Elementary (Grades 1 - 5) - Canadian Academy | PreK - G12 International Day and Boarding IB School in Kobe, Japan

Hero Banner

Elementary School is an important step in becoming an open-minded and capable learner.

Our Elementary Program at a glance...

Differentiated and individualized instruction is a hallmark of Canadian Academy. We celebrate that each child is an individual, with distinct interests, abilities and needs. Small classroom sizes allow our teachers to get to know their students well. With EAL teachers and Learning Support specialists working alongside all children in the classroom, our students are well supported to meet their goals.

Skills for Life

A Day in the Elementary School

Elementary School students follow a nine-day rotating schedule that balances homeroom learning with a variety of specialist classes, including Visual Arts, Music, Japanese, Physical Education, Library time, Design Technology, and Social Emotional Learning lessons. Each day is organized into six learning blocks. Wednesdays follow a shortened schedule, with the school day ending at 2:25 pm. After school clubs are available until 4:30 pm (3:30 pm on Wednesday).

Curriculum

Our curriculum is taught through the framework of the International Baccalaureate Primary Years Programme (PYP). The PYP is organized according to six transdiciplinary themes, also called Units of Inquiry (UOIs). These Units of Inquiry are addressed and explored in every subject area; this integrated approach strengthens understanding. PYP standards provide clear and compelling goals, while the framework is flexible, allowing for differentiation and meeting each child where they are.

Our curricular programs draw from AERO, Next Generation, and ACARA standards. Balanced Literacy uses highly effective approaches to create readers, writers, and effective communicators. Bridges, our mathematics program, requires our students to have a deep conceptual understanding, while being proficient in key skills.

Use the table below to explore IB PYP Units of Inquiry by Grade Level.

Units of Inquiry

Grade 1

Unit of Inquiry	Who We Are	Where We Are in Place and Time	How We Express Ourselves	How the World Works	How We Organize Ourselves	Sharing the Planet
Central Idea	Improving well-being involves making informed decisions.	Curating historical evidence provides insight into people's past.	Appreciating nature inspires artistic expression.	Investigating and changing materials helps create useful solutions.	People organize systems to satisfy needs and wants.	The choices people make impact the environment.

Grade 2

Unit of Inquiry	Who We Are	Where We Are in Place and Time	How We Express Ourselves	How the World Works	How We Organize Ourselves	Sharing the Planet
Central Idea	Exploring personal identity helps us better understand ourselves and others.	People's daily lives can be adapted to connect to their location.	Light and sound affect the way we experience the world.	People apply their understanding of design thinking to solve problems.	Communities function through leadership, shared responsibility, and decision-making.	Adaptation helps living things survive in a changing world.

Grade 3

Unit of Inquiry	Who We Are	Where We Are in Place and Time	How We Express Ourselves	How the World Works	How We Organize Ourselves	Sharing the Planet
Central Idea	There are factors that contribute to the process of learning something new.	Changes in society are explained by evidence from the past.	People express their cultural identity through the arts.	Understanding forces and scientific principles help us to design and invent.	Communities organize themselves by establishing decision-making systems and processes.	Understanding how materials behave and change help us make responsible choices for a sustainable future.

Grade 4

Unit of Inquiry	Who We Are	Where We Are in Place and Time	How We Express Ourselves	How the World Works	How We Organize Ourselves	Sharing the Planet
Central Idea	Understanding the different systems of my body promotes well-being.	Stories of people and places shape identity and reveal how communities change over time.	Actions express our culture, beliefs, and values.	Earth's changing processes affect society and the environment.	The choices people make influence how goods and services are exchanged.	Living things in a biome depend on each other to create balance.

Grade 5

Units of Inquiry	Who We Are	Where We Are in Place and Time	How We Express Ourselves	How the World Works	How We Organize Ourselves	Sharing the Planet
Central Idea	Exploring how personal change can affect relationships and well-being.	Human migration is influenced by different factors and can change communities.	Media conveys powerful messages within and between communities.	Patterns in our solar system influence life on Earth and inspire human innovation.	Effective communities rely on active citizenship.	Views and uses of natural resources transform the environment.

In This Section