International School of Cuiabá

Primary Years

Our Primary Years program is designed for students between 6 and 14 years of age.

Teaching and learning is based around the Cambridge Assessment International Education programme. The students begin their primary studies being fully immersed in an environment of wonder. This program allows students to be actively involved in their learning.

The subjects covered are: English, Portuguese, Maths, Science, History, Geography, Arts & Designs, Digital Literacy, IT, Robotics and Programming, Music, Physical Education, PSHE (Personal, Social, Health and Economic), Global perspectives, Emotional Intelligence, Clubs, Drama, and Phonics Training (for years 1 and 2). All subjects taught will have cross-curricular integration, giving further contextual understanding of the subjects for all students.

The program draws together elements of different disciplines into a meaningful whole, where the students are involved in a range of learning activities in specially designed topic classrooms. These spaces are set up to make learning exciting for all ages with a specialised teacher in each room.

The students will gain autonomy as they inquire in their studies and become individuals who are capable and strong learners. They will be actively involved in their own learning and taking responsibility for that.

Given the opportunity and the right space, a student can achieve everything.

Cambridge Assessment International Education Curriculum:

This international programme offers our students a guided inquiry-led curriculum. It is engaging, dynamic and challenging. Underpinned by the Brazilian national curriculum, our students actively build on their knowledge and understanding of the world around them. They take increasing responsibility for their learning that will lead them into success in the future.

Our Primary programme follows the framework of this internationally based curriculum. It recognises that development and learning are interrelated. Our students will develop skills, knowledge, concepts and attitudes that are relevant, engaging, and challenging across all subject areas.

Key Features of the Curriculum:

The Cambridge Assessment International Education is at the centre of our curriculum. This globally recognised programme systematically maps out learning from our youngest to oldest students. All students engage in units of inquiry with themes taught at varying levels of complexity. It is underpinned by the Brazilian National Curriculum, which we also assess and report to.

The approaches to learning, research, social skills, self-management, thinking, and communication skills are explicitly taught and nurtured. Research into best practices drives our curriculum and is evident in the engagement of our students. The different subjects on offer alongside our teaching strategies enhance and enrich our curriculum, ensuring that each and every student reaches and exceeds their potential.

Meals

At the International School of Cuiabá, we believe that teaching the students about healthy lifestyle choices is essential to their academic and personal development, therefore they have different meals everyday.

Meals are prepared by an external subcontractor under the supervision of a nutritionist and they are healthy, high quality, tasty, freshly cooked, balanced and they provide our students with all the nutrients they need for their everyday activities. Food alternatives for special dietary needs are prepared separately.

Full time: Morning snack + lunch + afternoon snack

Uniforms

The school uniform is mandatory.

Our Primary Years

English

Our primary English curriculum helps students learn the language and transforms them into confident communicators, active listeners, avid readers and effective writers.

The English Language is taught in a natural way to help students acquire the elements needed to improve their reading, writing, and communication skills. Thus, accommodating the unique needs of every student.

Our curriculum is developed to suit the needs of students who are both first language English speakers and second language learners. It develops language skills in four areas: reading, writing, listening and speaking.

Our teachers introduce learners to a wide range of texts, both fiction and non-fiction. Amidst learning how to read, write and speak, students get to improve their vocabulary and grammar. They are taught to identify and apply grammatical concepts while speaking and writing.

Lessons are made interactive with roleplaying, storytelling, listening and speaking activities, and class discussions. Our classes follow an integrated approach to teaching English with the use of a vast array of activities and materials for developing exceptional English skills across all areas.

Science

Our primary science curriculum intrigues students’ interest in the natural world and scientific explanations. It helps them to understand the world better and explore the domains of biology, chemistry, and physics. Theoretical frameworks, live experiments, and interactive quizzes are the base for our students to understand the natural world.

Our science program promotes scientific thinking in students, and develops their practical skills alongside their scientific knowledge, and language development. In addition to the fundamentals, students understand concepts related to the Earth and space. They develop an in-depth understanding of scientific models and practical work.

We strive to provide our students with a solid foundation, thus ensuring that every one is capable of understanding sustainability issues and various environmental challenges. The curriculum equips every learner with the knowledge and resources to make well-informed decisions in the future and to contribute to making our world a better place.

Portuguese Language

Our goal is to form citizens, enabling them to learn, and have full command of their abilities with reading and writing while also having an understanding of the natural and social environment, the political system, technology, arts, and values.

In addition, we aim to meet the interests and needs of every student, as well as to develop to the maximum their capacity and potentialities, valuing the search for information, scientific curiosity, integration of knowledge, and critical thinking.

We want our students to develop an adjusted knowledge of themselves and a sense of confidence in their affective, physical, cognitive, and ethical capacities.

Based on the BNCC, we believe that Primary school is the gradual development of multiple learning, articulating the work with previous experiences and valuing playful learning situations.

Art and Design

It is all about sparking curiosity and creativity in students. Our curriculum empowers students to explore their inner passions and let their creativity flow. This subject allows our Primary students to push their boundaries and make themselves more reflective, decisive, and creative. The curriculum gives students the skills needed to communicate and express creative ideas visually. It allows them to view themselves as imaginative and innovative where creativity and passion dominate.

The subject diversifies study areas from drawing, painting, and printmaking to digital art, sculpting, and model making. The activities conducted are reflective and stimulating for learners. Our students develop transferable skills through their lessons. They are inspired and challenged, as they are encouraged to think outside the box.

Each student is given the space to grow and thrive in a way that best suits their interests and personality. We strive to teach different forms of art and design to ensure that every student's creativity and imagination has no limits. As the curriculum progresses, students learn about art history, and are introduced to various artistic techniques.

Mathematics

Mathematics is a core subject within our curriculum. It plays an essential role in improving every student's analytical thinking skills. It instils important concepts in students’ minds, thus promoting interest in rational thinking and analytical tasks.

Our curriculum gives students the opportunity to gain an in-depth understanding of the subject, develop functional maths skills, and learn the dynamic use of crucial concepts. Students focus on patterns, principles, functions, and systems.

Students learn about place value, and develop fluency in written methods of addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division.

The curriculum teaches our students to establish connections between various concepts, facts, and procedures and ultimately promotes higher-order thinking, helping them to view the world mathematically.

Humanities (History and Geography)

History is a key element of knowledge and understanding as it encourages students to consider how the past influences the present, what past societies were like, how they organised their politics, and what beliefs and cultures influenced people’s actions.

Students find evidence, weigh it up, develop important skills, and reach their own conclusions as a range of topics are studied relating to World and Brazilian History. To do this, they need to be able to research, sift through evidence, argue and defend their point of view - skills that are prized in adult life.

Geography develops knowledge of places and environments throughout the world, an understanding of maps, including cities, states, countries and continents as well as the human and physical characteristics, races and cultural diversity, and a range of investigative and problem-solving skills both inside and outside the classroom.

The Geography curriculum at the International School of Cuiabá places emphasis on learning through being practical and creative. Students enjoy activities such as making a working model of a volcano or conducting surveys to record relevant geographical data.

Physical Education

Our Physical Education curriculum focuses on the importance of regular exercise and how this improves physical and mental health. By establishing good patterns of exercise, students are provided with the foundation for an active and healthy lifestyle through a wide variety of age-appropriate physical activities.

The students will become confident both as individuals and as team members as they learn transferable skills that promote physical, cognitive and social development.

Through a broad range of tasks, challenges and physical activities, students’ gain an understanding of cooperation, competitiveness, athleticism, adventurousness, and information about the promotion of good health as they grow into happy and healthy learners.

Extracurricular Activities

Computing, robotics, and programming

Our curriculum helps students to understand the purpose of different computer components, develop coding skills, grasp visual programming languages as well as basic robotics. Students' computational skills are fostered, making it easier for them to apply their knowledge in later educational stages.

The curriculum guides students to be able to use logic to understand and resolve problems in complex computing scenarios and understand the role of computers and data in our lives. Students will learn to extract information from a set of instructions and identify patterns within sequences. They develop an idea of how programming languages and logical thinking help in various areas.

Students learn how computers store and analyse data and communicate across networks. They are motivated to create programmes using new discoveries. Opportunities are provided for students to look into and interact with networking hardware to broaden their knowledge base.

By integrating robotics into the curriculum, we offer students a unique opportunity to engage in hands-on learning, foster creativity, and develop essential skills for the future. Students learn that failure is an essential part of the learning process, that innovative solutions often arise from taking risks and experimenting, and success relies in teamwork rather than only individual skills.

In an era where automation and artificial intelligence are rapidly transforming industries, the demand for individuals with strong technological literacy and problem-solving skills is on the rise. By engaging with robotics and technology classes, our students gain practical experience and develop a solid foundation of soft skills, making them well-prepared for the careers of tomorrow.

Global Perspective

Our curriculum allows students to learn cross-cultural skills from a young age which allow them to connect on a personal, local, and international perspective.

An interdisciplinary approach develops essential educational and practical skills. Students are prepared for the next stages of their learning as global issues are discussed, allowing them to explore perspectives different from or opposing to their own. The curriculum fosters research, critical thinking, and communication skills as students learn to research arguments before evaluating and conveying their findings. They are able to take control of their learning and relate it to global events. Thus allowing for them to carry their skill development and knowledge to other core subjects like science, mathematics, and language.

Music

Our curriculum helps students understand and appreciate music from various cultures and genres. Focus is placed on fostering creativity, promoting collaborations, and boosting confidence in all learners.

We aim to cultivate a love, passion, and appreciation for music in all forms as students are invited to participate in joyful, heartfelt musical experiences, and develop skills, knowledge, and attitudes required to contribute to the music world.

The music curriculum nurtures individual and collective creativity through which students are taught to work collaboratively with people with varying ideas and opinions.

Drama

Our curriculum enables students to explore their imagination, critical thinking, self-reflection, and interpersonal skills. Students unleash their creative and innovative mindset while exploring the world around them. This works wonders to every student's self-esteem and confidence and helps to develop excellent communication and interpersonal skills.

Teachers place focus on putting students in the best position to think critically, engage in self-reflection, and solve problems using creative skills. Every student gets individual attention and gains a feeling of empowerment to ask questions and discuss relevant concepts.

A solid foundation is set for students, ensuring that they understand the importance of historical and social context in various drama fields. They are given the opportunity to develop essential skills, research ability and curiosity across all curriculum areas, and present educational projects with full confidence.

Primary - Gallery