THE PRIMARY YEARS PROGRAMME, GRADES 1 TO 5
At Asker International School, our Grade 1–5 learners embark on a journey of curiosity, discovery, and meaningful growth through the International Baccalaureate Primary Years Programme (PYP). Rooted in a transdisciplinary, inquiry-based framework, our PYP curriculum cultivates confident, compassionate, and internationally minded young learners ready to make a difference.
Our values shape everything we do. At AIS we are Driven by Ambition, Guided by Integrity, Inspired by Curiosity, and Strengthened by Diversity. True to our vision: to develop global citizens for the world of tomorrow, the PYP nurtures academic, emotional, social, and ethical growth, empowering learners to succeed in school and in life.
A Holistic, Inquiry-Driven Learning Journey
The IB PYP empowers students as active agents of their own learning, blending academic disciplines with real-world contexts to foster true understanding of ideas that matter. Inspired by curiosity, our students explore authentic questions and challenges. Driven by ambition, they develop the perseverance and confidence needed to strive for excellence in all areas of learning. Through engaging units of inquiry, children build knowledge, explore concepts, and develop essential skills while reflecting on their growth and identity.
Agency, Action, and Community
Across Grades 1–5, students learn to:
- Take initiative: PYP learners show agency and direct their own learning through questioning, exploration, and perseverance. Their ambitious drive motivates them to set goals and work purposefully toward achieving them.
- Reflect meaningfully: Guided by the 10 IB Learner Profile traits, such as Thinker, Communicator, Inquirer, and Caring, our students connect learning with personal and global awareness. They are guided by integrity, ensuring their reflections lead to honest self-growth and responsible choices.
- Act with purpose: True to the PYP’s emphasis on responsible action, students apply what they learn to serve their communities and the wider world. In doing so, they are strengthened by diversity, learning with and from each other to embrace multiple perspectives.
Real-World Learning in Action
Grade 5 Exhibition
As the culmination of their years in the PYP, our Grade 5 learners collaborate on Exhibition projects, where they identify meaningful issues, research deeply, and present creative, cross-curricular solutions. This process highlights their integrity in research, ambition in execution, and curiosity in inquiry, showing how they can contribute as global citizens for the world of tomorrow.
Student-Led Portfolios & Showcases
Throughout the year, students curate digital portfolios on Seesaw, reflecting their learning journey whilst showcasing their strengths, reflections, and achievements. These portfolios form the foundation of student-led conferences, promoting rich dialogue with families about progress and goals, and reinforcing each student’s integrity and agency in sharing their learning.
A Schoolwide Commitment
Transdisciplinary inquiry connects the classroom
Our program integrates subjects like Language, Mathematics, Science, PE, Norwegian, Technology and the Arts within inspiring, globally relevant units that ignite curiosity and encourage connection-making. Diversity of thought, culture, and experience strengthens this learning as students develop the ability to see the world from multiple perspectives.
Learning as a social, experiential process
We design learning that is collaborative, creative, and personal, helping children “strive for excellence” and take ownership of their learning paths. Students set high standards, and their curiosity fuels meaningful, experiential learning that extends beyond the classroom.
Inclusive & caring community
Learning at AIS extends beyond academics. We nurture emotional, social, and ethical growth through our year-long How We Express Ourselves unit and a focus on Approaches to Learning (ATL) Affective skills. In every interaction, students embody our values and are focused on becoming balanced, principled, and caring members of our school and global community.