• Junior School in Manhattan
• Junior School in Queens

UNIS strives for the highest quality learning through highly qualified classroom and specialist teachers in Library, Science, Computers, Art, Music, Physical Education, Spanish and French and English as a Second Language. Team planning coordinators for each grade level, a guidance counselor and a learning specialist are integral parts of the school program.

Subject Descriptions:

Language Arts is at the heart of children's learning. Since it is central to a child's intellectual, social and emotional development, language learning permeates our curriculum. Identified within the language arts curriculum are the four components of listening, speaking, reading and writing. Through the language program the children explore the power and beauty of literature, develop the skills to become critical listeners, readers and writers by learning to express themselves with confidence and clarity. The students use language to communicate effectively, accurately and appropriately. By learning about language through language, we nurture an appreciation of the richness of language in the belief that learning to communicate effectively is the key to future success in a growing global community. The varied backgrounds represented by the children themselves insure that each child receives a rich and diverse language learning experience.

Mathematics in the Junior School is part of the children's study of the real world around them. Teachers capitalize on a variety of strategies and utilize technology to enable the children to become mathematically literate. At each level students gain essential understanding and see relationships in the mathematical areas which represent the main strands of the curriculum: algebra, geometry, logic, measurement, numbers, patterns and functions, operations and relations, exploring data and graphing. At every grade level special emphasis is placed on problem-solving activities and their applications so that students will develop confidence in thinking and communicating mathematical ideas effectively.

Social Studies encompasses the five strands of History, Geography, Social Sciences, Host Country and United Nations. The curriculum reflects an international dimension and a global perspective through a diversity of age and grade appropriate learning activities. It leads to an understanding of the individual as well as one's role in the larger communities in which one lives, from the local level to the global community. The curriculum stresses the fundamental dignity of every human being and encourages attitudes of respect for oneself and others. Our students acquire a sound basic knowledge of the social and historic achievements of the human race and how they affect our environment and existence. Maps, models and classroom projects supplement class study with guest speakers and field trips. The Social Studies curriculum utilize technology and its many resources as a tool for both global research and the recording of individual exploration and projects in multimedia form.

The Science curriculum is planned to insure that children receive balanced experiences, which develop the investigative skills and concepts that underlie scientific thinking. As they sharpen their skills through hands-on activities to investigate the world, students increase their knowledge base through problem solving that is meaningful to them. Starting in Junior A (Kindergarten), students are involved in a comprehensive activity-based science program, studying both physical and biological sciences through experimentation and observation. They consider the global implications of the technological applications of science by developing their scientific skills such as observing, predicting, recording and reporting their findings. Scientific investigation in the modern lab is an integral part of the program.

French, Spanish or English is required as a second language beginning in Junior A. French and Spanish are also offered as mother tongue languages. (French mother tongue classes are accredited by the French government from J2 to M1).

In the French and Spanish Second Language programs, the approach emphasizes the acquisition of oral skills in the early grades. Reading and writing are introduced in J3. In the Francophone and Spanophone programs, the curriculum is designed to allow native speaking students to receive instruction similar to that provided in their home country. All classes are taught by native speakers, using diverse strategies (games, songs, drama), in various multimedia modes (computer films, video and audio tapes, and books).

English as a Second Language (ESL) is provided for students who join UNIS with limited English proficiency. ESL students are part of a regular homeroom with others of their age. They take part, from the beginning, in as many lessons as possible. At the same time they have regular, usually daily, lessons in English as a second language.

The main focus of the Academic Computing and Information Technology curriculum is to integrate technology to support teaching and learning. The goal of the technology curriculum at UNIS is to teach children real world applications through the creation of curriculum-integrated projects. Collaboration between the computer teacher and the classroom teacher in the design of the projects and the optimum use of hardware and software to create interdisciplinary projects serves to enhance student learning.

UNIS' Art program aims to give students a chance to explore a range of different media and materials, so that fundamental familiarity and skills may be built while encouraging self-expression. Art classes inspire students to see the connections in all the arts and instill in them a fundamental love of art by introducing a variety of artistic genre and methods.

The Music curriculum fosters the children's enjoyment and understanding of music. The program develops in children those skills necessary to read, write and perform music with an understanding of its form and content and with knowledge of music in a social, historical and cultural context. The music curriculum encourages students to open themselves to musical beauty and introduces children to the world's rich musical heritages.

The Physical Education program encourages children to explore space and motion, skipping and dancing - the universal activities of children all over the globe. Junior School students use a variety of equipment, such as balls, ropes and climbing apparatus. Both cooperative and competitive games are introduced, along with the important concept of winning, losing, and good sportsmanship. The program incorporates basic exercise skills, simple physical games, cooperative play, and team participation.

In the Library, children learn to celebrate the beauty of language and story in all of the different literary traditions and to negotiate their way through a systematized library system. The Junior School Library/Media Center provides a wide range of books and other media resources, at all levels of interest and difficulty. The collection presents differing points of view and offers a multi-cultural and multi-lingual outlook to support the curriculum, meet classroom needs, and encourage recreational reading.

The school coordinates Community Service opportunities for all students. All classes involve themselves in different service activities that vary from year to year.