The International School of Schaffhausen now offers every afternoon at the week from 12:30 to 18 o’clock a discovery afternoon. But how does such an afternoon work – what do the children experience?
Mia is picked up directly at 11:50 a.m. at her local school by the driving service. After a joint lunch with their friends of the Discovery Afternoon, they start off with today’s adventure.
The leader has asked the children in advance about their favorite topics and now a whole afternoon is dedicated to each topic. The themes are incredibly varied, from space to dinosaurs, from butterflies to football and on to dancing. Every child is allowed to support the leader as an expert this afternoon.
When Mia started, her English skills were still limited to a few words. The leader, but also her new friends, explained and paraphrased again and again, or sometimes translated into German, so that Mia feels comfortable in the group and with the new language. Like most children, Mia quickly absorbs the language and learns it every afternoon.
Today butterflies are on the programme. The smaller children in the group are busy colouring their butterflies, or they are already jetting through the Family Hub – the ISSH’s family room – with their handmade butterfly. The older children are busy using the microscope, examining the wing structure of a butterfly. Then they go out into nature and look for food plants. Where are these and which caterpillars or butterflies are found here?
As an observer, you don’t get the feeling that English classes are held here or that it is a classic afternoon care. The children’s interests are picked up, research is done, the children are stimulated to think independently and discover solutions and at the same time there is a lot of movement inside and outside.
Mia is usually picked up by her parents from the ISSH at 6 pm. Radiant, she tells her mom what she knows about butterflies and shows her handmade lemon butterfly.
Details about the programme:
Monday to Friday afternoon
from 12:30 to 18 h / shorter times on offer
from 5 years
Lunch can be booked additionally
Pick-up service from the public school is available at extra charge
costs:
12.30 – 14.30 CHF 30.-
15.30 – 18.00 CHF 25.-
12.30 – 18.00 CHF 55.-
Quarterly bookable
