Primary Program

In the primary years the focus is on growth of the whole child, encompassing social, physical, emotional, spiritual, intellectual and cultural needs. The International Baccalaureate Primary Years Program (PYP), an international, transdisciplinary program, is the main vehicle through which this development is fostered.

Why an international Curriculum

Kyoto international school is not affiliated to any one country and therefore is not mandated to follow a specific national education system. At KIS we endeavor to meet the needs of global citizens.  Our students and teachers  come from a variety of backgrounds and bring a multitude of diverse experiences, beliefs and expectations. The PYP program was designed by a group of educators to fulfill the needs of students regardless of where they lived in the world.  It was developed based on best practice from a variety of strong national curriculums.

At KIS the PYP provides us with a solid curricular framework, while still allowing us to meet the unique needs of our students. This well developed curriculum encourages international mindedness and a positive attitude to learning while staying true to core essence of humanity.

Learning Through Inquiry

The supportive environment at KIS becomes the center for guided inquiry, where students are actively engaged in, and take responsibility for their own learning. Positive attitudes are fostered  and opportunities for constructive student initiated action is encouraged.

Students in the primary years learn through a constructivist approach. This is an active process in which learners construct new ideas based upon their current and prior knowledge. The learner selects and interprets information, constructs hypotheses and tests theories. In order to construct their own understanding, students are provided with a purposeful sequence of guided experiences that allow them to explore beyond the information given. To support this learning, six units of inquiry (UOI’s)  are explored at each year level (four in the preschool and pre-k). These form a comprehensive program of inquiry from ECP to grade 5. In collaboration with teachers, students develop questions that relate to areas of interest within units. Students then develop strategies to find answers to their questions.