KINDERGARTEN
Kindergarten classes emphasize the development of motor, art, social, language, and basic math, computer, and science skills by engaging students in fun, interactive, and fast-paced learning activities. KG students learn to recognize and print letters of the alphabet, use the basic phonetic principles of identifying and writing beginning sounds, identify story elements, and communicate ideas through pictures and writing. Students quickly learn to communicate in English and are soon able to express themselves fluently by the end of KGII.
ENGLISH LANGUAGE CURRICULUM (Grades 1-8)
The general goals of the English curriculum at NAIS are to foster language skills—including writing, reading, speaking skills, and critical thinking skills—in the areas of grammar, analysis, problem solving, self-expression, and comprehension.
Grade One
Reading is the priority in first grade. Students are immersed in a print-rich environment to facilitate development of oral language skills, vocabulary, reading comprehension, and the awareness of print materials as sources of information and enjoyment. They use listening and speaking skills to participate in classroom discussions, use a variety of strategies to read new words, and develop an understanding of character, setting, main idea, and story sequence through examining a variety of texts. They increase vocabulary and comprehension strategies by reading age-appropriate materials across the curriculum. Students begin to communicate ideas in writing and become independent readers by the end of the year.
Grade Two
Reading continues to be the highest priority in second grade. Students participate in classroom discussions, utilize a combination of reading and comprehension strategies, and further increase vocabulary. They identify main ideas, make and confirm predictions, and write stories, letters, and simple explanations. Simple grammatical principles are applied to writing, and information is located using reference materials. By the end of the year, students will read with fluency and expression.
Grade Three
The emphasis in third grade is on learning about words, reading with fluency and expression, and developing comprehension strategies. Effective communication skills will be practiced through the use of group activities and brief oral reports. Students will plan, draft, revise, and edit stories, simple explanations, and short reports. In addition, information from print and non-print sources will be used and gathered. The student will write legibly in cursive by the end of the year.
Grade Four
Previously developed reading and writing skills provide, in fourth grade, the foundation for an increased emphasis on content throughout the curriculum. Students use text organizers, summarize information, formulate questions, and draw conclusions to demonstrate reading comprehension. They read classic and contemporary literature selections by a variety of authors, continue to increase communication skills in large-and small-group settings, and plan, draft, revise, and edit narratives and explanations. Information resources and word references will be used routinely while writing.
Grade Five
In fifth grade, students will read texts in all subjects and will acquire information enabling them to answer questions, generate hypotheses, make inferences, support opinions, confirm predictions, compare and contrast relationships, and formulate conclusions. Literary appreciation will continue. Presentations will be prepared utilizing online, print, and media resources to prepare presentations to enhance communications and learning skills. Students will plan, draft, revise, and edit writings to describe, to entertain, and to explain.
Grade Six
The student will be an active participant in classroom discussions, will present personal opinions, understand different viewpoints, distinguish between fact and opinion, and analyze the effectiveness of group communication. Word origins will be studied and vocabulary development will continue. A variety of fiction and nonfiction works, including a significant number of classic works, will be read for appreciation and comprehension. Students will plan, draft, revise, and edit narratives, descriptions, and explanations with attention to composition and style as well as sentence formation, usage, and mechanics. They will demonstrate correct use of language, spelling. Reading and writing will be used as tools for learning academic concepts, and available technology will be used as appropriate.
Grade Seven
Oral communication skills will be developed further and the effects of verbal and nonverbal behaviors will be studied. Seventh grade students will continue to read a wide variety of fiction, nonfiction, and poetry while becoming more independent and analytical. Written composition skills—with special emphasis on word choice, organization, style, and grammar—will be increased. Written explanations utilizing informational writing and persuasive writing will be introduced. Students will study figurative language, vocabulary, and roots and affixes. The study of the impact of media on public opinion will be introduced. Proficiency in the use of print and electronic information resources will increase and students will learn how to reference sources. Correct use of language, spelling, and mechanics by applying grammatical conventions in writing and speaking will be demonstrated.
Grade Eight
Students learn and apply interviewing techniques, demonstrate correct use of language, spelling, and mechanics by applying grammatical conventions in writing and speaking, and plan, draft, revise, and edit writing, with emphasis on exposition and persuasion. Reading and writing skills are applied in all subjects and literature is responded to critically. Vocabulary development continues with special attention paid to connotations and figurative language as the student continues to develop an appreciation for literature through studying a wide variety of selections. Themes and main ideas will be inferred and cause and effect relationships will be interpreted. Students will become skillful interpreters of the persuasive strategies used in print and mass media.
Essay writing is added to grade 7-10 English this year.
HIGH SCHOOL ENGLISH CURRICULUM (Grades 9-12)
Grade 9: Language and Literature
In ninth grade English emphasis is placed on building vocabulary, exploring the writing process, and improving reading comprehension and written communication skills. Students will be exposed to a variety of literature genres and writing styles both classical and contemporary and will develop writing and analysis skills through practical daily activities. Reading, writing, and grammatical assignments along with team projects are frequent features of ninth grade English and should be expected by all students.
Grade 10: Language and Literature
Communication skills continue to be refined through writing, oral presentations, and practical daily activities. Special emphasis will be given to the writing process, including creative, expressive, and formal writing with particular concentration on the persuasive essay. A variety of literature genres and writing styles with a wide range of literary emphases will be studied. The student can expect frequent reading, writing, and grammatical assignments and plenty of team project work. In addition, SAT Preparation classes are given regularly in grades 10 and 11 to help students prepare for this vital test.
Grade 11: Language and American Literature
Using American Literature as a springboard, students will explore various authors, genres, and styles of both poetry and prose. The course is designed to develop the student’s analytical, comprehension, and analysis skills at a deeper level. While grammar is incorporated as part of the whole language process, greater emphasis will be given to writing, analysis, and communication skills. Students should expect frequent and comprehensive writing and analysis assignments along with team project work.
Grade 12: Language and British Literature
By exploring the various authors, genres, and styles of British writers of poetry and prose, students will further develop their analytical, comprehension, and analysis skills on an even deeper level. While grammar is incorporated as part of the whole language process, greater emphasis will be given to writing, analysis, and communication. Students should expect frequent and comprehensive writing and analysis assignments along with team project work.
SCIENCE CURRICULUM
The general goals of the NAIS Science curriculum are to give students an understanding of the nature and methods of science and to develop conceptual and practical skills in the context of student involvement in scientific activity. Students will develop their ability to analyze scientific information critically, apply knowledge and skills in order to generate new knowledge, communicate scientific ideas and their awareness of the impact of science on society, thus helping prepare them for life in the age of 21st century technology.
Grade 1
Students will begin to learn about and investigate the things around them by observing and identifying Living & Nonliving things. They will acquire basic facts about Plants and Animals, the Earth’s Land, Air and Water, the Seasons. They will investigate matter and examine Forces as Pushes & Pulls, and Magnets.
Grade 2
Students will identify changes occurring during the growth process for plants, animals, and humans. They will learn about the sun, moon, stars, and weather. Students will also learn to identify changes in matter, forces and motion, and sound.
Grade 3
Students in third grade compare different types of animals, observe how plants grow, identify differences between rocks, minerals, fossils, and soils, investigate properties and changes in matter, and study heat and light.
Grade 4
In fourth grade, students focus on classifying living things, analyzing animal and plant growth and adaptations, examining human body systems, physical properties of matter, and heat, energy, and electricity and magnetism.
Grade 5
Fifth graders trace the structure of living organisms from single cell to body systems. In addition, students explore animal growth and reproduction, plants and their adaptations, and plant processes. They also focus on matter and its properties, atoms and elements, and forms of energy.
Grade 6
Students investigate plants and plant processes, sound and light, atoms, and elements and compounds. Students delve deeper into properties and changes in matter, forces and motion, and machines and work.
Grade 7
Seventh graders continue to focus on Cells, Heredity and Classification, Invertebrates and Vertebrates, Matter and its Properties, Periodicity, and Electricity and Magnetism.
Grade 8
In eighth grade, students explore the types of Plants and Plant Processes, Bacteria and Viruses, Protists and Fungi. Students investigate Interactions of Matter and Chemical Equations, Waves, and Sound & Light.
Grade 9
Grade 9 science develops a solid base for High School science in Biology, Chemistry and Physics. Investigative approach is applied in science learning at this stage. The G9 syllabus covers Classification of Living Organisms, Plant Processes, Bacteria and Viruses, Protists and Fungi, Interactions of Matter Chemical Equations Ionic and Covalent Compounds, and Energy and Heat.
Grade 10 Biology
The Biology class is designed to prepare students for the SAT II test. The syllabus covers molecular biology, cell structure and functions, genetics and heredity, diversity of life, and interactions of ecosystems.
Grade 11 Chemistry
The Chemistry class is structured to prepare students for the SAT II test. The class reviews gas laws and KM theory, solutions, acids and bases reactions, oxidation reduction, stoichiometry, equilibrium and rates of reactions, thermodynamics, and inorganic and organic compounds.
Grade 12 Physics
A high school course in physics is structured to fulfill the general goals as well as prepare students for the SAT II test in Physics. The syllabus covers Motion in one and two dimensions, Forces and Motion, Work and Energy, Momentum and Collisions, Circular Motion and Gravity, Vibrations and Waves, Sound and Light, Electrostatics, and Electric Circuits and Electromagnetism.
MATH
Grades 1-6
Mathematics is fundamental to student’s education. This program offers a fun and interactive introduction to basic concepts in Math. With the use of hands on activities, group work and stimulation, the students learn by experimentation, creating a great understanding of the concepts.
Grades 7 and 8
The syllabus is set up to build all basic skills in arithmetic, geometry, and basic statistics. It also enforces all the needed algebra concepts and paves the way to Algebra 1 & 2 through a smooth introduction of Pre-Algebra in Grade 8.
Grades 9 and 10
The syllabus combines Algebra and Geometry. In Grade 9, Algebra 1 is introduced, and it helps in solving numerical problems in geometry which are often used in SAT Math. In Grade 10, the course syllabus includes Geometry, and Algebra 2 introduction is given as a warm up. In Grade 10, SAT Test Prep Classes are offered, up to grade 12.
Grade 11
Pre-calculus mathematics is taught to all students. It is a combination of Algebra II, Coordinate Geometry, Trigonometry, and some math applications. Pre-calculus gives more in depth math to our students which helps most of our students pass SAT I by the end of Grade 11 with, in several cases, outstanding scores.
Grade 12
Calculus is taught to all of grade 12 students. It includes differentiation & integration and some of its applications in life. This helps students who are focusing on the engineering and science fields for entrance into the Egyptian universities and the students who are going to any college in the German University. In addition to Calculus, the classes in the science track will study Mechanics as part of their math.
STATISTICS
Statistics is taught as a separate subject in grade 12 which gives an introduction to statistics. Students who are going to study business or accounting at the university level benefit the most.
SOCIAL STUDIES
Grade 4: Introduction to Geography
This course takes the student on a tour across America while incorporating basic geography skills into the adventure. From coast to coast, kids will enjoy learning about the diversity of the United States while developing map reading skills and geographic vocabulary.
Grade 5: History of Cairo
This course offers the younger learner with a basic understanding of the complexity of our city’s ancient history. A special emphasis will be placed on the cultural and geographic components as well as Cairo’s significant role in the region as the crossroads of three continents.
Grade 6: Ancient Egyptian History
This course will help uncover the fascinating history of our country while maintaining a special focus on understanding the geography of Egypt.
Grade 7: World History (Ancient)
This course will take the student through the economic, political and social events, and trends from ancient times to the sixteenth century.
Grade 8: World History (Modern)
This course will serve to continue the students’ exploration of the significant events and trends of the modern world beginning with the sixteenth century and proceeding to the present time.
Grade 9: World Geography
This course examines the relationship between people and place by exploring each of the inhabited continents using a specific country to highlight regional characteristics. Special emphasis will be placed on map literacy: interpreting and designing maps that show a variety of information.
Grade 10: Modern European History
This course focuses on the eventful history of our neighbors to the north. Beginning with Feudalism, the students will examine the economic, social, and governmental changes through the cold war era.
Grade 11: United States History
This course is designed to help students have an understanding of the principles on which the United States was founded. Students study important events, influential people, significant documents and geography from the time of prehistoric Native Americans through to present-day. Primary topics will include: European exploration and colonization, American Revolution, Civil War, Westward Expansion, World War II era, Cold War, Vietnam era, and post-Cold War era. A special emphasis will be placed on interpreting and designing historical thematic maps.
the course is aiming at giving the students an overview of the business field and what to expect if that will be their choice in college.
Grade 11: Economics
This course is designed to introduce the principles of production, distribution, exchange, and consumption of goods and services in a free market economy. It is intended to prepare students with understanding of economic choice as it applies to business, investment, management and our global economy.
Grade 11: Business Administration (Elective)
By the end of the year, students should know the difference between working in the top management, Human Resources, accounting or marketing departments. Students can then take an informed decision regarding what they want to do in life. The course starts by explaining what is a business organization, types of business activities and major departments in a business then further covers marketing. Marketing now is one of the strongest tools any business activity depends on.
Grade 12: Modern Egyptian History
This course will center on the history and geography of the region with a primary emphasis on Egypt from the Ottoman Empire through present-day. Special attention will be paid to the cultural components and governmental changes throughout our complex history.
Grade 12: Psychology (Elective)
This is an introductory course into the field of psychology designed for the college bound student who might be taking psychology or for students who have an interest in the area. The course will briefly touch various topics to give students a feel for the different areas of psychology. Topics to be covered include personality theory, psychological disorders, human development, emotion, motivation, thinking and problem solving.
ARABIC LANGUAGE CURRICULUM AT NAIS
Since we believe in striking a balance between the Egyptian and American culture, it is one of our school objectives to teach high quality Arabic, Religion, and Civics. Teaching Arabic starts from KG 2 to grade 12. Our approach is a very modern one in teaching the Arabic Language. Students use multimedia and videos, and all available teaching aids. Our students are also encouraged to do research in Arabic as much as they do in English and all other subjects.
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