CIS is authorised to teach the International Baccalaureate Primary Years Programme (PYP). The IB PYP is an international curriculum framework which combines the best research and practice from national school systems with the collective knowledge and experience of international schools to provide an excellent educational programme for children aged 3-12. It provides an age-appropriate programme for children from diverse cultures and language backgrounds and is transferable within national and international systems.

The IB PYP focuses on the development of the whole child: academic, social, physical and emotional. This is expressed in the overall aims of the Primary Years Programme which are to encourage young people to become inquirers, thinkers, communicators, risk-takers, knowledgeable, principled, caring, open-minded, balanced and reflective. These characteristics are outlined in the IB Learner Profile and are explicitly taught throughout the CIS curriculum.

Through an inquiry based approach to teaching and learning, the curriculum addresses three inter-related questions:

What do we want to learn?

How best will we learn?

How will we know what we have learned? 

The five essential elements of the curriculum are concepts, knowledge, skills, attitudes, and action. The learning model is constructivist and based on the belief that students come to any learning situation with prior knowledge which can be built upon. This is the starting point for learning.

Each class explores six Units of Inquiry a year (the pre kindergarten programme explores four units). These units are mapped out on the Programme of Inquiry with each unit placed under one of six organising themes. Most of the units have a Science or Social Studies focus and all of the Primary School Science and Social Studies are documented within the framework. The Language Arts and Mathematics curricula infuse the Programme of Inquiry where relevant.

The students in the Primary School also inquire into ICT, Danish, French, German, Visual Art, Music, Drama and Physical Education. These subject areas are taught by specialist teachers who also plan for integration into the Programme of Inquiry where relevant.

More Information can be found in our Handbook for Primary Parents.