Curriculum
Tell me and I will forget, show me and I may remember; involve me and I will understand.
– Confucius
What disciplines make up the SOT curriculum?
School of Tomorrow (SOT) intentionally does not speak of "subjects", but rather of "disciplines". The SOT curriculum is not predefined, but rather evolves and adapts based on the needs and desires of each child. A large variety of different "offerings" are always made available and can be chosen based on interest and desire. We ensure proficiency in all required disciplines (and far beyond), but the "how" and the "when" is completely tailored to the child's individual needs; self-experience and "learning to learn" are key.
School of Tomororw follows the Zurich Lehrplan21 and goes far beyond it. The transition to a public school is therefore always guaranteed. The same is true for a transition to the Gymnasium - we offer targeted preparation for the Gymi-Exams on request. The focus, however, always remains on giving the child individual support to achieve his or her goals, dreams and visions. The following disciplines form the basis of our personalized curriculum.
Every invention, every innovation, every change has always started with a question. Even modern-day science, with all its individual disciplines like physics, biology, astronomy, and many more, originated from philosophy. Philosophy teaches to ask, to question, to analyze and to think critically, all the while addressing limitations and challenging the status quo. These are all qualities that form the foundation for a mindset of "lifelong learning." When curiosity is nurtured, the will to learn follows naturally. Where the will to learn is strong, continuous progress is guaranteed.
Science, in all its subfields, has not only changed and improved our lives, it has also given us the opportunity to experiment, compare to a norm, measure change and give clear feedback and attain tangible results. SOT encourages our little scientists, because children are naturally inquisitive and already embody the necessary attitude for discovery. Our job is to create opportunities for them to actively, tangibly and practically experience, experiment, and test their own hypotheses. Learning the "scientific method" forms a good basis for acquiring knowledge independently.
Music, singing, dance, theatre and the visual arts such as drawing, painting or design are often neglected, ignored or dismissed as unimportant. This was often due to the fear of forfeiting any chance of a lucrative or economically viable future. Nowadays, this is not only being completely redefined, but artistic and creative skills are gaining status and importance. In addition, the arts not only help in the process of creative thinking, but also help to break through barriers, redefine standards and provide substantial support in finding one's own self and a sense of purpose.
SOT is a bilingual school in German and English. Children learn intuitively and through play to express themselves, read, write and communicate in both languages. Where possible, additional languages are integrated according to the choice and interest of the children and families. When learning a language, SOT focuses on ensuring that children also learn the language inductively and intuitively, thus maintaining the enjoyment of the language. In addition, each language also gives insight into a new way of thinking, a new culture. For this reason, languages are of central importance and are promoted wherever possible.
"Digital literacy" is not merely important, but rather has become an absolute necessity. We live in a technological world - whether we like it or not. And the future is not expected to become any less technological or complex. This is not only challenging many aspects of our lives and our economy, it is also enabling new, creative ways of doing things, as well as revolutionary and previously unthinkable lifestyles. SOT employs the newest technology and promotes digital literacy, both as a preventive measure - teaching how to handle it - as well as a basis for a successful career and life in the future.
Body and mind are closely connected and influence each other. In keeping with the principle of "mens sana in corpore sano" (a healthy mind in a healthy body), the SOT promotes not only mental well-being but also physical well-being. For this reason, physical activity is a key component in all its forms; ranging from sports or exercise, to breathwork or yoga. The focus here is not specifically on particular sports or specific skills, but rather on promoting awareness and control of one's own body, as well as recognizing and integrating physical activity as a fixed part of our life and well-being.