Year 7 & 8 Enrichment
In the secondary school, Enrichment sessions are an integral part of our week. Topics are varied but always chosen for the scope and depth of learning that they bring. It is an opportunity for students to become completely immersed in a subject purely for the joy of it. The content is equally led by the pupil as by the teacher, and the pathways and connections it brings are enriching for us all.
For the Spring term we leapt straight into probably the biggest question of them all… Who Are We? We explored Ancient History, Prehistory and Archaeology to see how modern humans began; how we evolved, adapted, survived and learnt self-expression. As is always the case in Enrichment, the sessions were so much fun! We had competitions, debates, treasure hunts and used our creativity in lots of ways with art and sculpture. The pupils were particularly fascinated with Lucy; the oldest human fossil to have ever been found. By studying the archaeologists’ techniques and reports we learnt not only her age (about 3.2 million years!) but also amazing details about how she lived. Another highlight was the complex debate about Who Owns History? Pupils were very passionate in their arguments about what should happen to fossilised remains. The answers were multifaceted and showed us so much about the morality of studying the past.
The answer to who we are can be found in part by looking to the prehistoric past, but there is also so much to find out about how we became who we are now, as individuals. So, to compliment our school sessions, families worked on a home project to research their familial origins. This added layer of exploration really brought the topic to life! Pupils and their families explored the meaning of their names, where they families may have migrated from, professions, stories and so much more. Some families even managed to trace their origins back to the 17th century! We uncovered artists, labourers, scientists and even a pirate!
At the end of the class project, pupils were given the opportunity to create their own individual project on any aspect of the topic that inspired them. This was completely open and independent. The variety was astounding! To name just a few, we had projects on Human Sacrifice in prehistoric times, mythology, the movement of continents in the Ice Age and prehistoric Cave Drawings.
As a celebration of such rich learning all term, we organised a beautiful Enrichment Event in the gardens. It was an incredibly special afternoon, and it was so beautiful to see all the independent and family work shared with everyone. The quality of all of the projects was incredible, and the depth of learning was clear to see.
Next week we start our topic for the Summer Term, and it promises to be as inspirational as this one!