The Faculty of the Junior School believes that children learn best in a nurturing environment, which is safe, joyful and intellectually challenging. Development and academic considerations shape decisions about the curriculum, organisation and day-to-day life throughout the  school.

An interdisciplinary approach to teaching and learning is coupled with special consideration to each child’s individual interests and development of community responsibility. Positive feedback is given to children based on their own efforts, ideas and accomplishments as well as respectful acceptance of a child’s feelings.Help First Programme enablesyoungsters to meet challengewith the persistence and optimism necessary to develop competence, confidence and self-esteem.

Language Art

NMS’s language art program builds on the children’s existing knowledge. It provides rich linguistic experience and focuses on developing an increased competence in the use of the language art, speaking, listening, reading and writing.

Early literacy skills are supported as the children are exposed to a variety of literature. The children are encouraged to keep journals with their own stories or group poems. Display boards in classrooms reflect the varied interests of the children, and act as positive re-inforcement, and encouragement from their teachers and  peer-group.

Mathematics

Mathematics is approached through a developmental sequence, which begins by utilising the children’s first hand experience to form the basis of their learning and understanding. The thrust of the programme is on thinking, analytical logical thinking. Problem solving and number relationships are emphasised. Teachers use concrete examples which are manipulated with the students to help internalise mathematical concepts. At all levels, students work with the four major operations in arithmetic as well as measurements, fractions, two and three-dimensional geometry and estimation. The teachers aim at making children realize the transfer effect of studying Mathematics.

Social Studies

The Social Studies curriculum is a vehicle for discovery and is designed to help develop the children’s understanding of themselves as individuals, as members of various groups within the society, and as members of a global community. The first grade program begins with exploring the family unit and then focuses on the wider community including the neighbourhood , surroundings of NMS and other city institutions. In the second and third grade the curriculum is designed to provide a conceptual framework for observing different cultures. Computers are used to map out projects and students visit a variety of culturalinstitutions during field trips for their explorations.

Science

During thefirst programme students go to the laboratory during their weekly schedule to explore, observe, experiment and develop the skills they will need to move into the middle school science programme. First graders study biology, chemistry and physics specifically exploring solids, liquids and gases before moving on to study the human body and then biology. Second graders continue to develop their scientific investigation skills, learning to formulate hypotheses, design experiments and maintain data records which they find on such units in the school ecosystem. Third graders continue to explore chemical, physical and biological phenomena and concentrate on mastering important experimentation skills through a variety of topics such as the properties of matter and the study of the water cycle, water harvesting  etc.

The Arts

The Art Studio in the first program is an exciting and comfortable place for children, the space is well designed so that material and tools are easily accessible. As the children build upon their art experiences, they become increasingly familiar with each of the process, gain mastery of various technical skills and apply their advanced knowledge to their individual efforts of creative expression.

The goals of the art curriculum are mastery of skills, accessibility to personal image making independence, global awareness and respect, not only for materials but for each other’s work as well.

Drawing & Painting, Classical Dance & Music (Instrumental & Vocal), Folk Dance, Western Music and Musical instruments form an essential part of the Music Programme. Each individual in a class is given full freedom of choice of the form he/she would like to specialise in, and in the process each group/tutorial consists of 5 to 6 children who get very special and focused attention. Parents are kept informed about the child’s progress, and from time to time are invited to special shows sponsored by the school.

Physical Education

Since, fitness is an integral part of the physical education routine. physical activity is the part of every day life at Neerja Modi School. Students enjoy a curriculum, which includes skills, movement education, team activities such as football, hockey ,cricket volleyball ,basketball, and badminton.