Primary School curriculum at Miras International School.

4

Languages Taught

6

Transdisciplinary Themes

3–11

Student Age

PYP

IB Authorized

Programme structure

At Miras International School Almaty, the International Baccalaureate Primary Years Programme (PYP) is implemented for children aged 3 to 11, from Early Years through Grade 4. The PYP is an internationally recognized framework designed to nurture curious, confident, and compassionate learners through inquiry-based and student-centered learning.

At the heart of the PYP is the belief that children learn best when they are actively engaged in meaningful experiences. Through inquiry-led learning, students ask questions, explore ideas, make connections, and reflect on their understanding. Rather than focusing on memorization, the programme encourages children to develop conceptual understanding, critical thinking, creativity, and independence.

At Miras International School Almaty, we deliver an integrated curriculum that combines the international standards of the IB Primary Years Programme with the educational requirements of the Republic of Kazakhstan. Students benefit from a globally minded education while maintaining strong connections to local culture, language, and identity.

The PYP is delivered through multilingual learning environments and includes the following stages:

Early years (ages 3–6)

Early years: preschool and kindergarten

Preschool (Ages 3–5)

In the Early Years, children learn through play, exploration, and guided inquiry, building strong foundations in communication, social development, creativity, and early literacy and numeracy skills.

Available language streams:

Russian / English
Kazakh / English

Kindergarten (Ages 5–6)

In Kindergarten, students deepen their inquiry and strengthen foundational academic skills while continuing to learn through meaningful and engaging experiences.

Available language streams:

English
Russian
Kazakh

Grades 1–4

Primary school (grades 1–4)

In Primary School, students engage in six units of inquiry that connect learning across subject areas and real-world contexts. The programme develops strong academic foundations while fostering communication, collaboration, and international mindedness.

Available teaching streams:

English
Russian
Kazakh

From Grade 4, students begin learning French as an additional language, further strengthening multilingual and intercultural understanding.

The PYP emphasizes the development of the IB Learner Profile, encouraging students to become inquirers, thinkers, communicators, principled, caring, reflective, and open-minded individuals. Students also develop essential Approaches to Learning (ATL) skills, including communication, research, thinking, self-management, and social skills that support success both in school and beyond.

Learning at Miras extends beyond the classroom through educational trips, extracurricular activities, service opportunities, and enrichment programmes, including the Chess Programme for Grades 1–4, which develops strategic thinking, concentration, and problem-solving skills.

Through the PYP, Miras students develop the knowledge, skills, and mindset necessary to succeed in the Middle Years Programme (MYP) and become active, lifelong learners prepared for an interconnected world.

Who we are

An inquiry into identity, beliefs and values, personal, physical, mental, social, and spiritual well-being, human relationships (families, friends, communities, and cultures), and what it means to be human.

How we express ourselves

An inquiry into the ways we discover and express our ideas, feelings, beliefs, and values through language and the arts.

How we organize ourselves

An inquiry into human systems and communities, the structure and function of organisations, societal decision-making, economic activity, and their impact on humanity and the environment.

Where we are in place and time

An inquiry into orientation in place and time, personal histories, homes and journeys, the discoveries, explorations, and migrations of humankind, and the contributions of individuals and civilizations.

How the world works

An inquiry into the natural and physical world, scientific and technological developments, and natural and human-made phenomena.

Sharing the planet

An inquiry into rights and responsibilities in the use of finite resources, relationships with other people and living things, access to equal opportunities, and conflict resolution.

Educational areas

The learning activities of students are planned in the following educational areas.

Languages

Early Years (Ages 3–6)

Represented by Kazakh, English and Russian — focused on early development of language competence and communication skills. Includes development of speech, fiction, fundamentals of literacy and drama.

Grades 1–4

Represented by Kazakh, English, Russian and French — focused on early development of language competence and communication skills. Daily English classes enable a sufficient language base for transition to English-medium instruction.

Mathematics

Formation of elementary mathematical representations, development of sensorics, constructing, and integration of the STEAM approach within the educational programme.

Social Studies

Formation of ideas on diversity of cultural and historical specifics of different social groups; acquaintance with customs and traditions of the Kazakh people and peoples living in Kazakhstan.

Science

Acquaintance with natural phenomena and features of animate and inanimate nature through organised search-and-cognitive activity. Embraces initial fundamentals of Chemistry, Physics, and Biology.

Art & Technology

Represented by Music, Choreography, Visual Art, and DL — formation of creative skills and aesthetic perception of the world. Digital Learning is provided from Grade 1.

Physical, Social and Personal Education

Includes Physical Education and Self-cognition, implemented through all types of organised curricular and extracurricular activities. Aimed at formation of value-based qualities and general educational abilities.

Skills for lifelong learning

The PYP emphasizes the development of the IB Learner Profile, encouraging students to become inquirers, thinkers, communicators, principled, caring, reflective, and open-minded individuals. Students also develop essential Approaches to Learning (ATL) skills, including communication, research, thinking, self-management, and social skills that support success both in school and beyond.

Communication Skills

Exchanging information — listening, interpreting and speaking. Literacy — reading, writing and using language to gather and communicate information. DL — communicating using technology.

Social Skills

Interpersonal relationships, social and emotional intelligence. Developing positive interpersonal relationships and collaboration.

Thinking Skills

Critical, creative, transfer and metacognitive thinking abilities.

Critical thinking — analysing and evaluating issues and ideas, making decisions.
Creative thinking — generating novel ideas and considering new perspectives.
Information transfer — using skills and knowledge in multiple contexts.
Reflection and metacognition — thinking about the process of learning.

Research Skills

Information and media literacy with ethical use of information.

Information literacy — formulating, planning, gathering, recording, synthesizing, interpreting.
Media literacy — interacting with media to use and create ideas.
Ethical use of media — understanding and applying social and ethical technology.

Self-Management Skills

Organizational abilities and strategies for managing state of mind.

Organization — managing time and tasks effectively.
States of mind — using strategies that manage state of mind.

Culminating Event

The PYP Exhibition

The culmination and final stage of education in Primary School is an exhibition of individual and group projects, during which students demonstrate personal knowledge, abilities and skills acquired across all academic subjects — actively embodying the IB Learner Profile attributes.