CHILDREN DEVELOPMENT 10-12 YEARS OLD

In this section, find out how 10-12 year-old children learn and develop.

Characteristics Implications Need

Opportunities to engage in tasks
Greater range of activities
Longer attention span that require focus and
possible in class
commitment
Stimulation
Knowledge of the world
More topics can be addressed e.g. information from internet or
growing
cross-curricular
Taking learning more
Can be given responsibility Chances to be independent
seriously
Have need for security and Teacher sensitive to their needs
Still children
pleasure and moods
Variety of grouping in class i.e.
More cooperative with
Can do more group work work on own, in pairs, in group, as
peers
class
Intellectual, motor and
Can be challenged more Activities that challenge them
social skills developing
Children won’t all react in the
Developing own learning Chance to personalise their
same way to the same
strategies learning experience
task/topic

Projects

By now it is clear that students have very different approaches to learning and have distinct
preferences and interests. A project on animals can ensure all are satisfied.

 Students can choose to work independently or with a partner(s)

 Get students to choose an animal, or the creative ones can create a new one!
 Students choose whether to create a wall display, a book or a presentation on their
animal
 Their work can include illustrations, their own or ones they find
 Their project can be a factual description about the animal including information
found in books, the internet etc or it can be a story about the animal. It could also be a
poster calling for conservation of a particular species
 Give a time limit – say 2 or 3 lessons for them to prepare their work and then it can
either be displayed, shared or presented
 This is especially good in a mixed ability class. Students who are not so keen on
writing can create something more visual and very enthusiastic students have more
scope for their imagination and language skills