Teaching life skills in the Intermediate Phase

Life Skills is a tool to promote skills, knowledge and values about the self, the environment, responsible citizenship, a healthy and productive life, social engagement, recreation and physical activity and creative arts in all Intermediate Phase learners in South Africa. Teaching Life Skills in the Intermediate Phase focuses on how to encourage the optimal emotional, physical, spiritual and mental development and wellbeing of learners.

Teaching Life Skills in the Intermediate Phase aims to help teachers nurture learners whose self-esteem is matched by strong interpersonal skills and who have the ability to negotiate cultural diversity and practise a healthy lifestyle. Aligned with the South African Curriculum and Assessment Policy statements (CAPS), the book covers various topics concerning the holistic development of Intermediate Phase learners.

Contents include the following:

• Relationships

• Spiritual development and beliefs

• Rights and responsibilities

• Life and decision-making skills

• Creative arts

• Health promotion

Teaching Life Skills in the Intermediate Phase is aimed at Life Skills educators in South African schools as well as at parents who find themselves in fascinating, albeit challenging, territory with the personal growth and development of their children.

Dr Christina Jordaan is a senior lecturer and head of the programme for the Intermediate Phase at the Nelson Mandela University in Port Elizabeth. She specialises in sexuality education, HIV/AIDS education, career guidance, child development and issues around bullying and suicide.

Mariana Naudé was the principal of various pre-school institutions in and around Pretoria for 12 years. She later taught Grade 1 to 3 learners. During this time she was tasked by the Department of Education to train Foundation Phase educators on the implementation of the CAPS Mathematics curriculum. Apart from her interest in Mathematics education, she is also co-editor of the book Teaching Life Skills in the Foundation Phase.