Elementary School:  Content and Skills Taught

In 2006/07, the Elementary School staff was involved in a thorough review of Mathematics, Physical Education, Music and Art benchmarks for each grade level, from EC1 to Grade 5. Revisions were made based on a thorough analysis of our expectations for students at IST, the PYP Scope and Sequence and overall expectations for each subject area, as well as reference to standards and benchmarks from other leading schools and national systems.  Each subject is broken down into different strands; e.g Mathematics: data handling, number, measurement, pattern and function, shape and space and working mathematically. For easy reference, the benchmarks have been numbered using a code.

To see these benchmarks by grade, use the links below:

EC1 | EC2 | KG

Grade 1 | Grade 2 | Grade 3 | Grade 4 | Grade 5

During school year 2008/09, the Language programme was revised, providing teachers with a Scope and Sequence document for each strand of language within the PYP: Written, Visual and Oral Communication. 
This document was implemented for the first time in school year 2009/10.  The shaded areas show which grade levels will introduce each element and which ones will develop or consolidate them. 

To see the content and skills taught by each specific area of language, use the links below:

Reading | Writing | Phonics and Punctuation | Grammar | Speaking and Listening

During school year 2008/09, Science and Social Studies benchmarks were also reviewed and linked to the PYP strands.  For Science, the strands are Living Things, Earth and Space, Materials and Matter and Forces and Energy.  For Social Studies, the strands are Human Systems and Economic Activities, Social Organisation and Culture, Community and Change through Time, Human and Natural Environments and Resources and the Environment.  Each unit of inquiry at every grade level is linked to a variety of relevant content and skills.  From here, teachers are able to see what is covered through our programme of inquiry and areas that need further attention.

To see the content and skills appropriate to Elementary, use the links below:

Science | Social Studies

All these documents inform our teaching and, ultimately, impact the learning that takes place at IST Elementary.  Teachers always take into account individual student development and differentiate according to ability, strengths and needs. 

To ensure that we are reviewing our curricular needs systematically, we have put in place a Curricular Review Cycle, shown below.