5.2 ELEMENTARY SCHOOL CURRICULUM AREAS
Children in Pakistan start attending school at the age of three years. These children are admitted into pre- school also called Montessori or kindergarten.
Primary education which marks the start of formal education in a child's life begins when a child turn to around 5 years of age. First five years of school are referred as primary. The next three years are referred as middle and further next as high school.
For learners to achieve curriculum goals and objectives, learning experiences must be selected and organized to reinforce concepts, valu, and skills. Common school organizing structures include the subjects' curriculum, the broad fields' curriculum, and the con curriculum.
Curriculum documents define what students are taught in public schools. They detail the knowledge and skills that students are expected develop in each subject at each grade level. By developing and publishing curriculum documents for use by all teachers, the Ministry of Education sets standards for the entire province.
Elementary school is a fun and challenging time for the child. It's time to build friendships and discover new subjects and special interests The elementary school curriculum is usually a general education the exposes the child to arts, science, math, and literature. As he learns and takes classes in each subject, he will find out the subjects that stimulate him the most.
Elementary school curricula generally follow the broad fields pattern, including such areas as language arts, social studies, and naturi science and integrated curriculum. Middle schools often use a core curriculum, combining classes such as English, history, and science
The broad fields' curriculum tends to be more learner-centered and promotes greater integration of concepts learned, while the specific subject pattern tends to be primarily subject-centered.
In elementary school, child will learn core subjects and develop fundamental skills. Language skills are taught from first to sixth grade through spelling, writing, and reading.
Mathematics is also taught in this manner. Beginning with basic arithmetic and moving on to geometry and basic algebra, childs experience of learning math in elementary school will build upon itsell Most schools ensure that each year the child is admitted to a program is a natural level above where he left off at the end of the previous year.
Science is generally taught to the entire class, and science fairs are commonplace in elementary schools. Additionally, the child will have regularly scheduled physical education and art classes, rounding out his academic experience.
No one curriculum pattern is adequate to serve the varied populations of all schools. Curriculum designers must study curriculum patterns as a basis for intelligent action and then select and combine elements from several patterns to form a curriculum pattern that suits the needs of the particular school or system within which they are working.
This requires knowing the elements of each pattern and possessing the creativity to adapt them to the needs of the situation. The curriculum area should be broad, balanced and international, bringing students into contact with all of the following areas of learning and experience.
- Expressive and creative
- Linguistic and literary
- Mathematical
- Physical and recreational
- Scientific
- Human, social and environmental
- Religious, spiritual and moral
- Technological