Layering Approach

At British School of Chicago, all subjects taught every year from age five which creates a spiral curriculum which builds on the skills and knowledge of our students from year to year. In addition, topics and strands within subjects are revisited each year and developed further which enables students new to the school or students who have not fully understood first time around to fill in any gaps. Topics are extended and examined in greater depth as students move through the school and deepen their understanding and skills.

Some examples:

Subject: History
Strand: Chronology
Key Stage 1 (ages 5-7)

• Tell time
• Learn days of week and months
• Sequence events in their own day then week
• Sequence a simple story
• Place events and objects in chronological order
• Use common words and phrases relating to the passing of time

• Confident in use of date and vocabulary relating to passing of time
• Able to place events, people and changes into correct periods of time

• Recognize and make appropriate use of dates, vocabulary and conventions that describe historical periods and the passing of time

Subject: Science
Strand: Physical Processes, Electricity
Key Stage 1 (ages 5-7)

• Know about everyday appliances that use electricity
• Know about simple circuits involving batteries, wires, bulbs and other components
• Know how a switch can break a circuit

• Know how to construct simple circuits, incorporating a battery or power supply and a range of switches to make electrical devises work
• Know how changing the number or type of components in a series circuit can make bulbs brighter or dimmer
• Know how to represent series circuits by drawings and conventional symbols, and how to construct series circuits on the basis of drawings and diagrams using conventional symbols

• Know how to design and construct series and parallel circuits and how to measure current and voltage
• Know that the current in a series circuit depends on the number of cells and the number and nature of other components and that current is not "used up" by the components
• Know that energy is transferred from batteries and other sources to other components in electrical circuits.

From age 14, students begin IGCSE and IBDP courses where they have a wider selection of subjects. The skills and knowledge they have gained in Key Stages 1 to 3 will have prepared them for the coursework in the high school years.