American Curriculum
Kindergarten
We warmly welcome and thank you for your interest in Arab International Schools.
Catering for children between the ages of 2 and 6 years, the AIS Kindergarten section offers a friendly learning environment steered by well-qualified teachers to provide a rich blend of academic and extracurricular activities. Our goal is to offer children a sound early childhood education.
We believe that all students can experience success and are committed to unlocking each student’s potential. We look forward to unlocking the uniqueness and worth of each individual, the ability of every child to learn and succeed in a collaborative approach to learning and the importance of the role of the school in our community.
We acknowledge the power of a quality early childhood education which focuses on fostering and developing children’s natural curiosity about the world around them and value the uniqueness of each child as a learner and the need to create an environment that is safe and secure. Establishing positive relationships with children and families is paramount to success for the kindergarten child.
We see children’s play as a unique inquiry into the world around them and we appreciate that children learn through their relationships with other people. We offer a learning environment that provides individuals with a sense of belonging, respect, and empathy and promotes effective communication.
Thank you for taking the time to learn more about AIS, should you need further clarity or have questions, don’t hesitate to contact or visit us in person at our beautiful campus.
At AIS we provide a high quality, purposefully planned play opportunities that enable children to develop and flourish. We place equal importance on both the inside and outside environments and ensure that each area stimulates the children’s imaginations. Our spacious learning environments enable children to be active learners, become independent and develop creative and critical thinking skills. We introduce the skills through the core curriculum, namely Language Arts, Math, Science and Social Studies, and this curriculum is complimented by distinctive and variety of Art and Physical Education along with swimming Classes. Arabic Language along with Islamic Studies are also available beginning in Kindergarten.
The classrooms have full access to all the facilities of the Primary School, and they have time each week to enjoy the sport and other educational activities along with the other facilities provided by the school. We value health and safety, social development, physical development, gross motor development and fine motor development.
Elementary
It is our pleasure to welcome you to the Arab International Schools. We are here to provide meaningful and challenging opportunities for both individuals and the community. We believe in empowering our learner’s minds with the desire and the means to reach their potential and goals.
We at AIS believe in our young learners and their inquiries and we believe that these young minds need the proper tools that lead them toward the answers to these compelling questions. In our commitment to diversity, we must show our students how to be caring, risk takers and principled so they can act out of respect, courage, and fairness.
We work hard to show our students how to make suitable choices and have respect for their own minds and bodies. We are keen to lead them to distinguish right from wrong and then choose to do what is right, so they can be persuasive and independent citizens.
We encourage you to become part of our AIS community and partner with us on our journey of educational excellence.
Should you have further questions, don’t hesitate to contact or visit us.
American Curriculum
English
Standard 1: READING: Word Recognition, Fluency, and Vocabulary Development
Word Recognition involves the understanding of the basic features of words: word parts, patterns, relationships, and origins. Students use phonics, context clues, and a growing knowledge of English and other languages to determine the meaning of words and become fluent readers.
Standard 2: READING: Comprehension
Comprehension involves understanding grade-level-appropriate material. Students develop strategies such as asking questions; making predictions; and identifying and analyzing structure, organization, perspective, and purpose.
Standard 3: READING: Literary Response and Analysis
Response to grade-level-appropriate literature includes identifying story elements such as character, theme, plot, and setting, and making connections and comparisons across texts. Literary response enhances students’ understanding of history, culture, and the social sciences.
Standard 4: WRITING: Process
The writing process includes prewriting, drafting, editing, and revising. Students’ progress through these stages to write clear, coherent, and focused paragraphs and essays.
Mathematics
• Number Sense
Number sense allows students to combine or decompose numbers naturally and solve problems using knowledge of the base-ten system and the relationships among operations.
• Computation
Students should become fluent at performing computations in diverse ways, including mental calculations, estimation, and paper-and-pencil calculations using mathematically sound algorithms.
• Algebra and Functions
Algebra involves the understanding of patterns, relations, and functions, as well as the representation and analysis of mathematical situations and structures using algebraic symbols.
• Geometry
Geometry involves relationships among shapes and their properties and offers ways to interpret our physical environment. Geometry allows the development of students’ reasoning skills.
• Measurement
Students should understand measurable attributes of objects and the units, systems, and processes of measurement, as well as be able to apply appropriate techniques and formulas to determine measurements.
• Data Analysis and Probability
Through the collection and analysis of data, students can learn to make sense of and interpret information. This will enable them to make and critically examine statistical arguments.
• Problem Solving
Problem-solving means engaging in a task for which the solution process is not known in advance. Good problem solvers develop a range of strategies for finding solutions to problems and learn to monitor and adjust the strategies they choose in the process of solving a problem.
Science
The Nature of Science and Technology, it is the union of science and technology that forms the scientific endeavor and that makes it so successful. Although each of these human enterprises has a character and history of its own, each is dependent on and reinforces the other.
Scientific Thinking
There are certain thinking skills associated with science, mathematics, and technology that young people need to develop during their school years. These are mostly, but not exclusively, mathematical and logical skills that are essential tools for both formal and informal learning and for a lifetime of participation in society as a whole.
The Living Environment
People have long been curious about living things – how many different species there are, what they are like, how they relate to each other, and how they behave. Living organisms are made of the same components as all other matter, involve the same kinds of transformations of energy, and move using the same basic kinds of forces.
History
Standard addresses the relationship between the past and the present. Students examine the relationship and significance of themes, concepts, and movements in world and Middle East histories.
Civics and Government
In these standards, students learn what it means to be a citizen with rights and responsibilities in several communities: local, national, and world.
Geography
The standard focuses on the relationships between physical and cultural characteristics of Earth.
Individuals, Society, and Culture
This standard addresses the influences, causes, and effects of cultural and social factors on human life and history. Students learn to identify themselves as members of various social and cultural groups and learn to analyze the roles of diverse groups and individuals in history.
Physical Education
The emphasis of the activities program is to develop each individual in the following areas: Social and personal responsibility, Co-operative social skills, listening to and following directions, Movement concepts, Co-ordination skills, Manipulative skills.
Islamic Studies
Islamic studies are taught in Arabic and give progressively more details to the following subject: Tawheed- Fundamental monotheisms.
Qur’an-Proper reading& comprehension (Tafseer).
Arabic
Extensive emphasis is placed on speaking and writing. Students will continue to work on fluency with all grammatical structures.
French
The major aims are to develop a feel for the joy of learning a new language. Students will be prepared for the DELF test based on the student’s abilities and evaluation
Middle & High School
Middle School
AIS mission is to educate students and guarantee the finest American education while keeping the values and the traditions of our own culture.
Whilst studying in AIS Middle School, students and parents should be aware that the goal of this important stage is to develop the basic skills and the capacity for critical thinking and creativity. At Arab International Schools we aim to promote the students to be dynamic and well-rounded learners along with developing the passion toward lifelong learning. We strive to build character and a sense of responsibility in an ever-changing world, which will later help them continue their goals successfully and confidently.
The school is fully equipped to give our students all the tools required to succeed in an increasingly integrated and challenging world. We equip and provide the students with the skills they require to solve problems of their future confidently. We prepare the students to be successful in their future careers with critical thinking skills with a working knowledge of technology. We prepare the students to be well rounded, honorable, and responsible human beings. Thus, these citizens will value their abilities and will act and interact positively in society.
Our Middle School is comprised of Grades 6 to 8, with individual teachers for all subjects, forming an interdisciplinary team that collaborates in the planning and implementing of curriculum programs. The core subjects, namely Language Arts, Mathematics, Social Studies, Science, Arabic, Islamic Studies, ICT, Saudi History, English and Physical Education are complimented with Fine Art and Library classes. French & Public Speaking are optional.
High School
At AIS the focus of the High School is to teach the students to be dynamic and thoughtful problem solvers, to prepare them for college or university studies, and to develop honest, compassionate, and caring citizens of the 21st century international community. Here at AIS, we believe that you should strive to take the highest-level course that will allow you to be a successful citizen. Commitment and challenging work will help you throughout building your future career.
At this stage, we require you to be thoughtful and to keep in mind the following:
- What career aspirations do I have?
- What does my dream job look like?
- Which post-secondary options are open to me?
- What are my interests and skills now?
- Is it possible that I may attend a school outside KSA?
- What are the admission requirements for the schools I might attend?
- How does this influence what I need while here at AIS?
- Am I aware of the graduation requirements here at AIS, and am I taking the courses that will allow me to graduate and enter the post-secondary school of my choice?
Arab International School offers the American curriculum. At AIS Students are oriented throughout grade eight on the American curriculum so they can perform well in their future endevors. The curriculum is broadly based, drawing from the courses and best practices of American and International education.
AIS students are expected to study English, Arabic, Saudi History, Math, Science, and Social Studies throughout their High School. In addition to Art, Public Speaking and ICT, as well as physical Education.
Our students go beyond textbooks to study complex topics based on real-world issues, such as Islamic History, and Effects of Chemicals on animals, along with many more subjects. Our students also study analyzing information from multiple sources, including the Internet and interviews with experts. Project-based class work is more demanding than traditional book-based instruction, where students may just memorize facts from a sole source. Instead, students utilize original documents and data, mastering principles covered in traditional courses but learning them in more meaningful ways. Projects can last weeks; multiple projects can cover entire courses. Student work is presented to audiences beyond the teacher, including parents and community groups.
At Arab International School we have been distinguished by not only educating students in various academic subjects, but also in enriching their knowledge with our Religion, Islam and our Saudi ethics.
The High School Curriculum provides a rigorous academic program for students in Grades 9-12. The curriculum is based upon the principles and practices of American education, TOEFL and the SAT requirements.
Science
This course is designed to cover the following materials Life Science, Physical Science, Earth Science (Cells, genetics, plants, ecosystem, atoms, elements, compounds, matter, force, motion mechanics and work.
Math
This course covers different branches of mathematics as a set of tools for solving problems; to think, reason, and communicate using mathematics; Number sense and operations.
English
The course introduces students to a wide variety of literature and literary skills. In addition, students will to identify types of sentences, nouns, verbs, adjectives, pronouns, and adverbs; and apply in writing what they learn in Grammar. Writing will include Personal Narrative, Explanatory, Expository, and Persuasive Writing.
Pre SAT & GAT
Grade 9 students will have Introduction to SAT (Scholastic Aptitude Test) which prepares the students for the American Diploma -SAT is a standardized test for university admissions. Grade 11 & 12 Students will sit preparatory GAT classes.
Social Studies
Our program provides opportunities for investigation and appreciation of the local Arab environment, as well as cultural heritages.
French
The major aims for grades 5 and 6 are to develop a feel for the joy of learning a new language. Students will be prepared for the DELF test based on the student’s abilities and evaluation.
Physical Education
The emphasis of the activities program is to develop each individual in the following areas: Social and personal responsibility, Co-operative social skills, listening to and following directions, Movement concepts, Co-ordination skills, Manipulative skills,
Art
The art program is based on the basic elements of design – line, color, value, texture, shape and form (perspective). The design elements serve as an organizational scheme throughout the elementary art experience.
Islamic Studies
Islamic studies are taught in Arabic and give progressively more details to the following subject: Tawheed- Fundamental monotheisms.
Qur’an-Proper reading & comprehension (Tafseer).
Arabic
Extensive emphasis is placed on speaking and writing. Students will continue to work on fluency with all grammatical structures.
Extra Academic Programs & Clubs
Extra Academic Programs
At A.I.S we encourage our students to gain new skills and discover new interests. Clubs are held at school during lunch and after school and offer an opportunity to push boundaries and explore activities outside of the classroom. They also allow students across different year groups to work together as a team. We offer a wide range of activities to ensure that there is something of interest to everyone.
Clubs are reviewed on a timely basis, and the requests and interests are taken into consideration when planning the extracurricular timetable.
