Choosing your programme for the Middle Years 2024

Sustainability Pathway

WHAT WILL YOU STUDY IN THIS COURSE

Unit 1 – Diversity. You will explore the living and non-living parts of the natural environment, studying the diversity of life on earth, and of rocks and minerals in the earth’s crust. You will become more familiar with, and develop a deeper appreciation for the world around you. Unit 2 – Unity. You will delve deeper into the ways in which all of life is interconnected in the global ecosystem, including looking at different types of relationships between organisms. You will learn a bit about how systems work, and develop skills in Systems Thinking. Unit 3 – Survive. You will consider some of the major global environmental problems we are facing, and explore ways in which we can avoid, mitigate or adapt to these problems. You will consider how Indigenous Peoples around the world interact with their environments. Finally, you will plan and carry out your own sustainability project in or around school or your home. Unit 4 – Critique. You will critically examine the way we as a species live, and how the way we see the world affects the way we live in it. Your exploration will include many facets of society, including culture, religion, ethics and the economy. Unit 5 – Create. You will think deeply about the way forward: how can we create a more sustainable future. This will include thinking about re-designing our society and the way we interact with each other, and with nature.

WHAT SKILLS WILL YOU DEVELOP

You will develop an intimate knowledge and understanding of the world around us, including living and non-living parts of the environment. You will hone your observation, collaboration and communication skills, and develop new critical thinking and systems thinking skills.

HOW WILL PROGRESS BE ASSESSED

The course will be continuously assessed using a variety of approaches including journaling, written reflections, observations, essays, debates and oral and visual presentations.

WHO SHOULD TAKE THIS COURSE

The course is accessible to anyone, and beneficial for everyone. It will particularly appeal to pupils who have a keen interest in nature, or a desire to make the world a better place.

WHERE COULD THIS COURSE LEAD

The interdisciplinary nature of the course means that you will develop a wide range of transferable knowledge and skills, which would help in any and every field of study, from the sciences to the arts and humanities. It will provide a particularly good foundation for the IB course in Environmental Systems and Societies (ESS), which will be available at both Standard and Higher Level.

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