Primary Programme

Grade 1 to 4

Together colorful

The elementary school of DSND includes grade 1/2 and grade 3/4, with two grades being taught together. The small school offers students the opportunity to grow and learn together in a trusting atmosphere.

The lessons are based on the German educational plans, the Thuringian curriculum and the educational standards for schools abroad.
We want to accept all students in their individuality. We educate for a social and tolerant cooperation.

We respond to the heterogeneity of the learning groups with different teaching principles:

- Open forms of instruction such as workshop work, station work, daily and weekly schedule work
- self-directed learning, promotion of self-observation and self-reflection
- changing social forms
- learning materials that support individual learning

The language of instruction in the elementary school is German. In order to meet the different requirements of native German speakers and children for whom German is a second language, extra German lessons are offered as needed. In most German and math lessons, two teachers teach the class together.

English is taught three hours per week in 1/2 and four hours per week in 3/4. In the 3/4 a second teacher supports the lessons in some hours.

The elementary school, as the link between kindergarten and secondary school, prepares the transitions in close cooperation with the preschool and the secondary school.
A primary school teacher teaches the preschoolers two hours a week. In music and physical education, the preschoolers and grade 1/2 are taught together by a kindergarten teacher and a primary school teacher. At the end of the primary school period, there are taster lessons in the fifth grade.


Primary School Timetable

Subjects Grade 1/2 Grade 3/4    
German 7 7    
Mathematics 5 5    
English 3 4    
Social Studies 2 2    
Physical Education 3 3    
Music 2 2    
Art 2 2    
Religion/Ethics 1 1    
Indian Culture 1 1    
Learning time 2 2    

School curriculum

The curriculum used in the primary school since 2012/13 was developed by the DSND along the guidelines laid down by the overseas schools for the South East Asian region and the Provinces of Thuringia and Baden/Württemberg.