Curriculum
“If we teach our children as we did yesterday, we rob them of the future.” – John Dewey
The Curriculum to be followed is the National Curriculum followed in England and evaluated by Key Stages.
Dinokids will host only the two stages
KEY STAGE | DESCRIPTION | AGE GROUP |
Early Learning Stage | Foundation | Ages 2-5 |
Key Stage 1 | Years 1 and 2 | Ages 5-7 |
The Early Years Foundation Stage is a framework for children , setting out six key areas of learning around which activities should be based. Children from birth to five years of age are in the Early Years Foundation Stage. This is recognized as a separate stage of learning, laying the foundations for when children begin more formal education. There is an emphasis on learning through active play, with children encouraged to build on their individual needs and interests. The details of the development area can be found in the sections below.
Area of Learning Development Aspect
EYFS (Reception Year)
“Every child deserves the best possible start in life and support to their full potential. The children’s experience in the early years has a major impact on their future life chances. A secure, safe and happy childhood is important in its own right, and it provides the foundation for children to make the most of their abilities and talents as they grow up.” (From the Statutory Framework for the Early Years Foundation Stage)
At Dino Kids we provide an environment of love and care in which we explore and celebrate the qualities that define and unify us all, and a curriculum which develops the intellectual, emotional and spiritual aspects for every child. This creates a confident and happy community where all are valued and encouraged to develop their own talents. Children are introduced to the practice of beginning and ending activities in stillness, a connection with something peaceful and unchanging in today’s busy world.
We embrace the EYFS Early Learning Goals and these consist of
Personal social and emotional development
Communication, language and literacy
Problem solving, reasoning and numeracy
Knowledge and understanding of the world
Physical development
Creative Development
WEEKLY CURRICULUM*: EARLY YEARS – Pre-Kg and LKG
The children have a timetable determined by the class teacher, following the needs of the children and the overall guidance of the Head.
Lunchtimes are between 11.30 and 12.15; the rest of the timetable can be very flexible. Time will regularly be spent both inside and outside the classroom.
Their activities will fall within the Early Learning Goals as defined earlier
Early Learning Goal Activity
Communication, Language & Literacy -English | Personal, Social & Emotional Development Assemblies | Problem Solving, Reasoning, & Numeracy Maths Counting | Knowledge & Understanding of the world Science | Physical Development P.E. | Creative Development Art |
Handwriting | Philosophy | Reading | Days at a Farm | Dance, Music & Movement | Music |
Reading | Writing | History | Needlework | ||
Speech | Adding/Subtracting | Geography | |||
Tamil/Hindi | Shape, space, measure | Cookery | |||
Library | |||||
Show and Tell |
WEEKLY CURRICULUM*: UKG
- Subject to the timetable for visiting teachers, class teachers have discretion to arrange lessons as best suit the class subject to the following principles:
- Core subjects taught every day
- Some physical exercise every day
- Regular singing
- Regular craft activities in addition to timetabled Art lessons
- This chart gives a guide to the typical numbers of lessons for each subject:
SUBJECTS UKG
Core | English 7 classes | Maths 7 classes | Guided Reading 3 classes | |
Language | Sanskrit/ Tamil/ Hindi 3 classes | |||
Sciences | Science 2 classes | Geometry 1 class | Geography 1 class | |
Humanities | Philosophy 1 class | History 2 classes | ||
Arts | Arts 2 classes | Music 1 class | Singing 1-2 classes | Drama 1 class |
Sport | Gym 2-3 classes | Dance/ Music & Movement 2 classes |
In addition to these classes , we also will have:
- Cookery
- Needlework
- Farm Schools
*There are seven periods a day, but not all periods are of the same length. The figures give a typical number of 35 minute periods per week per subject.
Our Methodology
We believe that Thematic approach, where we organize teaching around themes or topics, integrate instruction across core areas. Here classroom subjects overlap with one another, thereby bringing together numerous aspects of the curriculum that reflects the real world. Hence the kids learn to use what they learnt in one context to solve and complete task in another context i.e. they learn how to use the skills that they have acquired. The kids develop both an awareness and understanding of existing connections across ideas.
Thematic teaching create an atmosphere in which every kids remains interested in the lesson thus combating any boredom and increasing the pupils’ potential for learning.
We also include the use of the sensorial area of the Montessori principle to develop the five senses of the kids. Montessori recognizes that each child learns at a different pace and allows that growth to take place. Being a child-centered environment, all the materials are easily within the child’s reach and placed on shelves at the children’s eye level. This environment provides a natural sense of discipline. This method also teaches children an “I can do it” attitude that will ensure their future success in all aspects of their life.
We in Dino Kids make sure that the children remain with the same teacher for each three-year cycle of the program. This ensures a collaborative approach to learning to take root.
Having the goodness of both these methods will ensure that the kids know how to learn things that they do not know, not for grades but because they can see the value in it and apply what they have learnt to other areas. Basically they would develop a love of learning and enjoy work, which will stay with them throughout their life.
