Thinking Curriculum

In accordance with our established beliefs Apollo Parkways Primary School has developed teaching and learning programs which promote the development of ‘thinking skills’ in students. The curriculum is underpinned by teaching and learning philosophies including:

Inquiry learning – this approach to learning provides students with a process for organising and contextualising their learning.

Constructivism – here new learning is built on the previously known, allowing children to ‘construct’ knowledge.


Multiple intelligences – the work of Howard Gardner acknowledges that intelligence can take many forms.  Using this theory we provide children with opportunities to showcase their learning through all eight dimensions of intelligence.

Thinking hats – Edward DeBono’s six thinking hats are used developmentally from Grades Prep – 6.  The hats are used to promote thinking and the consideration of situations from a number of different viewpoints.

Higher order thinking – Bloom’s Taxonomy of Thinking Skills provides a framework for moving children’s thinking to levels that require greater cognitive effort.  In senior grades it is often used in conjunction with multiple intelligences.

Autonomous learning – the model developed by George Betts emphasises meeting individual needs through a curriculum that requires children to take increasing responsibility for their learning.  

Habits of Mind – the work of Art Costa that provides 16 ‘habits’ that provide for the development of lifelong skills and attributes.