Literacy Across the Curriculum: Strengthening Skills Through Inquiry and Connection

Across the Junior School, students have been engaging in rich, meaningful literacy learning that extends far beyond the language arts block. From science to social studies, our learners are using reading, writing, and critical-thinking skills to deepen their understanding of the world and communicate their ideas with purpose.

In grade 1, students have been incorporating writing into their science unit on animal migration and hibernation. After exploring how different species move and adapt with the seasons, students learned about what makes a good place to migrate to, and later, a safe place to hibernate. Their writing blended scientific understanding with imaginative thinking, showing how even our youngest learners are building the ability to explain their reasoning and share their ideas clearly.

Grade 2 students have been strengthening their writing in social studies, focusing on extending their sentences using the conjunctions because, but, and so. This simple yet powerful strategy encourages deeper, more thoughtful responses as students learn to explain their thinking and make meaningful connections. Their learning around multiculturalism in Canada offered the perfect context: students wrote about traditions, identities, and the many ways people contribute to Canada’s cultural richness. By stretching their sentences, they also stretched their understanding.

In grade 4, literacy development is woven into their science research on endangered animals. Students are refining their note-taking skills, learning how to paraphrase information in their own words, and gathering facts from multiple sources. As their research unfolds, they are also engaging with broader themes such as environmental stewardship and climate change. This work supports the development of responsible, informed learners who can synthesize information and consider their role in global issues.

Across these grades and subjects, literacy is emerging not just as a skill set but as a tool for inquiry, reflection, and connection. By integrating reading and writing skills into every area of study, we continue to help students become confident communicators and thoughtful learners, ready to explore the world with curiosity and voice.