Primary School

In the French education system, the École Primaire, or primary school, plays a crucial role in a child’s educational journey. It is the first formal stage of compulsory education and typically caters to children aged 6 to 11 years old. 

The École Primaire provides a comprehensive curriculum that focuses on developing core academic skills, fostering social integration, and nurturing the overall well-being of students. Students gradually build upon the foundations laid in Maternelle, further developing their reading, writing, and numeracy skills. The École Primaire curriculum emphasizes critical thinking, problem-solving, and collaborative learning. It aims to provide a balanced education that promotes intellectual growth, social interaction, creativity, and the acquisition of fundamental knowledge. 

The École Primaire serves as a vital stage in preparing students for the subsequent levels of education and lays the groundwork for their continued academic and personal development.

Here is a breakdown of the curriculum by grade:

  1. Cours Préparatoire (CP) – Grade 1:

– French Language and Literature: Reading development, phonics, basic grammar, sentence structure, and early writing skills.

– English Language as well as Kurdish and Arabic which were recently integrated in the curriculum at lower levels.

– Mathematics: Number recognition, basic operations (addition, subtraction), simple geometry, and measurement.

– Sciences: Introduction to the natural world, observation skills, and basic scientific concepts.

– History and Geography: Introduction to local and national history, basic geography concepts.

– Arts and Music: Exploration of different artistic forms, basic artistic techniques, and musical activities.

– Physical Education: Fundamental motor skills development and basic physical activities.

  1. Cours Élémentaire 1 (CE1) – Grade 2:

– French Language and Literature: Reading comprehension, grammar, spelling, paragraph writing, and expanding vocabulary.

– English Language as well as Kurdish and Arabic which were recently integrated in the curriculum at lower levels.

– Mathematics: Addition, subtraction, multiplication, division, measurement, basic geometry, and problem-solving.

– Sciences: Expanding scientific knowledge, simple experiments, and observation skills.

– History and Geography: Exploration of historical events, geography concepts, and cultural diversity.

– Arts and Music: Further development of artistic skills, creative expression, and musical activities.

– Physical Education: Building on motor skills, sports activities, and physical fitness.

  1. Cours Élémentaire 2 (CE2) – Grade 3:

– French Language and Literature: Reading comprehension, creative writing, grammar, and spelling.

– English Language as well as Kurdish and Arabic which were recently integrated in the curriculum at lower levels.

– Mathematics: Multiplication, division, fractions, geometry, measurement, and problem-solving.

– Sciences: Further exploration of scientific concepts, hands-on experiments, and scientific observation.

– History and Geography: Expanding knowledge of historical periods, geography skills, and cultural awareness.

– Arts and Music: Advancing artistic techniques, creativity, and musical exploration.

– Physical Education: Continued development of motor skills, team sports, and physical fitness.

  1. Cours Moyen 1 (CM1) – Grade 4:

– French Language and Literature: Reading comprehension, writing skills, grammar, and spelling refinement.

– English, Kurdish and Arabic languages.

– Mathematics: Advanced arithmetic, fractions, decimals, geometry, measurements, and problem-solving.

– Sciences: Further scientific knowledge, experimentation, and scientific reasoning.

– History and Geography: In-depth study of historical periods, geography skills, and global awareness.

– Arts and Music: Advanced artistic techniques, creative expression, and musical exploration.

– Physical Education: Enhancing motor skills, sports activities, and physical fitness.

  1. Cours Moyen 2 (CM2) – Grade 5:

– French Language and Literature: Advanced reading comprehension, writing skills, grammar, and spelling mastery.

– English, Kurdish and Arabic languages.

– Mathematics: Advanced arithmetic, fractions, decimals, geometry, measurements, algebraic thinking, and problem-solving.

– Sciences: Expanded scientific concepts, scientific investigation, and critical thinking skills.

– History and Geography: Comprehensive study of historical periods, geography, and cultural understanding.

– Arts and Music: Advanced artistic techniques, creative projects, and musical exploration.

– Physical Education: Continued development of motor skills, sports activities, and physical fitness.