Written by Claire Banks and Mick Waters, A Curious Curriculum: Teaching foundation subjects well details the insightful and transformational steps that a school can take towards designing and delivering a rich, rigorous and wide-ranging curriculum. Foreword by Mary Myatt. Rather than being a model curriculum that can be uprooted and planted in any school, the book is a model schools can use to design their own curriculum, one that not only encourages children to be active participants in their own learning, but also to see the benefits of being part of a bigger, wider family of learners. The authors concentrate on the foundation subjects, particularly history, geography and science but also design and technology (DT) and art and design areas that are often challenging for teachers in primary schools. Subjects are brought together and explored under "big ideas" and, crucially, the emphasis is on avoiding the superficial and trivial and rooting teaching in extending and challenging children. In A Curious Curriculum, Claire Banks and Mick Waters share the story of one multi-academy trust (MAT) which designed and delivered a shared educational vision, a rationale for excellence in the curriculum, and the resources and support given to help reduce teachers' workload. Claire and Mick present a clear model both for supporting a group of schools or leading one school, offering a fresh perspective on working on a MAT-wide curriculum, as well as providing a range of snapshot examples of the curriculum in action in the form of documents, plans, photos and the learners' own work. The book shares transferrable lessons from the trust's journey to success, setting out an educational philosophy that pairs pedagogy with a well-structured curriculum designed with learners' best interests at its heart. All children deserve an engaging, exciting curriculum designed to spark their curiosity, feed their imagination and develop their skills and knowledge. With clear timelines and an honest and transparent dialogue about the challenges and benefits of working together collaboratively and the importance of external expertise, A Curious Curriculum is an essential read for all school leaders. Suitable for executive leaders, head teachers, curriculum coordinators and subject leaders in primary school settings.

Unleash the power of curiosity and the joy of learning! Curiosity is hardwired in all of us, but the longer students stay in school, the less curious they become. Why is that? Building a Curious School uncovers the many subtle ways in which formal education seems to hinder our natural curiosity and reveals how rekindling a sense of wonder in schools can prime the pump for learning, foster a culture of engagement, grow better educational leaders, and prepare students and staff to lead more fulfilling lives. Grounded in research, this engaging examination of curiosity shows educators how to intentionally cultivate inquisitiveness and wonder in teaching and learning. It includes · A plethora of activities, ideas, and tips to encourage curiosity · Compelling examples of curiosity at work in schools, businesses, and communities · Tools for supporting curiosity in ways that spark meaningful conversations and promote empathy, equity, and social-emotional learning If you′ve ever wondered anything, really—just out of curiosity—then you′ve got what it takes to lead your school to restored curiosity and your students to wellbeing and success. "This book lays out a vision as to the way schools can and should be approached to stimulate curiosity as a natural part of the teaching/learning process." --Robert J. Marzano, Cofounder and CAO, Marzano Resources, Cofounder and Strategic Advisor, Marzano Research "A powerful ‘must-read’ for all educators who want learning not only to be lively but also impactful and meaningful for every student." --Lyn Sharratt, Internship Supervisor, Ontario Institute for Studies in Education, University of Toronto, Canada

Facilitate literacy in students in grades PK–1 with Creating Curriculum Using Children's Picture Books. This 96-page book connects basic skills to 18 stories that students already love! Each featured storybook provides connections to language arts, math, social studies, science, art, motor skills, creative dramatics, and social skills. This resource includes information for teaching with favorites, such as Clifford the Big Red Dog, Corduroy, Goodnight Moon, If You Give a Mouse a Cookie, and The Polar Express. The book supports National Science Education Standards and NAEYC, NCTE, NCTM, and NCSS standards.

Has our system of accountability and quick fixes meant we've lost perspective of what can really improve the quality of education? With a multitude of issues at the heart of some of our more toxic schools, including micro-management, over-complicated policy and the intricate measurement of the wrong foci, it appears that teachers are experiencing a disconnect from the very reason they joined teaching in the first place. With little autonomy over what's important, fewer teachers enter the profession than the monumental amount of teachers that are leaving, and those that do, do so with reluctance and regret. With an astute examination of practice in schools, Claire Hill and Kat Howard take a thoughtful and strategic view of how to ensure a sense of connection and cohesion within schools, to ensure that all feel part of the collective curricular journey towards a gold standard. With a consideration of research-informed practice, this book will provide a series of strategies for curriculum designers at every level, keeping the high quality teachers that we very much need in schools, and providing a better palette to students in the process. At a time where teaching is somewhat politicised, monetised and overcomplicated, Symbiosis: Curriculum and the Classroom sets about the task of refining the way in which we run our schools to improve the quality of our everyday lives in schools.

A People’s Curriculum for the Earth is a collection of articles, role plays, simulations, stories, poems, and graphics to help breathe life into teaching about the environmental crisis. The book features some of the best articles from Rethinking Schools magazine alongside classroom-friendly readings on climate change, energy, water, food, and pollution—as well as on people who are working to make things better. A People’s Curriculum for the Earth has the breadth and depth ofRethinking Globalization: Teaching for Justice in an Unjust World, one of the most popular books we’ve published. At a time when it’s becoming increasingly obvious that life on Earth is at risk, here is a resource that helps students see what’s wrong and imagine solutions. Praise for A People's Curriculum for the Earth "To really confront the climate crisis, we need to think differently, build differently, and teach differently. A People’s Curriculum for the Earth is an educator’s toolkit for our times." — Naomi Klein, author of The Shock Doctrine and This Changes Everything: Capitalism vs. the Climate "This volume is a marvelous example of justice in ALL facets of our lives—civil, social, educational, economic, and yes, environmental. Bravo to the Rethinking Schools team for pulling this collection together and making us think more holistically about what we mean when we talk about justice." — Gloria Ladson-Billings, Kellner Family Chair in Urban Education, University of Wisconsin-Madison "Bigelow and Swinehart have created a critical resource for today’s young people about humanity’s responsibility for the Earth. This book can engender the shift in perspective so needed at this point on the clock of the universe." — Gregory Smith, Professor of Education, Lewis & Clark College, co-author with David Sobel of Place- and Community-based Education in Schools

After the September 11 attacks on the World Trade Center and Pentagon, many people questioned why no one had anticipated the terrorists' acts, even when events and intelligence seemed to point toward them. John Barell wonders if the attacks speak to a greater societal problem of complacency. He believes many students have become too passive in their learning, accepting information and "facts" as presented in textbooks, classes, and the media. Drawing on anecdotes from educators and his own life, Barell describes practical strategies to spur students' ability and willingness to pose and answer their own questions. Antarctica expeditions, outer space discoveries, dinosaur fossils, literature, and more help define the importance of developing an inquisitive mind, using such practices as * Maintaining journals on field trips, * Using questioning frames and models when reading texts, * Engaging in critical thinking and problem-based learning, and * Integrating inquiry into curriculum development and the classroom culture. To become habits of mind, students' daily curiosities must be nurtured and supported. Barell draws a vivid map to guide readers to "an intelligent revolution" in which schools can become places where educators and students imagine and work together to become active citizens in their society.

In this engaging design thinking adventure, students utilize STEM skills and creative thinking to research, design, and build prototypes of the underwater house of the future! After researching the effects of climate change on people throughout the world, learners narrow their focus to tackle an aspect of designing underwater that grabs their imaginations. They utilize design thinking to ideate, prototype, and test, conducting experiments along the way and applying their findings about the properties of water to their work. The unit includes six modules with flexible time constraints, meaning teachers can implement the unit in as little as six class periods or as many as 6 weeks. At every stage, learners draw on creativity and collaboration as they build STEM skills. Packed with engaging projects, experiments, and opportunities to reflect, Could You Live Underwater?: A Design Thinking and STEM Curriculum Unit for Curious Learners invites students to engage with issues they care about while building the skills they need for the future. Grades 4-5