Learning about weather is easier when geography and chemistry combine

Weather is a natural phenomenon that affects our lives on a daily basis, so it is very important that we understand how it works, and comprehend the processes that result in different weather conditions.

Although weathering is a topic covered in geography lessons, it is impossible to explain it without mentioning chemical processes.

Interdisciplinary geography and chemistry lesson

This is why geography teacher Vladimir Milošević and chemistry teacher Miloš Vukobradović came up with the idea to teach this topic together in an interdisciplinary lesson that took place on 10 May.

Knowing that Year 10 students will remember and understand more if they learn from experiments and practical application rather than through theory, the teachers decided to organise a series of different experiments which would show their students how different weather conditions happen in nature.

During the lesson, the students were given as many as six different experiments which simulated the chemical reactions resembling those occurring in the atmosphere. They were given eggs to freeze and then thaw, so they were able to imagine that the same process that happened to the shell of the egg happens to stones and the Earth’s crust.

Then they heated a terracotta tile to see how temperature changes from hot to cold affect rocks and cause them to crack. The third experiment showing how pressure affects the Earth’s crust layers was done by pushing straws of spaghetti against one another. In the other three experiments, Savremena’s students investigated features of rocks, and were amazed to see how blue stone crystalises around a string. By observing these stones, they were able to understand how holes form in stones.

We are certain that Savremena’s little scientists have learnt a lot in this interesting lesson and that they had loads of fun while still learning through experiments. Knowing how much its students love interdisciplinary lessons such as this one, International School Savremena strives to organise as many of them as possible.

I am extremely pleased and proud to be the parent of a Savremena student. During my first encounter with the school management, when I asked about my child’s potential enrolment, I saw how much love, enthusiasm and professionalism you put in your work. I was impressed by your approach, ideas and methods. I couldn’t believe something like this existed in our country! It doesn’t take long to realise that this is a school you would recommend to everyone. Creativity, modern technology, top-quality education, and most of all, the humaneness that can be seen throughout the school, make it truly different and worthy of its name – Savremena Gimnazija. With such an approach, the success of this school and, consequently, our children’s success, is unavoidable. Congratulations! Jelena Đorđević, Andrija’s mum
Contemporary in any sense of the word, our school offers functional knowledge and quality preparation for tertiary education in Serbia and abroad. Implementing modern and creative teaching in the classroom, where the teachers’ pedagogy and students’ performance are aligned with the highest academic standards for the high-school finals, our school develops linguistic, mathematical, scientific, artistic, cultural, technical and ICT competence, which is a prerequisite for further education and professional development. Teaching is supported by the interactive whiteboards and educational software, whereas practice exercises research and critical thinking.