Social Studies: World Beyond Textbooks
08 Jun 2024
“The humanities and social sciences are disciplines that study people and society. Therefore, teaching them cannot be limited to books alone but requires students to engage with society and actively observe the world they live in.”
——Ms. Zoe Li,
BBSG Head of Social Studies
At BBSG, the Social Studies programme utilizes a wide range of physical and field experiences that encourage students to connect their learning to life and society by raising questions about the world around them and apply their knowledge to find the answers.
Model United Nations (MUN): Success of Our Young Diplomats
Once again, BBSG student "diplomats" showcased their talents and wisdom by achieving notable success in a Model United Nations (MUN) event.
The 4th Interschool MUN Conference for Primary School Students 2024 (Guangzhou)
Outstanding Paper (Chinese)
G5 Oliver S
Outstanding Advisor
丁老师
Excellent Delegation Award
广州博萃德学校
The 3rd Interschool MUN Conference for Middle School Students 2024 (Guangzhou)
Best Delegate (English)
G6 Shaun C
Outstanding Delegate (English)
G7 Alice W
Outstanding Advisor
丁老师
Excellent Delegation Award
广州博萃德学校
These competitions attracted over 600 primary and 500 junior secondary school students from Guangzhou. BBSG students Oliver S (G5), Vito H (G6), Lucas Z (G6), Shaun C (G6) and Alice W (G7) participated in the competitions.
Shaun C, a Grade 6 student, chose to participate in the English session, competing against junior secondary school peers. As the Paraguayan representative in the United Nations Environment Panel, he excelled in deliberating on the topic of "Collaborative Protection of Oceans for Advancing the Blue Economy" and was awarded the "Best Delegate" among over 20 participants in his committee. Additionally, Alice W from Grade 7 received recognition as an "Outstanding Delegate."
During the month-long preparation period, under the guidance of Ms. Ding, participants underwent systematic training in their weekly CCA (Co-Curricular Activities) sessions. They familiarised themselves with the organisational structure and functions of MUN, conducted in-depth research on their assigned countries, and prepared speeches for the competition. Through simulation exercises, they honed their teamwork and adaptability skills.
In this competition, the students engaged in friendly competition with skilled participants, enhancing their communication and critical thinking abilities, broadening their international perspectives, and expanding their knowledge base.
Interdisciplinary Field Trip to Guangdong Museum
To help students understand how geography and history interact to shape regional diversity, Ms. Xia and Ms. Yang jointly organised an interdisciplinary field trip for Grades 7 and 8 to visit the Guangdong Museum.
Students explored the special exhibition "Nurtured by the Same Water: Bronze Age Civilizations in the Yangtze River Basin" and investigated the bronze artefacts of the Yangtze River Basin and the local geography of Guangdong.
Upon receiving their research tasks, the students observed artefacts from different regions of the upper and lower reaches of the Yangtze River, recording information such as users, materials, functions, and decorative patterns. While reading the exhibition maps and descriptions, the students compared the characteristics of artefacts from different regions of the river, discovering connections between relics found along both the Yangtze River basin and the Yellow River basin.
Upon returning to school, the students began analysing the information with guidance, leading to a conceptual understanding that “different regions form distinct yet interconnected historical and cultural characteristics.”
When summarising the findings, the teachers took a broader perspective, outlining the cultural links between the Yangtze River Basin and the Yellow River Basin and helping the students recognise the "diverse yet interconnected" Chinese civilization.
This interdisciplinary field trip not only enhanced students' research skills and critical thinking abilities but also gave them a tangible understanding of 'diversity' within the rich and enduring Chinese civilization. It facilitated conceptual understanding and knowledge transfer across subjects and aspects of life.
Knowledge Master Competition
The four Houses of BBSG kicked off the inaugural Knowledge Master Competition. Divided into three divisions based on grade levels, the entire school competed in preliminary and final rounds, with each academy vying for victory in the final Jeopardy round.
G1-G3
Champion: Ginkgo
Team Award: Kapok
MVP: Joyce X
G4-G5
Champion: Ziwei
Team Award: Wutong
MVP: Andy W
G6-G8
Champion: Ginkgo
Team Award: Kapok
MVP: Shaun C
The competition covered a wide range of knowledge in history, geography, international relations, and social sciences, encompassing a vast array of subjects. The competition primarily assessed students' extracurricular knowledge, with difficulty levels corresponding to the point values. Students were required to read and respond to questions in both Chinese and English.
Through fun and immersive experiences, BBSG's Social Studies program aims to cultivate well-rounded individuals who possess not only a broad array of knowledge but also a deep understanding of the ever-changing world around them.
Ms. Li, the Head of Social Studies at BBSG shared that in such a dynamic and variable world, our children, more than in any past era, need to have the ability to see through phenomena to their essence and to have a well-rounded personality.
"They need to learn history, geography, law, economics, and politics to gain a deeper understanding of the times they live in, to understand the world as a community, and to gain a clearer insight into the future so they can see things from a bigger picture and remain oriented amidst the vast amount of information available."
