Since 2007 GEMS American Academy – Abu Dhabi has been helping students reach their full potential. The school has been successful in this by cultivating learning engagement inside and outside classrooms, providing innovative educational and extra-curricular activities, and giving students access to digital technologies that help them maximize their learning experiences.
As a leading American curriculum school in Abu Dhabi, the school takes pride in its world-class facilities and highly qualified teachers to support the development of every student. All learners are also given support systems to ensure they manage and overcome the challenges they face.
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The school’s well-researched and thought-out curriculum ensures all students receive the highest standard of education at every level.
The School Curriculum
GEMS American Academy – Abu Dhabi offers a blend of American (US) and International Baccalaureate (IB) programmes. This combination provides students with opportunities to graduate with US and IB diplomas.
Throughout the students’ stay in school, they learn various methods and techniques that help them understand, analyze and solve problems. They are also taught how to communicate their findings and responses clearly and confidently.
The school curriculum consists of three levels: kindergarten, elementary, and secondary school.
Kindergarten
The kindergarten program of the school accepts children three years and older to help them develop their skills and personalities in a play-based learning environment suited to their age.
This program focuses on student-led learning, where children learn at their own pace in an engaging and collaborative environment. The teaching staff ascertain each child’s capability based on the International Baccalaureate (IB) learner profile, attitudes, and concepts.
The school provides young learners with an environment that promotes exploration, innovation, individuality, creativity, respect, and fun. At a young age, the students become globally minded young citizens who can communicate and interact effectively with others.
It also has an outdoor learning area where pre-k and kindergarten students can have fun and learn at the same time. Its features and facilities include the following:
- Role play area
- Open theater
- Sandpits
- Tricycle area
- Traffic and road safety area
- Gardening space
Elementary School
The learner profile continues to be incorporated into the elementary school programme to help staff guide the students as they become internationally minded, lifelong learners.
Each grade of the curriculum is developed within a framework of the IB Primary Years Programme (PYP) transdisciplinary Units of Inquiry, which are:
- Who we are
- Where we are in place and time
- How we express ourselves
- How the world works
- How we organize ourselves
- Sharing the planet
All grades incorporate four to six units to help the children be aware of local and global issues as they broaden their knowledge in science, mathematics, social studies, language and other subjects, including performing and visual arts. All teaching teams ensure students learn in engaging ways and environments as they develop their thinking, communication, self-management, research, and social skills.
Secondary School
As previously mentioned, the secondary school curriculum follows a blend of American and IB programmes, giving learners the opportunity to graduate with two diplomas. This curriculum also ensures all students learn and thrive in a responsive, engaging, and nurturing environment.
Students in secondary school are immersed in an international learning environment grounded in the best practices of American education. Additionally, the staff work with the GAA community to ensure all pupils benefit from their individual IB learner profiles.
The program aims to address the unique needs of each student to make all their learning experiences worthwhile and rewarding. All activities are designed to help them:
- learn to take initiative
- think and act wisely
- express ideas and feelings in socially acceptable ways
- accept responsibility for their actions
- develop leadership skills
Each student’s program comprises a combination of the following courses:
- GAA Core Academic Courses
- ADEK Required Courses
- GAA Elective Courses
The core academic program helps students build their knowledge, skills and understanding of literacy, numeracy, creativity and sustainability. These subjects are supplemented by instruction in the following:
- Visual arts
- Music
- Drama
- Information technology
- World languages
- Physical education
These subject areas are taught through a variety of student-centered and inclusive courses and co-curricular and extra-curricular activities.
Students in Grades 11 and 12 may also take the International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme (IBDP) or other courses matching their interests, and academic and career goals.
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Students taking the IBDP must study the following subjects:
- Sciences
- Mathematics
- Social studies
- Art
- Native and acquired languages
Students also have opportunities to develop holistically through the Approaches to Learning domain and three core elements:
- Creativity, Action and Service (CAS)
- Theory of Knowledge (ToK)
- Extended Essay (EE)
The overall goal of the curriculum is to develop internationally minded citizens who are aware of their common humanity and shared guardianship of the planet and can create a better and more peaceful world.
