Lower School | Lower School Doha

The Primary Years Programme (PYP) is a way of learning that helps us understand the world, work together, and solve real-life problems. Instead of just learning facts, the PYP focuses on asking questions, exploring ideas, and making connections between subjects.

At ACS International School Doha, through the IB framework, we work to educate the whole child. The Learner Profile Attributes, Approaches to Learning, and Specified Concepts support the development of lifelong learners who advocate for themselves and take action!

The PYP is built around six big ideas called transdisciplinary themes that help us explore important topics. These themes are:

Who We Are: Learning about ourselves, our families, and the communities we belong to.
Where We Are in Place and Time: Exploring history, geography, and our place in the world.
How We Express Ourselves: Understanding how we share ideas, feelings, and creativity.
How the World Works: Investigating science, technology, and how things around us operate.
How We Organize Ourselves: Learning about systems, rules, and how people work together.
Sharing the Planet: Thinking about the environment, animals, and how we live together responsibly.

Through inquiry-base, transdiciplinary learning, learners develop transferable skills that support their conceptual understanding. This learning is supported by specialist classes that are taught within the context of grade level units of inquiry.

Specialist classes are an important part of our PYP learning! They help make connections between different areas and allow our learners to explore creativity, physical well-being, and cultural understanding.

Visual Arts

Visual Arts at ACS is a powerful way for learners to express themselves, explore their creativity, and make sense of the world around them. Through painting, drawing, sculpture, photography, and mixed media, learners engage in meaningful inquiry while developing skills that extend across disciplines and connect to global and personal contexts.

Visual Arts encourage learners to:

Express Ideas and Feelings: Learners explore ways to visually communicate thoughts, emotions, and perspectives.
Develop Critical Thinking: By analyzing art, learners gain the ability to interpret and evaluate ideas.
Foster Creativity: Visual Arts nurture innovation and imagination in problem-solving.
Appreciate Cultures: Learners learn about art from diverse cultures, enhancing intercultural understanding and respect.

In Visual Arts, learners take ownership of their creative processes by making choices about materials, techniques, and themes. They reflect on their work and decide how best to communicate their ideas.

PSPE (Personal, Social, and Physical Education)

Personal, Social, and Physical Education (PSPE) at ACS focuses on developing the whole learner—mind, body, and relationships. It empowers learners to understand themselves, build strong connections with others, and maintain physical and emotional well-being. PSPE is not just about sports or fitness; it’s about helping learners grow into balanced and confident individuals ready to engage with the world. PSPE is taught both by specialized practioners as well as the homeroom teacher.

PSPE supports the PYP’s holistic approach to learning by helping learners:

Understand Themselves: Explore their emotions, strengths, and areas for growth.
Build Positive Relationships: Learn how to communicate, collaborate, and resolve conflicts.
Stay Physically Active: Develop motor skills, coordination, and a love for movement.
Make Healthy Choices: Understand how to take care of their bodies and minds.

PSPE helps learners develop the skills and attitudes they need to thrive both inside and outside the classroom. By focusing on their personal, social, and physical growth, PSPE prepares learners to navigate challenges, build meaningful relationships, and lead healthy, active lives.
In the PYP, PSPE is about more than fitness—it’s about creating a foundation for lifelong well-being and helping learners become the best versions of themselves.

World Languages (e.g., Spanish, French, Native Arabic, Non-Native Arabic)

World Languages at ACS provide learners with the opportunity to develop language skills while fostering cultural understanding, global-mindedness, and effective communication. Language learning is central to the PYP, as it supports learners in exploring diverse perspectives and building meaningful connections with others.

At our school, we offer French, Spanish, Non-Native Arabic, and Native Arabic, creating a rich language program that respects and celebrates cultural diversity while developing linguistic skills.

French and Spanish

Learners explore vocabulary, grammar, and conversational skills to build a strong foundation in these widely spoken global languages.
They engage in projects that highlight the cultural richness of French and Spanish-speaking countries.

Non-Native Arabic

For learners who are new to Arabic, this program focuses on basic communication skills, such as speaking, reading, and writing.
It introduces learners to Arabic culture, traditions, and history, fostering a sense of connection to the region.

Native Arabic

Native speakers deepen their understanding of the language through advanced grammar, vocabulary, and literary studies.
They explore Arabic literature, poetry, and cultural heritage to strengthen their connection to their roots.

World languages are more than just tools for communication—they are pathways to understanding the world and building meaningful relationships. Through our French, Spanish, and Arabic programs, learners grow into global citizens who value diversity, express themselves confidently, and connect with others in thoughtful and respectful ways.
Learning a new language helps learners see the world from fresh perspectives, making them active participants in our interconnected global community.

The PYP helps you:

Think deeply and ask big questions.
Work with others and learn from different perspectives.
Take action to make the world a better place.
Be curious, creative, and confident learners for life.

The PYP is all about helping you grow as a thinker, communicator, and global citizen. Your learning journey is exciting, and every subject—whether it’s Performing Arts, Visual Arts, PSPE, or World Languages—plays an important role in helping you explore, create, and make a difference!

The Programme Model

IBPYP Studies are based on six subject areas:

Languages
Social studies
Mathematics
Arts
Science
Personal / Social / Physical education.

Students also work and play with specialists to explore language, culture, art, music and physical education.

Our Educational Stages

Early Childhood
Lower School
Middle School
High School

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