Learning in Elementary School

Grades 1-5

Learning that Builds Understanding and Confidence

In the Elementary School at NIS, learning is designed to nurture both the academic growth and personal development of every child.

Our classrooms are welcoming, inclusive communities where students feel known, supported, and encouraged to take an active role in their learning. Through strong relationships with teachers and peers, students build confidence, develop independence, and begin to see themselves as capable learners.

At the same time, the Elementary program is intentionally structured to be engaging, relevant, and challenging. Students develop a deep understanding of what they are learning by connecting ideas, applying their knowledge, and thinking critically about the world around them.

This balance of care, structure, and academic challenge ensures that students are not only supported in the moment but are also building the foundation for continued success in Middle School and beyond.

Building Strong Foundations

See how our teachers create engaging learning experiences that develop knowledge, skills, confidence, and a love of learning.

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Welcome from Our Primary School Principal

What makes the Primary School experience at NIS so special?

Hear from Primary School Principal Mihoko Chida as she shares how curiosity, connection, and a love of learning bring our diverse community together each day.

Discover how students from around the world learn, grow, and build lasting friendships in a supportive environment where every child is encouraged to thrive.

Elementary School Curriculum

Structured and connected.

In Elementary School, students engage in an intentionally designed, inquiry-based academic program grounded in core subject learning. Students develop knowledge and skills in key areas, including language, mathematics, science, and individuals and societies. These subjects are taught with clear learning goals and expectations, ensuring that students build strong foundations in reading, writing, numeracy, and critical thinking.

What makes learning at NIS distinctive is how these subjects are brought together through a transdisciplinary approach. Guided by the International Baccalaureate Primary Years Programme (PYP), learning is intentionally designed to connect ideas across subjects, supported by research-informed teaching practices that strengthen understanding and transfer.

This approach allows students to develop a deeper understanding of ideas while building the core academic skills expected at each grade level.

Explore the PYP Curriculum

Infographic of the IB PYP Program at NIS

Be adventurous. Be involved. Be supported.

Experiential Learning

Learning comes alive when students engage directly with the world around them. Through field trips, hands-on projects, and authentic experiences, students deepen understanding and make meaningful connections to their learning.

A woman demonstrates papermaking to a group of children in a workshop, with colorful bottles of dye in the foreground and shelves of supplies in the background.

Co-Curricular Activities

From clubs and creative pursuits to sports and special-interest activities, students have opportunities to explore their passions beyond the classroom. These experiences help children discover new interests, build friendships, and develop confidence.

Children play soccer on a bright, sunny day in front of a modern school building.

Mentorship

Meaningful relationships are built across grade levels as older and younger students learn, celebrate, and grow together. These connections foster belonging, confidence, leadership, and a strong sense of community.

In the foreground, a young woman with blonde hair gestures while speaking to a group of girls seated at a table with papers, while in the background, more students are engaged in activities near a window with books on a shelf.

Learning Beyond the Classroom

Some of the most memorable learning experiences happen when students step outside the classroom and engage directly with the world around them. In Elementary School, learning extends beyond textbooks and lessons through field trips, outdoor education, service opportunities, leadership experiences, and a wide range of co-curricular activities. These experiences help students make meaningful connections between what they are learning and how it applies in real life.

Students explore local communities, collaborate with peers across grade levels, participate in performances and events, and take on new challenges that build confidence, independence, and responsibility. Through these experiences, they develop curiosity, resilience, empathy, and a deeper understanding of themselves and others.

Learning beyond the classroom is not separate from learning; it is an essential part of how students discover their interests, strengthen relationships, and grow as capable, engaged members of their community.

EXPLORE THE LEARNING OPPORTUNITIES

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