The instructional programme at IKNS addresses four of the six transdisciplinary themes every school year in KG1 and KG2, and all six themes in grades 1 to 5.
Each transdisciplinary theme is introduced through a Unit of Inquiry (UoI) that carries the same title as the transdisciplinary theme itself. Hence, in each school year, KG1 and KG2 students study four Units of Inquiry, and students in grades 1 to 5 study six Units of Inquiry.
In school, students take responsibility for their learning and collaborate with teachers and other students to plan, present and assess learning needs. Students inquire, question, wonder and theorize about themselves, others and the world around them. They are keen observers and explorers.
Since the development of mother tongue language is crucial for maintaining cultural identity, we believe that education in mother tongue language, particularly in the early years of schooling, is vital for concept formation as well as literacy and numeracy attainment.
From KG1 up to Grade 2 (the Lower Elementary), the Unit of Inquiry (UoI) is taught in Arabic, while English is offered as a subject. The UoI includes Science, Social Studies, Mathematics and Arabic, and is taught by specialist homeroom teachers and English is taught by native English speaking teachers. In addition, students attend specialist lessons for Visual Arts, Performing Arts, Physical, Social and Personal Education, Math skills and Library research skills, as well as Islamic Studies, National and Social Studies, as per the requirements of the Bahrain Ministry of Education.
In Grades 3, 4 and 5 (the Upper Elementary), the UoI is taught in English, while Arabic is taught as a subject. Similar to the Lower Elementary, the UoI in the upper Elementary includes Science, Social Studies, Mathematics and English, and is taught by specialist homeroom native English speaking teachers and Arabic is taught by specialist teachers. In addition, students attend specialist lessons for Visual Arts, Performing Arts, Physical, Social and Personal Education, Math skills, ICT skills and Library research skills, as well as Islamic Studies, National and Social Studies, as per the requirements of the Bahrain Ministry of Education.
Adequate access to digital technologies is increasingly important to support student inquiries as they develop in the classroom or other learning spaces. ICT and computing skills are incorporated within the different subjects from KG1 to Grade 5. In addition, students in Grades 3, 4 and 5 attend one lesson per week focusing on main ICT and computing skills.