The Opposite of Rote Learning: GIIS Uses the IB PYP to Teach Kids to Take Action, Learn Independence & Responsibility 

Looking for an international school that offers a holistic IB Primary Years Programme (PYP)? Here’s how GIIS encourages kids to take action, think for themselves and apply their learning to create positive change!

Can you really find everything in an international school – a holistic education, great facilities and affordable fees? It’s all possible at Global Indian International School (GIIS) – this international school offers places for students from Kindergarten to Grade 12 at their two campuses, the SMART campus at Punggol and the East Coast campus at Cheviot Hill.

With experienced teachers, collaborative learning spaces, skill-based studios and international curricula, GIIS helps students develop into global citizens who are prepared for the challenges of the future.

For students from Grades 1 to 5, GIIS offers the IB Primary Years Programme (PYP), an inquiry-driven and transdisciplinary curriculum that allows students to be agents of their own learning and develops a sense of responsibility in them at an early age. The PYP approach encourages students to be active participants in their own learning journey. With the IBPYP, students learn to become independent, take action on issues that matter to them and personalise their learning so that it benefits them all through their lives.

Students Ask Questions & Think for Themselves

GIIS provides students with facilities and opportunities that support experiential learning, and passionate IB-certified teachers who are creative in the way they facilitate the PYP. This enables students to develop into curious individuals who figure things out by researching and trying them out, rather than just learning about them or using rote memorisation.

Another key aspect that PYP students at GIIS appreciate include being aware that they have an opinion that can be voiced, and which will be heard and valued by their teachers and peers. Students are encouraged to make their own choices in many aspects, including when it comes to how they learn and how they demonstrate their learning.

For example, a student in the PYP may demonstrate their understanding of a particular concept through the medium they prefer: a poem, a drama performance, a work of art, a written piece, a display or anything else they can envision. This brings out their originality and creativity, and also allows them to have fun at the same time, doing things that are aligned with their interests and strengths.

Nurturing Future Leaders: Kids Learn to Take Action

As students in the PYP at GIIS progress in their learning journey, they start understanding intercultural issues better and develop empathy towards others. They are also encouraged to take action on issues that interest or concern them. For example, some students advocate for anti-bullying measures inside school and what to do in cases of cyberbullying, while others may work in teams on social issues like providing in-kind support to community workers, helping to clean nearby beaches or disposing of e-waste responsibly.

At the end of their PYP journey, students in Grade 5 showcase their achievements through a culminating year-end PYP exhibition which helps them share their unique learnings and understanding with the larger community.

Interacting with peers from different parts of the world gives GIIS students a global perspective and allows them to be open to different opinions.

Additionally, students who are accustomed to taking action and leading from a young age tend to grow into leaders and productive team members in a group setting. With the IB PYP at GIIS, students learn to ask questions, seek out the issues that are important to them and find solutions that can be tried out.

Want to find out how the PYP at GIIS moulds students to be independent learners who can empathise with others and take action? Set up a campus tour and visit the school today!

Global Indian International School
East Coast Campus: 82 Cheviot Hill, Singapore 459663, Tel: (+65) 6914 7000,
GIIS SMART Campus, 27 Punggol Field Walk, Singapore 828649, Tel (+65) 69147100
singapore.globalindianschool.org