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LOWER SCHOOL
Creating lifelong learners

Lower School students at SCIS develop their knowledge, skills, and understanding of concepts through inquiry-based learning. Classrooms foster curiosity and promote discovery by making learning authentic, challenging, and relevant.

We start from a student’s prior knowledge and build on each child’s strengths and experiences to support learning. We encourage children to become independent learners and critical thinkers and problem-solvers who are empowered to take action.

Lower School Program at a Glance

 

STUDENT-CENTERED LEARNING

International Baccalaureate Primary Years Programme (IB PYP)

Students are at the center of learning at SCIS. Within the Primary Years Programme (PYP), each student utilizes inquiry to engage in trans-disciplinary, real-world explorations. Learning is personal and purposeful as students apply their understanding of key concepts as they analyze, critically think, and evaluate to meet subject-specific learning expectations.

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The Learner

At SCIS we all have agency, the capacity to act intentionally. Recognizing and supporting agency in the Lower School creates a culture of mutual respect, acknowledging the rights and responsibilities of students, schools, and the wider learning community. By giving students a voice, choice, and ownership, students become aware of how they learn best as they develop the skills to influence and direct their learning.

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LEARNING AND TEACHING

Teachers collaboratively develop a Programme of Inquiry and decide the most appropriate time frames and duration for each Unit of Inquiry (UOI). Teachers integrate subject knowledge and concepts into each unit to deepen trans-disciplinary learning and develop Approaches to Learning. The knowledge component is developed through inquiries into six transdisciplinary themes of global significance, supported and built around subject area standards. 

Subject-specific expectations and curriculum standards are contained inside our Program Guides below:

 

LOWER SCHOOL SUBJECTS OVERVIEW

ENGAGING LEARNING ENVIRONMENT

Each child is unique, and our learning spaces are purposely designed with that in mind. Our environments invite open-ended exploration, facilitate social and individual settings, and are designed to make learning fun, flexible, and unique for each child.   

MANDARIN LANGUAGE & CULTURE

At SCIS, we emphasize the importance of our host-country language and culture. Our mandarin language learning program is offered daily through a developmentally designed and leveled curriculum, with classes ranging from beginner to experienced.

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LANGUAGE LEARNING

Recognizing the English may not be the first language of many students, we support students in the continuation of their mother-tongue language through our existing language programs.  We also support students in their transition to English acquisition with additional staffing and support through our English as an Additional Language Program.  

ACTIVITIES THAT ENRICH

Our After School Activities Program offers a range of activities to promote broaden experiences, promote a healthy lifestyle, and build personal relationships outside of the classroom. Activities include athletics, visual arts, music, STEM activities, robotics, and language programs.

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EARLY CHILDHOOD

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UPPER SCHOOL

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