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Primary Years Programme

Harare International School Elementary School (Early Childhood 1 to Grade 5) is committed to an enriching education in an international context with opportunities for all students, to develop intellectually, socially, physically and emotionally. We believe that children learn best when provided with a comfortable, safe and stable environment. The atmosphere is one of trust and respect within a learning community.

HIS follows the curricular framework of the International Baccalaureate Organization’s Primary Years Programme which embraces a developmental inquiry-based approach to learning, accepting children’s existing levels of learning and validating their strengths, experiences languages and cultures. Children are encouraged to develop their knowledge, skills, concepts, attitudes and competencies within an atmosphere that fosters a sense of belonging, self- confidence, a love of learning, and the development of positive personal values and qualities. The environment supports all students as they become independent learners, helping them to build strategies to seek their own solutions. As active participants, children are given opportunities to explore and interact meaningfully with the world around them. The diverse teaching strategies employed recognize learning as multidimensional and that each child has a unique learning style. The curriculum is designed to maintain relevance, challenge and engagement.

HIS models and educates students in the elementary school to be: inquirers, thinkers, communicators, risk-takers, knowledgeable, principled, caring, open-minded, balanced and reflective.

At the heart of the Primary Years Programme philosophy is a commitment to learning through guided inquiry. Each year each student will be involved in 6 units of inquiry (4 in Early Childhood) driven by a set of key conceptual questions matching the following six universal transdisciplinary themes:

  • Who we are
  • Where we are in place and time
  • How we express ourselves
  • How the world works
  • How we organize ourselves
  • Sharing the planet

Students explore topics of interest through these transdisciplinary themes.

HIS has developed and resourced 44 units of inquiry to give students a well-rounded and developmental educational experience. Each unit is carefully planned in collaboration with students who  are encouraged to demonstrate agency and take action. The units are transdisciplinary, incorporating traditional subject areas in a contextual manner.