In elementary school there is still a lot of playing as a part of school. It is quite natural that learning and playing go hand in hand. Swedish schools place a strong emphasis on play and developing good social skills as opposed to focus on grades and tests. Skills which are said to work very well for Swedes out in the job market.   Employers look at EQ (emotional quotient) just as much and in some jobs even more than IQ (intelligence quotient).

The basic achievements that are expected of the children that finish elementary school are of course to be able to read, write, in addition to solving basic mathematical problems. You should know some basic things about your country’s history as well as geography. Third years (kids about 8 or 9) have swimming for a year, they have sewing and wood working classes for a half a year alternating every term from year three up until they finish elementary school as well. Year five students do home economics, learning about basic household chores such as the most important points of washing clothes, cooking simple things in a group and some schools even do a period on nutrition and household budgeting, though that depends on who you get as a teacher.  The esthetic subjects such as music and art are also taught in elementary school. In elementary school student have about 2 hours a week of gym. A lot of schools divide the gym lesson’s content into things that can be done outside, usually on the schools property. The sports which require a lot of equipment are done in a gym which the students and gym teachers take a bus to if the school doesn’t own one.

English learning starts from year 1 with basic things such as weekdays and numbers, proceeding to reading simpler texts on various subjects by the time you reach year 6. Year 1 students also have to work on their hand writing, practicing cursive handwriting as well as being able to neatly print. In year 6 all students choose yet another foreign language, Spanish, French or German. For the students who are having trouble with Swedish and/or English they are exempted from yet more foreign language studies.