At Saci International School, the success of the process of building knowledge of adolescents from 6th to the 9th grade is linked to the existence of activities that will integrate school and families. These activities enable us to transform knowledge, beliefs, attitudes, perceptions, motivations, and expectations, and thus make the students aware and critical citizens.
Montessori Expansion: In 2017, the Montessori System was introduced in the final years of Elementary Education. So, a new stage was inaugurated in the school history, extending this pedagogical practice also to the adolescents, from 6th grade, through environment and materials prepared for this age group. The transition will be gradual and Work by Projects and other activities will follow the segment. So, the main objectives are: to increase students' learning potential (concentration, motivation, organization, commitment, social skills and free choice) and to work towards the construction of a community in the class.
When the student reaches 6th grade, he already has several language skills. It is up to the Language area (Portuguese, English, Spanish and Arts) to expand their reading ability, as well as the use of speech and writing. While the practice and identification of foreign languages allows a living perception of a multilingual world and access to cultural goods of humanity, in Arts many works refer to social, cultural and political issues. Taking them to debates in the classroom develops students' sensitivity, stimulates the imagination and the acquisition of artistic and aesthetic sense.
In Cosmic Education (History, Geography and Science), there is a prepared environment, such as the vegetable garden, orchard and the Cosmic Education room, equipped with experiments and research materials. After all, knowing the cosmic world and acting on it is the specific curiosity for this age group. In the 9th year, the study of Science deepens through Physics, Chemistry and Biology, which brings a differential for the student’s preparation for High School.
The challenges and problem-situations transform math lessons into stimulating moments. Using mathematical concepts and procedures, as well as technological resources and adopting strategies, Math from 6th to 9th grades develops ways of thinking and processes such as intuition, induction, deduction, analogy, and estimate. Therefore, the student develops self-confidence and perseverance in seeking solutions to problems.
Physical Education is a subject that develops the students’ intellectual and motor activity, allowing them to understand their own bodies, to express themselves in rhythmic activities and sports. In sports, it introduces the techniques of court games (volleyball, futsal, basketball and handball), which are playfully practiced during the Interclass Games preparing, in a healthy way, the competitive spirit.
Respect, a sense of justice and solidarity are key issues in the teaching of philosophy. Reveal knowledge, express feelings, doubts and fears and enhance the dialogic help to organize the students’ autonomous and critical thinking from 6th to 9th grades.
Students from 6th to 9th grade are also offered, in addition to extra courses, some projects and special activities:
Saci in Action: formed by volunteer students, Saci in Action has existed since 2003. Currently, the group seeks to provide the participant, through their practices, with the opportunity to reflect their interaction and participation in society. It conducts campaigns and donations to social assistance institutions with which it seeks to establish a link of at least one year, giving continuity to actions in a way that is not merely welfare. Coordinator: Carla Monks. Number of vacancies per semester: 15.
Journalism Center: it is a voluntary project. Formed by students from 6th to 9th grades, the focus is the production of Saci News, the school's printed newspaper. The group has weekly meetings, where they talk and learn about journalistic textual production, event coverage (photos and videos) and diagramming techniques. Coordinator: Taís Evanolli. Registration fee: R $ 100.00. Number of vacancies per semester: 10.
“Falação”: educational gymnastics held in the first semester of the year, aiming to integrate the students from different grades of Elementary School, since the groups are formed with students from different classes. The activities encompass, from all disciplines, challenges, in which different teachers participate simultaneously in an open environment. The coordinator of the segment organizes the activities with the teachers.
Writing Extra Course: with the proposal to prepare students to develop textual production, the workshop is aimed at students from the age of 10 on. The focus is the perception and mastery of writing techniques and identification of the main textual genres. Coordinator: Elaine Pontes Miranda. Monthly fee: R $ 100,00. Number of vacancies per semester: 10.
Shortfilming at Saci: work done in groups with students from different classes, Shortfilming is a project carried out in the second semester, which aims to encourage and stimulate the development of educational activities through technology. With the objective of producing an audiovisual work, students choose from the theme, always according to some type of relevance (social, economic, cultural, political), to the final presentation (in the cinema), through recording and editing the content. Coordinator: Luciano Torres and Maria Lúcia Oliveira.
Cosmic Education Fair: Following one of the great principles of Montessori System, the Cosmic Education Fair is an activity carried out by the segment every two years, due to the relay with the classes from Infant Education and 1st to 5th year. The presentation is done as an exposition of works, the students present discoveries related to the projects or the contents seized in the classroom, seeking the interdisciplinarity with current topics, History and Geography, in a practical way (scientific experiments and challenges). Coordination: Maria Lúcia Oliveira and Luciana Ribeiro.
