Introduction

The underlying philosophy and theoretical foundation of the curriculum is the constructivist

learning theory. The curriculum is design with activities that encourage a teaching and learning

environment that is students centered.

 The Constructivist Theory

The constructivist approach is display in the National Standard Curriculum as it states that

learning occurs when learners are actively. Constructivism is when learners construct knowledge

rather than in take information. When people experience the world and their environment and

reflect on those experience, they build new information into their pre-existing knowledge.

Three theories that speaks on constructivism are Lev Vygotsky, Jean Piaget, and Howard

Gardener. Lev Vygotsky is a social constructivist whose sociocultural theory stress the

importance of culture and interaction in the development of cognitive abilities. In the National

curriculum (NSC) social development was being used as communication, collaboration, critical

thinking is also embraced and group/peer work.

Howard Gardner is a psychologist which is best known for the multiple

intelligence theory. This theory has impacted the field of education and inspire educators to find

new ways of teaching using the different intelligences. There are eight different types of multiple

intelligences.

Jean Piaget constructive theory holds that learners are not passive of knowledge but are

more active in the process. This help students to build on previous experience to make sense of

what they are learning.

 Firstly, assessment of learning that measure multiple forms of intelligence is one

principle of multiple intelligence. Using the multiple intelligent theory to teach allows each

student that learns differently to succeed in lessons and activities that is being taught in class. In

the NSC it stated that the curriculum is a multidisciplinary design with an intra-disciplinary and

sub-disciplinary approach. Subjects such as Social Studies, Science would form the core then

music, drama, visual arts, physical education, and ICT would be the “Driver”. Subject such as

Language Arts is the intra-disciplinary and music would be the sub-disciplinary. Using a sub-

disciplinary such as music to teach a subject will cater to students that are musically intelligent.

Secondly, instructional activities should appeal to different forms of intelligence is

another principle of the multiple intelligence. When a teacher is teaching a lesson the activities

that they use should entail the different multiple intelligence to facilitate to students learning

style. In the National Standard Curriculum, it is stated that “The leaner’s full engagement and

differences are taken into account with the level of ability levels, interest, learning styles”. In the

curriculum it caters to students different learning style and with using the multiple intelligence

they are many ways to facilitate students. Grade 3 curriculum term 1 unit 1. There are many

ways to teach a topic for students to learn. For example: letting students do P.E to let them

understand why they move their bodies and from the activity they can write about it.

Thirdly, individuals should be encouraged to use their preferred intelligences in learning.

Students should know which of the multiple intelligence is suitable for them when learning.

Teaching students about multiple intelligence theory shows them that they can have something
important to offer in class. In the grade 3 curriculum term 1 unit 1 students learn about “why are

teeth, stomach, and lungs are important parts of my body?”. Students will do different activities

that will foster students with different learning style and for students that learn best will the

different intelligence. For example: students will watch video with subtitles about the different

types of teeth. After students will write what they learn from the video. This will foster to

students that are spatial and linguistic. When students watch the video they can be able to see

pictures and word, students will learn the correct spelling for each words when writing what they

learn.