In the Beginning – 2000- 2001

The team consisted of three members who divided the weekly schedule between school visits, preparation of material, research work, and following different groups of teachers who visited us from the UK.

The idea to conclude a course in Thinking Skills with a final product was introduced in October 2000 to February 2001, the first-time-ever extended course of Thinking Skills for Primary Schools. The results were encouraging and the pupils at Gzira Primary applied the thinking tools to create their products.
October 2001 saw the beginning of a Thinking Skills Programme at Gzira Primary culminating with a splendid exhibition in January 2001
In the second session, Feb. - June 2001 at St. Elmo Primary School Valletta, the Programme ended with two projects one for the years 1-3 and the other for years 4-6.

 

Towards April 2001, we were approached by the organizers of Skola Sajf to set up a Thinking Programme and we visited eight different schools.

 

Scholastic Year 2001-2002

Five new teachers joined the Thinking Skills team, here with Mr. Lawrence Muscat our Education Officer. The schools selected for October to January were Ospizio Floriana Boys' School, San Frangisk d'Assisi Boys' Secondary School. The Primary schools chosen were Ganni Cilia Primary School Mgarr and Bice Mizzi Vassallo Primary School Pembroke.
January 2002 saw the closure of the Programme in the first set of schools. Action Research in schools was finalized and exhibitions were once again set up. This photo shows three pupils from Ganni Cilia Primary Mgarr proudly showing their work.

The Thinking Skills teachers enjoying the Exhibition at Pembroke Primary.		 The Thinking Skills teachers for the Primary discuss the exhibition at Bice Mizzi Vassallo Pembroke Primary School. Finally it was time to start the Thinking Skills Programme again. The list of new schools in February read as follows - Dun Anton Manche Gzira Primary School, William Baker Gudja Primary School, Furtu Selvatico Boys' Secondary Naxxar, Guze D'Amato Boys' Area Secondary Paola.
For their exhibition the boys at Guze D'Amato Boys' Secondary School (below) had the opportunity to think individually or in small groups. They applied the tools according to the subject that they chose. The teachers were there simply as facilitators.
During the exhibition at Gudja Primary, the Thinking Skills teachers took groups of pupils on a tour of the different displays of all the classes. The exhibition at Gzira Primary was postponed to the Prize day in December due to on-going structural repairs to the school.
On the 21st of May we were invited to the Prize day held at Bice Mizzi Vassallo Primary. This photo shows students during the performance of the main play of the evening. The play was written using the Thinking Tools during the Thinking Skills Programme
Three Thinking Skills teachers were project co-ordinators during Skola Sajf 2001. No less than twelve different schools, including three in Gozo had a weekly Thinking Programme. This photo shows a small group from Luqa Primary. The facilitator here used to help the two children on either side of her to better follow the sessions.