In this 1 hour class, students learn simple conversational Gujarati phrases, kavitas and numeracy to gather confidence and explore their mother tongue. Students learn through games, song, play-dough , written work and story- telling.

Students progress to a 2 hour class with the focus on learning the Gujarati alphabet (i.e. to speak, write and recognize it) and continue with poems and conversational Gujarati phrases. Themes such as colours, animals, fruit and vegetables are also explored and incorporated into their classroom activities.

Students are by the end of this year are able to recognize and remember all 47 alphabets as well as count to 50 in Gujarati. The themes introduced in the prior years are built upon by adding more content and solidifying what has already been learnt. Students continue to learn through song, games and activities in class, which must be re-inforced at home.

The vowels and the Barakashri is the focus for students in this year. Students begin reading simple words and sentences and are focused on building their vocabulary so as to construct simple sentences based on the themes learnt thus far. Role-play, project based activities, show-and-tell are now the order of the day.

Students are now equipped to read and understand basic Gujarati as well as have conversations in Gujarati. Students can count up to 100 and teachers rely on stories and poems to teach as well as youtube videos for practice at home. Students learn basic rules of grammar and are encouraged to converse in Gujarati in class.

In this final year, vocabulary building continues, as does teaching common Gujarati phrases and idioms. Students are taught the basics of time, and measurements for conversational purposes. Students should be proficient in reading and understanding conversational Gujarati.

Young minds are introduced to the many festivals in the Hindu calendar at a basic level and learn simple mantras and prathnas. Yoga, pranayama, ayurveda and the Hindu way of life are slowly introduced and practiced with the students in class.

The foundation in Grade 0 is built upon, but the focus this year on the epic Ramayana. Students are taken through the story in its entirety and shlokas and mantras are introduced as well. By the end of the year, students are confident in the re-telling of the Ramayan, which culminates in the year-end celebration of Divali.

This year focuses on the teachings of the Hanuman Chalisa and the ten avatars of Vishnu. Students also begin to understand the significance behind the festivals of Holi, Navratri etc. Bhajans, yoga and prathnas continue to be reinforced.

Pending Update - New School syllabus

Students understand the meaning behind Hindu mantras and yantras and re-visit the festivals they now know so well, but with the aim of understanding their symbolism in our everyday lives. The holy trinity of Brahma, Vishnu and Shiva as well as the meaning behind the rituals of a Hindu wedding are unpacked.

n this final year, students learn more about the significance of Ekadashi, Saints in Hinduism and how their teachings in the prior years shape the daily behaviour of Hindus living in South Africa.