The Primary Years Curriculum

We motivate our students to actively participate in games and sports that help them develop an interest in sports, grow sharp focus, and help them become better sportsmen.

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In Primary School, students are expected to learn and understand the simple code of conduct of humility, self-care and care and respect for others. In the opening weeks of the school year, focused activities helped students quickly learn and appreciate this code of conduct. Through the grade levels, teachers used a range of age-appropriate methods to instill this culture of care.

Teachers regularly guide students on how to apply the code when situations arise. Children are taught self care through regular exercises and yoga. Teachers are allowed to apply a wide variety of applications to individual students and the assessment usually revolves around how students applied the code. For example, in Primary School, the motive for the students is to identify examples of the code in action and reflect on how the elements of the code will create a positive learning environment for themselves as well as for others. Primary assemblies conducted every morning are used to reinforce the importance of the code in fun or engaging ways.

Literacy

Developing oral language (listening and speaking)

  1. use language to express their needs, feelings and opinions
  2. use gestures, actions, body language, words to communicate needs and to express ideas
  3. tell their own stories using words, gestures and objects/artifacts

Developing visual communication (viewing and presenting)

  1. show own feelings in response to visual presentations e.g surprise, curiosity, amusement
  2. use body language to communicate and to convey understanding e.g. pointing, gesturing, facial expressions
  3. tell their own stories using words, gestures and objects/artifacts

Developing as readers

  1. listen, enjoy and respond to stories listening to stories
  2. choose and “read” picture books for pleasure
  3. participate in shared reading, joining in with rhymes
  4. recognize their own first name
  5. begin to discriminate between symbols, numbers, letters and words

Developing as writers

  1. write letter like symbols, random strings of letters or letters from their own name
  2. differentiate between illustrations and written text
  3. use their own experience as a stimulus when drawing and “writing”
  4. “write” their own name independently
  5. hold a marker or crayon with fist fingers to make marks

Numeracy

  1. understand one-to-one correspondence
  2. connect number names and numerals to quantities of objects in small and large groups
  3. identify, describe and create patterns
  4. understand that numbers can be constructed in multiple ways, e.g. by combining and partitioning
  5. count to 5 and beyond by rote e.g. when singing a counting song
  6. find patterns in everyday situations
  7. distinguish between and compare different attributes of objects, e.g. longer, shorter, heavier, empty, full, hotter, colder
  8. sort, match and describe shapes of familiar objects
  9. gather information about themselves and their surroundings in different way

Sanskrit Language

  1. recognise that Sanskrit is an ancient language
  2. Recite and remember simple slokas
  3. use simple words and language connected to everyday situations to express their needs, feelings and opinions
  4. listen and enjoy interacting during read aloud

Science & Technology

  1. explore objects to observe specific attributes
  2. use non-standard tools, such as blocks, hands, pencils to measure and collect data
  3. discuss what is observed and respond to questions regarding attributes of objects
  4. respond to the world around them by using their senses.
  5. ○follow routines with increasing independence
  6. Engage in scientific investigations by making observations etc how does this work? What will happen?
  7. identify changes in their immediate environment
  8. discuss possible outcomes and propose simple ideas to test
  9. sort and classify to draw simple conclusions
  10. discuss and show observations within a scientific investigation

Creative Arts

Visual Arts

  1. show enjoyment, curiosity and ask questions about an artwork
  2. use imagination and experiences to inform own art making
  3. participate in individual and collective creative experiences

Dance/Drama

  1. describe ideas and feelings communicated through body movements
  2. cooperate and communicate with others in creating dance

Music

  1. show enjoyment through singing, dancing, playing games and instruments
  2. experience ways of expressing themselves through creative arts

Design Thinking

  1. understand that we can create with a wide range of materials to invent, create or make new discoveries
  2. know that we can brainstorm and ask for ideas from others to improve our own thinking and designs
  3. be able to modify their creations and designs to test their own scientific theories, e.g. designing moving toys that deepen their understanding of forces, energy, nature and matter
  4. experience the fun of creating and making products to build on their interests, talents or curiosities