As part of their current English unit, Unit 6: “Classroom Stars”, students from 4th grade elementary level took their learning beyond the classroom and into the Geography Lab for a hands-on educational experience that combined language learning, geography, and cross-curricular exploration.
Throughout the units of the textbook Be Curious, students have been following Diversicus, a lively group of characters who form a travelling circus and visit different parts of the world, learning about local customs, culture, and everyday life wherever they go. In this unit, their journey brought them to Turkey, where they are attending school, the perfect scenario to explore school-themed vocabulary and apply it in meaningful contexts, which is the main vocabulary focus of the unit.
One of the key cross-curricular activities embedded in this unit was combining English with Social Studies to enhance learning outcomes. The activity focused on the recognition of different types of maps, political, street, and geographical, and understanding their purposes. To take this activity further and make learning more engaging, students visited the Geography Lab, where they were able to interact with real maps and geographical tools. For many students, this was their first time visiting the lab, an experience that sparked curiosity and excitement. They eagerly identified features, compared different types of maps, and shared their observations in English, proving that meaningful learning happens when knowledge is applied in real contexts.
During the visit, students analysed geographical features and identified various types of maps, connecting what they saw with what they had learned about Turkey. It was a unique opportunity for them to apply classroom knowledge in a real-world setting, reinforcing vocabulary and subject content while communicating in English.
The experience also reflected the school’s commitment to innovation, cross-curricular learning, and 21st-century skills. Their enthusiasm was evident as they proudly discussed their discoveries and shared what they had learned.
We invite you to visit our photo gallery and discover how our 4th graders turned a textbook activity into a global learning adventure!
