EARLY & PRIMARY YEARS PROGRAMME
ISD's Primary School comprises Playgroup to Grade 5 (ages 2 through 10). Our Early Years and Elementary Programmes are built on the curriculum framework of the IB PYP (International Baccalaureate Primary Years Programme).
LEARN MORE ABOUT THE PYP
Students study six subject groups:
- Language
- Social Studies
- Mathematics
- Arts
- Science
- Physical, Social and Personal Education
Classes for Playgroup, Nursery, Pre-Kindergarten, and Kindergarten are held in our Early Years building, a purpose-built structure at the southwest corner of the campus.
It features an outdoor play area and bright central space for class activities.
The Elementary building holds classrooms for Grades 1 through 5. The airy central space is used for assemblies and class activities.
In addition to class learning, students participate in special assemblies and events. Some of these include Victory Day, the Swimming Gala, the Performing Arts Extravaganza, and Sports Day.
Students share what they've learned through workshops, Unit Celebrations, School Sleepovers, Three-way and Student-led Conferences, and ultimately, the PYP Exhibition.
The IB PYP
Six transdisciplinary themes form the foundation of the Programme:
- Who we are
- Where we are in place and time
- How we express ourselves
- How the world works
- How we organize ourselves
- Sharing the planet
Within these themes our teachers plan learning as Units of Inquiry. Students construct meaning by asking questions and making connections to what they already know about the world. Learning is continuous and evolves through a sequence of steps and connections that lead to new knowledge.
Learning activities in a unit of inquiry may include:
- Exploring, wondering, and questioning
- Experimenting and playing with possibilities
- Collecting data and reporting findings
- Researching and seeking information
- Solving problems in a variety of ways
The Early Years Programme
Learning happens inside and outside the classroom. Classes are guided by a foreign-trained teacher, a Bangla/English teaching partner, and a child care assistant.
Beginning in Nursery, children are introduced to specialized classes in Music and Drama. From Pre-Kindergarten, Physical Education, Drama, Visual Arts and Bangla are taught in addition to core subjects.
We stoke children's curiosity through play. Games are based on learning and guided inquiry activities. This process helps children build a meaningful foundation of learning that is ever-evolving through a series of steps and connections.
Learning is expressed through art, drama, music, language, and by making things. Hands-on experiences give children the opportunity to explore, experiment, and question the world around them. They learn to share, communicate, take turns, and cooperate with their classmates while developing their individuality.
The IB PYP framework guides our planning, learning, and assessment of each child's learning journey. Children thrive through age-appropriate experiences, a key component of our Early Years programme. They develop crucial skills in thinking, socializing, and communicating. They build their imagination, knowledge, and independence to kickstart their own learning.
Playgroup (ages 2+)
A half-day programme for children aged 2+ that helps accustom them to routines and develop early independence. Personal-social, physical, language, and math skills are nurtured through targeted and free play. Children choose books from the library and learn to identify the pictures and listen to stories and songs. In the outdoor play area they use their bodies to develop their gross motor skills. Social skills are also enhanced as they interact with their peers and teachers.
Nursery (ages 3+)
A full-day programme for ages 3+ that is also the first year of formal teaching and learning in the PYP. Children learn to use their five senses to explore their world and are introduced to specialized classes. They begin experimenting with musical instruments and get to know the library.
Pre-Kindergarten (ages 4+)
A full-day programme for ages 4+. Children discover themselves, their world, and those around them through play both inside and outside the classroom. Learning activities include numbers, letters, shapes and patterns, measuring objects, exploring simple machines, and achieving goals. Children learn to share feelings and emotions.
Kindergarten (ages 5+)
A full-day programme for ages 5+. Children are introduced to the Visual Arts and Bangla, and explore the key concepts: Form, Function, Connection, Change, Causation, Responsibility, and Perspective. They involve themselves in role play and enjoy spending time with their classmates.
The Elementary Programme
For Nursery through Grade 5 students, the PYP Elementary Programme builds on the foundation laid by the Early Years syllabus.
Students are empowered to take charge of their own teaching and learning. They are encouraged to play, explore, experiment, wonder, inquire, practice, invent, create, collaborate, and imagine. Students are engaged, hands on, with the world in their journey as lifelong learners. They spend most of their school day with a homeroom teacher and teaching assistant.
Learning to communicate, play creatively, and interact and care for others is crucial to students’ social development and participation in the PYP Elementary Programme. Fostering these abilities is given high priority in our classrooms. Students and their teachers reflect on the teaching and learning, and action is taken. Assessment is ongoing, shared with parents, and used by our teachers to improve and grow the curriculum.
The PYP Exhibition
The PYP culminates in the Exhibition. Students draw on their skills and knowledge developed in the Programme and collaborate to create presentations on global issues with local relevance. Presentations take many forms and are shared with the ISD community. The PYP Exhibition also marks students' transition from the Elementary to the Secondary School and leads to the MYP (Middle Years Programme) and DP (Diploma Programme).