Building Strong Foundations: Primary School Program at Chitkara International School, Panchkula

The Primary Programme from Grade 1 to Grade 5 (6 years onwards) offers a comfortable transformation from the colourful world of Kindergarten to an equally colourful world of prior learning. The same has been designed keeping in mind the CBSE, Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and National Education Policy (NEP) 2020.

Adequate absorption, observation, retention, questioning, reinforcement and controlled practice occur at the primary level. This stage of education is critical; it is here that the foundation of literacy, numeracy and other structures are laid down for the future. The core components of the Primary Curriculum are:

• Literacy in English

Children vary greatly in their initial literacy levels, particularly in Grade 1. They have different personalities and learning preferences. Some need a lot of structure and guidance, while others are self-directed and independent learners. Keeping these things in mind, the various skills of language learning – Listening, Speaking, Reading (both guided and self–selected) and writing – as well as Phonetics- are stressed. Students are made to encounter the words given in the word wall, helping them pronounce, spell ( Word Search) and elaborate ( Word Web) the word, eventually gearing up to create sentences and paragraphs. Further, an innovative practice of Actometer helps the students of grades 1 and 2 to develop self-confidence and independence and inculcate communication skills.

• Mathematics

Children are encouraged to develop a lifelong interest in mathematics through deliberately designed curricula. Students get an environment conducive to learning mathematics, nurturing and supporting their mathematical thinking with the help of exclusive student-friendly software. Various opportunities are given to develop students’ problem-solving skills through national and international Olympiads. Chitkara’s in-house productions at this stage is again one of the main ingredients of an innovative practice after rigorous research done by the Research and Development team along with the subject experts, with a special mention of “Table Tackler” one of the in-house publication proving to be a great asset towards learning tables for Grade 1 and 2 students, thus making the learning more accessible and conceptualised. To ensure time, speed and accuracy, which are the three essential elements to mastering Mathematics; CIS has created online Dodging Table software through which our students learn tricky calculations quickly and interactively.

• Science, Technology and Social Science

Students explore various areas of science, including social science. They gain knowledge on various topics ranging from the early Existence of Man to current discoveries of Outer Space. They also learn about computers, their peripherals and their importance. These areas are reinforced through hands-on activities, experiments and research projects. The technology curriculum has been revamped and mapped to the latest emerging trends in the hi-tech world after rigorous research and coordination with various industries. We came up with the “TEK-8” programme, where our students would deal with 7 modules, namely Computer Science, Electronics, Mobile technology, Automobiles, Robotics, and Household technology ensures a hands-on industry-ready knowledge framework which will prepare them for the future.

• Hindi & Other Languages

Our national language, i.e. Hindi, is given equal importance in the curriculum. Children learn to read, write and speak the language in their language class. Apart from English and Hindi, emphasis is also given to other languages like Punjabi and French.

• General Knowledge and Value Education

Children are exposed to various concepts at the primary level through general knowledge textbooks. They acquire knowledge which forms the basis of their future life, especially their career. It is essential to realise that general knowledge is vital for competing in exams and helps in personality development. Also, Value Education forms part of school education.