secondary assessments are a test of a student’s knowledge of Core Learning Goals contained in certain course content areas. The tests will be given quarterly after the student completes a course containing the Core Learning Goals every 9 weeks of teaching and learning at CISM. Following these tests, Report Cards are given which accurately reflect the grades and progress of each individual student. Parents, students and teachers meet to discuss progress during regular Open Day Conferences, which are arranged at the end of each Semester.
Summer Programme