International Primary Curriculum
At VIS we use the curriculum from the International Curriculum Association combined with the Danish and English National Curriculums along with a strong emphasis on STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, and Mathematics) to create an environment that is child centered, interest-based and rich in learning opportunities.
The core curriculum is based on the most up to date research on how children learn best. It focuses on challenging units of work that explore learning goals covering knowledge, skills, and understanding at every year level. Since we know that all children develop and learn at different rates, it assesses through rubrics to give children, teachers, and families a clearer understanding of where each learner is on their learning journey and what their next goals will be.
Danish Program
We use the Fælles Mål (National Curriculum) to determine our learning and assessment. By using both the National Curriculum and our International Curriculum we are able to meet and exceed all requirements for children’s education in Denmark.
Our Danish courses follow the Fælles Mål, use Danish teaching materials, and Danish pedagogical approaches. Choosing to come to our school allows the unique experience of applying Danish ideals of democracy, critical thinking, and student independence in an international environment that is still integrated into Danish society.
In Danish as an Additional Language (Dansk som andetsprog) courses we combine the National Curriculum with research based standards for language acquisition. We believe that all children in Denmark, both native and non-native, should be able to join extra-curricular clubs, Scouts, and feel that they can communicate and access all that Denmark has to offer.
Music and Art occur in Danish as much as possible depending on learners’ current language abilities. This allows both new to Danish students and Danish fluent students to interact in hands-on ways with the language of our host country.
STEM
Innovative Integrated STEM Education: Inspiring Critical Thinking and Creativity
Our Integrated STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) program empowers learners to tackle open-ended, real-world problems. This hands-on approach fosters an environment where students can experiment, make mistakes, take things apart, and learn through play and discovery.
For younger learners, we provide a Maker Space and age-appropriate, hands-on activities. These experiences teach foundational skills such as asking questions, making predictions, communicating observations, and analyzing outcomes.
STEM Integration Across the Curriculum
We embed STEM problem-solving into our Units of Work, ensuring students actively participate in the learning process. Our inclusive culture encourages collaboration, where learners and teachers celebrate both successes and failures, respect diverse perspectives, and recognize how multicultural worldviews enrich our understanding of the interconnected natural world.
Commitment to Excellence and Global Collaboration
To stay at the forefront of STEM education, our staff receives ongoing training in the latest STEM developments. We also foster global partnerships with schools and organizations worldwide, including collaborative projects with partners in Denmark.
By integrating STEM into every aspect of learning, we prepare students to think critically, innovate creatively, and approach challenges with confidence and curiosity.
Comprehensive Coding and STEM Education for All Year Groups
Every year group engages in dedicated coding units where students learn to communicate using technological languages. This foundational knowledge serves as a stepping stone, enabling learners to tackle increasingly complex problems through our integrated STEM curriculum.
Exciting Extracurricular STEM Clubs for Every Age Group
Beyond the classroom, we offer a variety of extracurricular STEM clubs designed to inspire creativity and innovation. These clubs provide opportunities for students of all ages to participate in hands-on, project-based challenges in an engaging and exploratory environment. Exact offers change by semester.
Our SFO STEM Clubs are thoughtfully tailored by age group:
- IC 1-2: Playing with STEM – Young learners engage in playful, small-scale experiments that ignite curiosity.
- IC 3-4: Storybook STEM – Students explore STEM concepts through traditional tales. For example, they might design and build a catapult to help Little Red Riding Hood safely deliver cookies to Grandma.
- IC 5: Space STEM – Older students dive into exciting space-related projects curated in collaboration with NASA, fostering an understanding of science beyond our world.
By combining integrated STEM learning with age-specific extracurricular opportunities, we empower students to think critically, solve real-world problems, and develop a passion for STEM from an early age.