open-mindedness and curiosity through
engagement with the
natural world
Our offer at AIS is a rich balance of academics, art, music, drama, handwork and movement – a curriculum that is lively and current, designed to help form an understanding of the world and our relation to it.
We see education as an art of awakening what is already present and are committed to teaching with the understanding that all subjects are interconnected.
We see the curriculum as a meaningful whole as opposed to a collection of fragmented subjects.
We give great importance to a nurturing environment and we are alert to individual needs, neither rushing (and causing stress) nor holding back children
Everything in the syllabus is selected and taught in a way that fosters the development of the children at each stage. In Grade 1 three subjects are taught throughout the year: language (learning to listen, speak, write and read); mathematics (learning the numbers and the four operations); and environment studies (discovering the world around them, the forerunner of science).
There is a rhythm to the day, week and year and festivals are important. Teaching is pictorial and imaginative, the aim being to stimulate the intellect through activity, rhythm and imagination. Time is spent laying down good habits of classroom life and work, cultivating reverence for nature, respect for others and learning to connect with and care for the children’s environment. Writing is introduced, using pictures, rhymes and stories, and practised with form drawing and movement. Reading begins with the children’s own written work and familiar songs and poems. Listening and speaking skills are also practised, with nature stories and fairy tales from around the world. Number work is begun, again with pictures, rhymes and stories. The four processes are introduced and a start is made on learning times tables. The class begins learning the pentatonic flute, starts working with watercolours, and in handwork they begin by making their own knitting needles.
- Routines repeated daily, weekly and yearly provide for periods of intense focus and periods of rest, as rhythm and repetition support the development of will power and strengthen imagination.
- Strong personal connections are fostered, as teachers aim to connect deeply with their students, with the Class Teacher ideally remaining with the same students for many years.
- We foster an international community environment in which cultural, religious and ethnic diversity is valued.
- We cultivate an appreciation of individual gifts and differences.
- We honor and celebrate life and the interconnectedness of all living things.
- We aim to cultivate in our students a sense of wonder and reverence toward the natural world, experiencing the wisdom of nature as a guiding force.
- In celebrating the passage of time through seasonal festivals, we connect children with one another and with the earth, fostering an appreciation for life, the natural environment, and our human cultures.
