Our Primary Years
The Primary curriculum focuses on three domains – Literacy Skills, Numeracy Skills, and Socio-emotional development. We follow a theme based, child-centric approach.
Children begin the transition from concrete to abstract. Children are able to visualise, imagine and form ideas. Children are curious, want to explore and learn. The Primary years focuses on nurturing the natural curiosity of the child in school and beyond. The environment, curriculum and teaching learning methodologies create a joyful learning environment. This helps children develop a love for learning which leads them to become lifelong learners.
A healthy teacher-student ratio ensures a wholesome and focused classroom experience with better student engagement. Children are assessed through formative and summative assessments.
Transition from Kindergarten to Primary
The homeroom system in Primary aids a transition from Kindergarten to Primary. The homeroom system aids the child in adapting, trusting and connecting with the teacher.
This system also supports socio-emotional development in the child’s formative years by helping the child connect, bond and build relationships. The homeroom teaching-learning environment is followed for Grades 1 to 3.
Socio-Emotional Development – Circle Time
The school day for children at the Primary begins with Circle Time for about 20-30 minutes. Our circle-time activities are multi-faceted and promote the importance of both the individual and the community. Mindfulness, brain power yoga, sharing experiences and listening to others are emphasized in this time, to promote empathy and sensitivity.
Literacy & Numeracy Skills
English: The English Curriculum is designed to help children develop listening, speaking, reading and writing skills and become proficient in the sub-skills of the language, like comprehension, vocabulary and grammar.
Math: The Math curriculum is designed to help children develop mathematical thinking and quantitative reasoning problem solving skills. Children are encouraged to apply these skills to formulate and solve problems to attain proficiency in the fundamental Mathematical concepts.
EVS (Grade 1 – 3): Children learn Environmental Studies (EVS), focusing on the natural, social and cultural environment in an integrated manner.
Science (Grades 4 & 5): The Science curriculum encourages development of curiosity, analytical and critical thinking skills through hands-on-learning. Children also learns through simple experiments and projects in the class.
Social Studies (Grades 4 & 5): The Social Studies curriculum is designed to include a range of content drawn from the disciplines of History, Civics and Geography aimed at developing analytical and critical thinking skills, inquiry, reasoning and map marking skills, besides teaching active citizenship.
Languages:
Tamil: Children learn Tamil as a second language from grade 1.
The curriculum focuses on
1. providing exposure to the language through systematic and age-appropriate language building
2. developing listening, speaking, reading and writing skills
3. vocabulary and sentence formation
Hindi: Children learn Hindi as a third language from grade 1.
The curriculum is designed to develop listening, speaking, reading and writing skills to provide a foundation for the language.
Computer Science Curriculum:
The Computer Science curriculum for grades 1 to 5 is designed to promote the use of technology to accomplish tasks, communicate effectively and securely, thereby making students become competent, responsible and critical users of technology. There is a gradual emphasis placed on developing logical and problem-solving skills.
Co-curricular Activities
Music: Music enhances cognitive function in children. Musical activities (such as playing an instrument, singing or just listening to music) stimulate the brain and improve concentration. Children develop a sense of rhythm and learn to appreciate various forms of music. Children learn different songs from regional, folk, devotional and Carnatic styles. Lessons on Carnatic, vocal and voice culture are given to improve their singing.
Art: Art is an integral part of the curriculum. Teachers identify age-appropriate kinaesthetic activities and incorporate them into the curriculum. Students are encouraged to create their own works of art for festivals and other special occasions. The complexity of the activity increases with each grade level.
Dance: Students are introduced to diverse dance forms ranging from Bharathanatyam to folk traditions that flourish in different parts of the country, each with its own distinct cultural and aesthetic appeal.
Physical Education: The physical education curriculum is structured to give children an opportunity to improve their physical fitness in terms of endurance, strength, speed, agility, coordination, flexibility and balance. Through various physical activities and games, we focus on the different forms of fundamental movements and skills like running, jumping, skipping involving all gross motor skills of the children.
Yoga: Children are encouraged to pursue yoga as a way of life. Chanting, brain power yoga and asanas help students find their centre, improve focus and maintain physical/emotional balance.
Theatre: The theatre sessions are focused on enhancing the intuitive, instinctive, impulsive and imaginative skills of the students. The activities planned across the three main divisions of theatre – acting, designing and direction to help the students understand heightened reality, acquire narrative skills and delve deeper into texts and contexts. We partner with experts in the field to provide our students with a rich learning experience.
Purna Vidya/Value Education: As a part of the culture-centric and holistic educational approach, Purna Vidya is included from Grades 1 to 5. These sessions are based on the teaching of oneness and harmony through a sharing of experiences and exploration of the self and surroundings.
Leader in Me
The Leader in Me programme is based on “The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People®” by Dr. Stephen R.Covey, helps children inculcate effective habits for success. This program is designed to help children build confidence, encourage goal setting and discover their true potential. As each child discovers and develops their unique gifts and talents, they are given opportunities to lead. As leaders, they become active, engaged partners in their own education, and their self-confidence, responsibility, and initiative grow. They learn to listen to new ideas, work together to achieve results, and motivate one another to be the best. The program also helps them understand that everyone has the potential to lead and make a contribution.
Field Trips and Excursions: As part of field trips, students visit various places during their course to have an in-depth understanding of subjects they study make first-hand observations of real-life contexts.
Circle time
The school day begins with Circle Time for about 20-30 minutes. Our circle-time activities are multi-faceted and promote the importance of both the individual and the community. Mindfulness, brain power yoga, sharing experiences and listening to others are emphasized in this time, to promote empathy and sensitivity.
