Lower School
(1st to 5th Grade)

ISB’s holistic approach to education in a language immersion setting prepares students for the intellectual challenges of the next phases of their education and personal growth. It focuses on the development of the whole child as an inquirer - both in the classroom and in the world outside. ISB’s Kindergarten-5th Grade program incorporates local and global perspectives and issues into the curriculum, asking students to look at six related, transdisciplinary themes that provide the breadth of exploration across disciplines. Throughout the curriculum, students engage in six-week long transdisciplinary units of inquiry, focusing on such themes as “who we are”, “where we are in place and time”, and “how the world works”. By developing their inquiry skills at this early stage, students become active learners and have the opportunity to take charge of their own learning. All units also incorporate field trips to give real-life context to what is being learned in the classroom.

1st Grade to 5th Grade Overview

• 1st–3rd Grades: 75% instruction in the target language (French or Spanish), 25% in English
• 4th–5th Grades: 50% instruction in the target language, 50% in English
• Culturally and linguistically authentic classrooms: Books and resources are primary language only (not translated), and teachers bring in their own cultural backgrounds to reinforce lessons
• Head teachers are native speakers in their language of instruction
• Core subjects (Math, Science, Reading, Writing, Social Studies) are taught in an interdisciplinary manner everyday, with additional weekly classes in Art and Science and twice weekly classes in Physical Education and Music (twice weekly in 2nd Grade-5th Grade, weekly in 1st Grade)
• Twice daily recess
• School Day Hours: 8:30am–3:30pm (extended care available from 3:30pm–6pm)
• Project-based learning is incorporated into each unit, allowing students to build their skills and synthesize learned content