Slovakia Fifth Grade Curriculum - World of Work

The "World of Work" is a thematic unit within the Technology subject in Slovakian primary schools. Technology education is a compulsory subject for grades 5-9, with one hour of instruction per week. The curriculum is divided into two main subject areas: Technology and Household Economics. Schools are required to dedicate at least two-thirds of the total teaching time to Technology and a maximum of one-third to Household Economics.

Within Technology, the "World of Work" unit is taught in each grade (5-9). The specific content and activities within this unit can vary between schools, as they have flexibility in adapting the curriculum based on their needs and resources. However, the content and performance standards defined by the national curriculum remain binding.

A case study analyzing three different primary schools (a rural public school, an urban public school, and an urban church school) revealed some variations in how the "World of Work" unit is implemented. While all schools covered the prescribed thematic units within Technology, the specific activities and time allocation differed. For example, one school included a field trip to a company that sews work clothes as part of the "World of Work" unit in fifth grade.