"Exploring the World"
"Exploring the World" is a newly introduced integrated course within the New Ukrainian School reform. According to the chosen program, the course combines the natural, civil and historical, social and healthcare education branches. The purpose of the course is to form a holistic picture of the world while mastering social experience by young learners.
In these lessons, the teacher encourages his/ her students to independently ask questions, conduct research, draw conclusions, formulate and discuss ideas. An important element is creating a comfortable learning environment where young learners can freely express their thoughts, learn to respect the opinion of others, discuss and constructively criticize each other's ideas, not be afraid of speaking. In addition, learners offer their own explanations based on personally verified factual information, use observations, plan and conduct experiments, develop methods for testing their ideas, learn to use methods of verification, expansion and confirmation of thoughts, acquire the ability to abandon false ideas, learn to present the result of their activities.
"Morning Meetings" are an integral part of this course, during which young learners develop a sense of friendship and unity as well as reveal the importance of the topic to be addressed later in the class.