Primary age children learn through their investigative and creative powers, flourishing as geographers, historians, scientists, readers, writers and mathematicians when curiosity drives their learning.
Our highly qualified and experienced educators leverage this curiosity through thoughtfully designed authentic learning experiences.
Children thrive in our contemporary and spacious classrooms, engaging outdoor learning spaces, and the beautiful nature reserve on our doorstep.
Reflecting a belief that people’s beliefs and passions can inspire and sustain learning, connecting them to the wider word, Grade 5 students at ISP engage in the Personal Inquiry Project (PIP), which is an independent inquiry into concepts and topics which have been chosen by each student. The purpose of the project is to celebrate […]
This project allows Grade 3 to think about the city where they live and are introduced to concepts such as diversity, change and social organisation in the context of what makes Prague and other places the way that they are. Students are asked to consider the factors that influence the development of a place over […]
The purpose of this project is to stimulate curiosity in Grade 2 students on forces and motions, on how forces change, and how energy is produced through forces. At the outset of the project the students research and experiment how forces work and what influences them. One example of how they do this is through […]
ISP has an articulated PK-12 curriculum, rooted in inquiry, where learners are involved in posing and investigating questions. Our learning program develops students’ potential that enables them to be successful at ISP, and in their educational and professional pursuits in the future.
Elementary classes at ISP nurture learners’ curiosity. Students develop key knowledge, skills and understandings in Literacy, Mathematics and the social and physical world surrounding them. Students also develop their competencies in the areas of Music, Physical Education, Visual Arts, and Integrated Technology. Students will take Czech Language & Culture with a specialist in Grade 1 or during their first year at ISP. Following that, students will take either English, Czech, German or Spanish with a specialist.
A sample daily schedule could be as follows:
* Learning blocks will focus on Language Arts OR Mathematics OR Unit of Inquiry OR a Specialist Class (Music, PE, Art, Languages, Library)
Our units of inquiry are centered around key social and physical science conceptual understandings and skills. Simultaneously, literacy and numeracy outcomes are embedded in these units.
ISP Science & Social Studies Standards reflect the key skills and understandings to:
| Grade 1 Units of Inquiry | Working Together To Keep Each Other Healthy and Safe Then and Now Animals: Life Cycles |
| Grade 2 Units of Inquiry | How and Why do we Communicate? Forces and Motions The Human Body Wonder Unit |
| Grade 3 Units of Inquiry | What’s My Story? The Science of Sound Sustainable Living A Place Called Prague |
| Grade 4 Units of Inquiry | Forest Systems Personal Inquiry Our World of Rights & Responsibilities Energy |
| Grade 5 Units of Inquiry | Scientific Questioning Beyond Walls and Borders The Cost of Clean Water Personal Inquiry Project Healthy Adolescence |
The ISP mathematics program aims to:
ISP Math Standards reflect the key skills and understandings to:
Learners engage with relevant investigations developing critical, creative, logical, and computational thinking. Learners also further their fluency of a variety of operations, tools, and strategies.
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The ISP Modern Language Program ensures progressive development of language skills while fostering intercultural understanding. Our curriculum is aligned to the Common European Framework of Reference (CEFR) for Languages.
ISP Modern Language Standards reflect the key skills and understandings to:
| Grade 1 and first year at ISP | Grade 1 students and students new to ISP study Czech Language and Culture as an additional language for 40 minutes two times in a six-day cycle. |
| Grade 2, 3, 4, 5 | Grade 2 through 5 students study German, Czech or Spanish as an additional language for 40 minutes three times in a six day cycle. |
The Language Arts program at ISP aims for learners to:
ISP English Language Arts Standards reflect the key skills and understandings to:
Learners read a wide variety of texts, both fiction and information, as they develop the depth and complexity of meaning-making when reading. Students also further develop their capacity to communicate ideas in writing for varied audiences and purposes.
In addition to the literacy skills and strategies embedded in our Units of Inquiry, we have the following reading and writing units:
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Word Study involves learning about words, their structures, and their meanings and is a regular component of a balanced literacy program. Word study incorporates vocabulary instruction, phonological awareness, phonics, and decoding.
Speaking & Listening: Students are involved in a dynamic and interactive model of speaking and listening to develop skills that allow them to listen actively in a variety of contexts, as well as speak effectively for varied audiences and purposes.
The ISP Physical Education program engages students physically, socially, and emotionally through physical activity, challenging them to reach their full potential and guiding them in their pursuit of a healthy, active lifestyle.
ISP PE Standards reflect the key skills and understandings to:
We are extremely fortunate that our ISP campus is surrounded by the beautiful ecosystem of Divoka Sarka and the sustainable use of our environment is integral to Elementary Learning at ISP.
Learners engage in a variety of activities that develop teamwork and personal locomotor skills while providing challenging and inclusive physical activities. Learners expand their level of physical risk-taking, perseverance and confidence during the following games, sports and activities:
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| Grade 3 | Team Building & Fitness;Invasion Games: football, hockey, netball; Net & Ball Games: volleyball, tennis and badminton, speedminton; Gymnastics and Dance: Gymnastics Activities; Striking & Fielding Games: kickball, cricket and rounders. |
| Grade 4 | Team Building & Fitness: Exercises, Indoor Athletics, Major Muscles in the body; Invasion Games: Basketball, Tchoukball; Net & Ball Games: Tennis, Badminton, Mini-Volley; Gymnastics & Dance: Balance with change of front and direction; Rugby Haka; Striking & Fielding Games: Tri-golf, Cricket and Rounders. |
| Grade 5 | Team Building & Fitness: Indoor Athletics, DMS, Fitness and Major Muscles, Orienteering; Invasion Games: Football, Eurohockey; Net & Ball Games: Tennis, Speedminton, Netball; Gymnastics & Dance: Matching & Mirroring, Capoeira; Striking & Fielding Games: Rounders & Stoolball. |
Students are involved in Physical Education and/or Outdoor Learning three times in a six-day cycle
At ISP, we believe that music is integral to a holistic education. The purpose of our ISP Music program is to engage and challenge learners to maximize their musical abilities and enjoyment, inspiring a lifelong musical journey.
ISP Music Standards reflect the key skills and understandings to:
Grade 1-5 Learners further their understanding and skills related to melody, rhythm and harmony through a variety of vocal and instrumental pieces. Grade 1-5 students participate in music class for 40 minutes twice in a six-day cycle.
The purpose of our ISP Visual Arts program is to engage, empower and challenge learners to creatively express and interpret ideas through the visual arts. Grade 1-5 learners further their understanding of the elements of art: line, shape, space, value, form, texture, and color.
ISP Visual Arts Standards reflect the key skills and understandings to:
Learners develop their creative, observational and interpretive competencies, developing a variety of skills and techniques through these units:
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Grade 1-5 students have art for 40 minutes twice in a six-day cycle.
Given ISP has students arriving from around the world with varied educational and life experiences, we have several departments to support learners as needed.
The purpose of our English as an Additional Language (EAL) department is to build the social and academic English skills necessary for EAL students to become active and successful members of the ISP community. Students who are still developing language proficiency study English as an Additional Language (EAL). ISP follows an EAL Language Continuum that is organised by four standards: reading, writing, speaking and listening.
An EAL specialist collaborates with the homeroom teachers to support English language development for EAL students. EAL students are “immersed” in the regular classroom to the greatest degree possible with English language support both inside and outside of the classroom as needed.
ISP believes that information and digital literacy plays an essential role in inspiring learners to lead healthy, fulfilling and purposeful lives, while contributing responsibly to our changing world. Effectively leveraging digital tools creates opportunities for our learners to engage in authentic and challenging tasks with peers and experts around the globe. Tech Coach helps learners develop creative, computational and critical thinking skills to maximize powerful digital tools, platforms and resources.
We believe that all students should have equal access to learning opportunities. To meet the diverse learning needs of our students, ISP provides a Learning Support program as part of its instructional continuum of services.
The counseling program in the Elementary School aims to support the social-emotional development of all learners. Overseen by the ES Counselor, the Student Study Teams (SST) holds Focus of Concern (FOC) meetings as needed and organizes, observations, testing, parent/team conferences, classroom interventions, resource room time, and / or referral to outside consultants.
An expert in literacy development, our ES literacy coach supports and collaborates with our teachers to ensure all students advance well in their reading and writing skills. This full time position ensures a coherent program and quality professional learning throughout the year. In cooperation with our librarians, the literacy coach ensures quality book collections in classrooms, the ES bookroom, and in our libraries.
Our ES librarians nurture a love for reading through read- alouds, class visits to the library, visiting authors and illustrators as well as always helping each child find books they love to read.
The many benefits of having children learning outdoors include learners . . .
“My favorite memory at ISP was in 1st grade when I had my own caterpillar and I watched it turn into a butterfly. We learned about the whole process in the transformation.”
“My twelve years at ISP have taught me everything I know and I could wish for. I couldn’t have asked for anything more than an education that empowers me to feel so confident going into the real world.”
“Not only are students engaged in profound learning, but they are making a positive contribution to the world around them. In Grade 4, one of our units of inquiry is centered around the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. As compassionate changemakers, the students write persuasive essays as speeches to collect donations for a chosen organization.”
“I have two kids at the ISP; one is more artistic the other is more scientific. The way the ISP educates allows them to learn through their interests. If they are inquiring about forest wildlife, for instance, one will spend time observing and drawing, and the other will experiment with the different materials. Both will have meaningful learning in a way that will keep them curious and engaged.”
