Primary School (G2–5)

Our overarching literacy goal is for students to become independent lifelong readers and writers, who communicate effectively through reading, writing, listening, speaking and presenting. To help students achieve this goal, we use a workshop approach, which provides a clear structure for students to gain skills and develop confidence. 

We also recognise it is not isolated to one specific area of study and is interdisciplinary in nature. Literacy occurs all day, every day, living within all traditional subject areas and so where appropriate, is integrated into other areas of the curriculum to make for more powerful learning connections. 

A wide range of literacy resources are available, to both students and teachers, to support the Literacy curriculum. In addition to the extensive collection in the Primary School Library, each class has its own classroom library with a wide variety of genres for individualised reading.

The Primary School Mathematics curriculum has been developed to ensure students receive a thorough conceptual grounding in basic mathematical skills and processes. Through imaginative, differentiated and practical activities, students enjoy the learning and recognise the application of mathematical concepts to everyday life. 

We believe that students must be able to think critically about complex issues; analyse and adapt to new situations; solve problems of various kinds; and communicate their thinking effectively. Mathematics at all levels includes discussions, manipulation of concrete materials, investigations, problem solving, practise and consolidation, and mental maths. 

The Mathematics curriculum is divided into five main strands: 

1. Number – includes number systems, place value, operations, and decimals, percentages, fractions 
2. Pattern and function
3. Measurement 
4. Shape and spaces
5. Data handling – includes graphing and probability 

Students are taught Mathematics by their classroom teachers, who differentiate to meet the learning needs of their students.

The aim of the language courses is for students to enjoy learning a new language, gain experience in communication and discover a new culture. Classroom activities are designed to engage and motivate younger students. The courses are theme-based and emphasise speaking and listening skills through games, songs, repetition and role-play. 

All languages are taught by specialist teachers. In their elected Language Other than English, students move classrooms and are grouped with students of similar ability from other classes for these lessons with their specialist language teacher.

New students are generally tested to ensure they are placed in the appropriate class.

Taught second language courses (beginner and continuation)

To enrol in our foreign language continuation courses, students need to have basic knowledge of the language; this usually means at least one year’s previous study of the language is required. 

Subject to demand, we offer both beginner and continuation foreign language courses in Chinese, French and Spanish.

First language courses (advanced) 

To enrol in the Chinese first language course, previous study of the language is required; we offer Chinese at this level across Grades 2, 3, 4 and 5

English as an Additional Language

All students are supported in class to develop their academic language skills.  Our EAL team co-plan with teaching teams to provide this universal support.

For students who benefit from additional or intensified support to develop academic language proficiency, additional English as an Additional Language (EAL) support is provided from our EAL team. The timing of intensified support varies depending on the profile of the student and their grade level. Students receive support in-class and may also receive short-term targeted support in small groups.

Students select a LOTE from the available options. Students who cannot take their first, home or heritage language in the school day are encouraged to take it through the HLP.

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Home languages (mother tongue) 

These classes are taught after school by a qualified teacher who uses UWCSEA literacy curriculum to inform the lessons. These classes are taught in small groups at additional cost; the languages offered available subject to demand from within our community. Note that because of their timing outside the regular timetable, these lessons are once per week.

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Units of study give students the opportunity to explore concepts by drawing together elements of the different subject areas into a meaningful whole. While focused largely on Science and/or Humanities, units can also incorporate aspects of the Literacy, Mathematics, Art, Music and Languages curricula. 

Teachers decide on the time allocated to each unit  based on the needs of their particular group of students. The units covered by each grade in each term are:

Our Primary School Art programme offers students a chance to foster creativity and communicate their thinking through the intentional exploration and creation of artwork. They explore different media and techniques guided by the class teacher and not only present their own work but learn how to view, interpret and appreciate the work of others. 

Throughout the Primary School years, students explore a wide range of media, with an emphasis both on the process used to create artwork and on presenting the finished product.

While creating and viewing art students examine, discuss and use the Elements and Principles of Design. The elements include 'Line,' 'Shape,' 'Colour,' 'Space,' 'Texture,' 'Value,' and 'Form.' The principles students focus on are 'Pattern,' 'Emphasis,' 'Variety,' 'Rhythm,' 'Unity,' 'Balance,' and 'Movement.'

Through our music programme, which is delivered by specialist music teachers, our students listen, sing and respond to music, exploring musical concepts such as rhythm, pitch and melody. 

There are opportunities throughout the year for the students to practise, rehearse and celebrate their musical repertoire and hone their performance skills. 

Delivered by a specialist PE teacher, all students have PE lessons twice a week. Students explore fundamental skills and movement through evasion and invasion games, gymnastics, athletics, adventure games and swimming. Our PE teachers are supported by a number of specialist sports coaches in the delivery of some units, which offer sports such as swimming, gymnastics, fitness and football. 

Our Junior School students use the extensive sports facilities that are available on campus for students in Grades 2–12.

There are many opportunities for students to join performance activities, including an annual Junior School drama production, music ensemble concerts and the recital evenings for those who take part in the instrumental teaching programme. 

Separate to the music lessons timetabled as part of our academic learning programme, our extensive Instrumental Teaching Programme offers access to music lessons on a variety of instruments, at an additional cost. Instrument hire is also available. 

Students have the opportunity to join a variety of instrumental and vocal ensembles, such as Band Together, Strings United, Global Voices, Kutandara, and Epic Samba. In these groups, everyone from beginners to advanced students have opportunities for musical development and performance.

The clubs and special interests are varied and have included activities such as arts and crafts, science and engineering, cooking, writing and robotics. The students have access to the Design and Technology classroom facilities that support the academic programme in the Middle and High School. 

These classes are taught after school by a qualified teacher who uses UWCSEA literacy curriculum to inform the lessons. These classes are taught in small groups at additional cost; languages are available subject to demand. 

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There are several groups that provide students with the opportunity to work in cooperation with each other and step in and out of leadership roles, including Student Council, the Service Executive Committee, UWCSEA Ambassadors and a number of College Service activities. 

These options are intended to give students the opportunity to extend their interests beyond the classroom, and in the past have also included Chinese-language activity options which are offered at various times of the year.

A full programme of after-school sport is offered to students with sports development options leading students to opportunities to represent the East Dragons in teams participating in 8&U, 9&U, 10&U and 11&U age groups in the Athletic Conference of Singapore International Schools (ACSIS). 

Sports in the ACSIS competition currently include badminton, basketball, cricket, cross country, football, gymnastics, netball, rugby (boys), swimming, tennis, touch rugby (girls) and track and field.

There is a range of recreational sports offerings for those students who enjoy the game but do not wish to compete. This is extended to include table tennis, in addition to the competitive sports that field representative teams.

However, because we understand that developing an understanding of the relationship between a healthy body and a healthy mind can instil self-discipline, awareness and confidence, our wellness for life activities have previously included options such as mindfulness, yoga, movement, gardening, climbing and dance.

In the past our grade-level expedication have been:

• Grade 2: a night at the Singapore Zoo
• Grade 3: a Forest Adventure in Malaysia for two nights
• Grade 4: Pulau Sibu in Malaysia for three nights
• Grade 5: Gopeng, Ipoh in Malaysia for four nights

The activities and venues are thoroughly checked and annually reviewed to ensure safety of all participants. These overseas trips will be reviewed for the 2021/2022 academic year based on the information available at the time the annual outdoor education plan is completed.

Because families join UWCSEA at different times in the school year, the class expeditions are an additional cost and are billed at the time the students travel.

In the 2020/2021 year optional trips will not run, and we will review the programme for the 2021/2022 academic year based on the information available.

In the past students in all grades have annual opportunities to travel with their parents to participate on family service trips. Generally the students plan activities to share with the hosts in-country while parents undertake a service project of some kind (i.e., house building, painting a dormitory, clearing a vegetable patch, upgrading facilities such as kitchens or demolishing a building). 

In the past these trips have included:

• Bali Bridges: Grade 4 students travel to Bali with one of their parents and UWCSEA staff on a service trip to one of the children’s homes supported by the Bali Bridges GC
• Epic Arts: Grade 5 students visit one of our longest running GC partners in Kampot, Cambodia which offers inclusive arts programmes for people of all abilities
• Green Umbrella: Grade 3 students and their parents spend four days visiting the school built by funds raised by Grade 3 students at East Campus

A ski trip to Japan is another opportunity offered to students in Grades 4 and 5 during the holidays, usually coinciding with Chinese New Year.

Students in Grade 2 care for the Grade 2 garden beds. 

In Grade 3, students are responsible for composting in the Junior School. They also mentor the K2 students who are taking on the responsibility for Infant School peers. 

Grade 4 students organise the Fresh Fruit Friday programme providing fruit to community members in need. 

Grade 5 students run a paper recycling program for the Primary School.

Junior School students at East Campus currently enjoy taking part in regular direct action with Pasir Ris Kitchen Gardens, St. John’s Home for the Elderly, Christian Outreach for the Handicapped and Willing Hearts Soup Kitchen. These visits take place during the school day and students are also encouraged to follow the five-step learning journey in their interactions with our partners. 

By giving the students a varied experience of service learning we aim to widen their horizons as to the type of changemaker they are and would like to be in the future. 

Each grade in Junior School also has links to different Global Concerns groups, which are in turn linked to grassroots NGO’s usually outside Singapore. Learning about communities served by these partner organisations around the region broadens the students' perspectives and their understanding of the interconnectedness of the world. In many cases, they recognise some of the issues that they have researched within the College or Singapore setting.   

Students use the five stages of service learning to support their GCs. Indirect action may take the form of fund or awareness raising or donation drives prior to optional trips that are available to each grade. 

In the past, optional trips to some of the GC partners and their communities have been available for a small number of  students and parents. The aim of these trips is to enable direct action and connection through celebration, which in turn leads to a cementing of relationships and a deeper understanding of the GC. These optional trips are a wonderful opportunity for students to develop their leadership skills as they plan activities to run as part of their overseas trip.  After the trip students then share their learning and experience with the other students in their class or grade as a celebration of their service learning journey. 

Through the GC programme, students are educated about global issues, introduced to concepts of leadership and organisation, and encouraged to establish their own initiatives. Where possible, links are made between classroom learning and issues raised by the GC, and students are encouraged to take personal action based on their interests and passions.