The International Baccalaureate (IB) Primary Years Programme (PYP) curriculum at GIIS encourages students to engage in independent, inquiry-based learning, enabling them to become successful lifelong learners.
It aims to nurture the intellectual and social well-being of our students, encouraging them to explore concepts through inquiry, critical thinking, and making connections between their learning and the real world. The idea is to develop students as global citizens, who are productive members of their communities.
In the PYP years at GIIS, which is from Grade 1 through 5, students learn to explore resources, conduct research on their study topic, ask questions and share ideas. In this way, the IB PYP curriculum helps students to develop the motivation to learn new skills and concepts.
At GIIS, we prioritise the holistic development of our students, focussing both on academic and non-academic growth. This approach ensures their well-rounded development throughout their educational journey. One of the many reasons why parents are drawn to the PYP curriculum at GIIS is because it offers valuable opportunities for beyond-the-classroom learning.
Extracurricular & co-curricular opportunities
Norito Yonezawa, parent of GIIS PYP students Rihito and Eito Yonezawa said: “GIIS offers a range of extracurricular activities. For example, my elder son Rihito likes sports and enjoys dodgeball, so he plays sports. My younger one, Eito, actually enjoys art. The art teacher encouraged them (the students) to draw whatever they wanted. He brings home a lot of his drawings.”
“Rihito also won the second prize in a competition called ‘Battle of the Brains’, which is a maths competition. I think the teachers encouraged him. It was a peer collaboration activity so he not only developed maths skills but also communication and peer collaboration skills,” he added.
At GIIS, we offer a diverse range of extracurricular activities, including a variety of sports, to cater to our students’ interests. From cricket to badminton, football to basketball, tennis to athletics, we ensure that every child finds a sport that matches their personal style. The goal is to instil a passion for sports and provide avenues for students to excel in their chosen pursuits.
On top of this, we provide the exclusive Gold Squad Accelerator Programme, where talented students receive additional training from the best coaches at no extra cost.
This programme that aims to nurture their skills to enable them to reach new heights in their sports journey, is offered in cricket, basketball, badminton, tennis and football.
We also offer a range of on-campus co-curricular activities that complement the academic curriculum. For instance, activities like the Writers Club and Debates focus on personality development, while Cooking Without Fire promotes independence among students.
Moreover, competitions such as ‘Weave-a-tale’ and ‘Battle of the Brains’ foster 21st century skills like communication, collaboration, and analytical thinking. Through these activities, we aim to hone and develop skills that contribute to the well-rounded growth of our students, empowering them to become confident learners.
Also read: How we plan the teaching and learning for IB PYP students at GIIS
The IB PYP programme is an inquiry-led, transdisciplinary learning curriculum that helps students become lifelong learners. Transdisciplinary learning goes beyond traditional subject boundaries, integrating multiple disciplines, and helping students to make connections between them.
Students who go through the IB PYP curriculum at GIIS learn to ask questions and discover the answers independently. The curriculum nurtures the natural curiosity that students need.
If you are keen to learn more about the IB PYP curriculum, please don’t hesitate to contact the GIIS admissions counsellors.
Shubhdarshani Mitra
Shubhdarshani has over 10 years of experience in content creation, curation and editing. She has worked for Indian newspapers, school magazines and international news websites where she worked closely with the leadership on the execution and communication of the content strategy. Aside from work, she’s a passionate B&W photographer and storyteller.
