Kindergarten Program

Our curriculum is based by kind permission on a Canadian model. Younger children (aged 4 and 5 years) learn the virtues of cooperative behaviour: affection for others, mutual understanding and cooperation, empathy and sympathy. They develop a broader image of themselves in the world around them, en route to becoming more globally conscious. Our curriculum is modeled on a comprehensive educational framework, and is designed to meet students' diverse needs: academic, social, physical, emotional and cultural.

With regards to our kindergarten program, it is worth noting that OYIS is also a candidate school for the Primary Years Program. The school is pursuing authorization as an IB World School. These are schools that share a common philosophy - a commitment to high quality, challenging, and international education that OYIS believes is important for our students.

The learning expectations outlining knowledge and skills for the six areas of learning in Kindergarten are;

Personal and Social Development

• demonstrate a sense of identity and a positive self-image;
• demonstrate a beginning understanding of the diversity in individuals, families, schools, and the wider community;
• demonstrate independence, self-regulation, and a willingness to take responsibility in learning and other activities;
• demonstrate an ability to use problem-solving skills in a variety of social contexts;
• identify and use social skills in play and other contexts;
• demonstrate an awareness of their surroundings.

Language

• communicate by talking and by listening and speaking to others for a variety of purposes and in a variety of contexts;
• demonstrate understanding and critical awareness of a variety of written materials that are read by and with the teacher;
• use reading strategies that are appropriate for beginning readers in order to make sense of a variety of written materials;
• communicate in writing, using strategies that are appropriate for beginners;
• demonstrate a beginning understanding and critical awareness of media texts.

Mathematics

• demonstrate an understanding of number, using concrete materials to explore and investigate counting, quantity, and number relationships;
• measure and compare length, mass, capacity, area, temperature of objects / materials, and the passage of time, using non-standard units, through free exploration, focused exploration, and guided activity;
• describe, sort, classify, and compare two-dimensional shapes and three-dimensional figures, and describe the location and movement of objects through investigation;
• explore, recognize, describe, and create patterns, using a variety of materials in different contexts;
• sort, classify, and display a variety of concrete objects, collect data, begin to read and describe displays of data, and begin to explore the concept of probability in everyday contexts.

Science and Technology

• demonstrate an awareness of the natural and human-made environment through hands-on  investigations, observation, questioning, and sharing of their findings;
• conduct simple investigations through free exploration, focused exploration, and guided activity, using inquiry skills (observing, questioning, planning an investigation, carrying out the investigation, and communicating findings);
• demonstrate an understanding of and care for the natural world;
• investigate and talk about the characteristics and functions of some common materials, and use these materials safely;
• recognize and use safely some common forms of technology.

Health and Physical Activity

• demonstrate an awareness of health and safety practices for themselves and others and a basic awareness of their own well-being;
• participate willingly in a variety of activities that require the use of both large and small muscles;
• develop control of large muscles (gross-motor control) in a variety of contexts;
• develop control of small muscles (fine-motor control) in a variety of contexts.

The Arts

• demonstrate an awareness of themselves as artists through engaging in activities in visual arts, music, drama, and dance;
• demonstrate basic knowledge and skills gained through exposure to the arts and activities in the arts;
• use problem-solving strategies when experimenting with the skills, materials, processes, and techniques used in the arts both individually and with others;
• express responses to a variety of art forms, including those from other cultures;
• communicate their ideas through various art forms.

Click here to apply to the kindergarten program.

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