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Stress management techniques for students are essential to academic achievement and overall well-being. International students, especially, must navigate unique stresses like adjustment to new school environments, culture, learning a new language, and tighter academic pressures.

This guide explores 8 practical and effective techniques designed to empower students in their daily lives. At UNIS Hanoi, we are dedicated to students’ well-being through defined channels of support toward all-around development.

Top Stress Management Techniques for Students

Although every student experiences stress differently, there are proven stress management techniques for students that significantly reduce its impact. The following 8 strategies are practical, accessible, and consistent with our whole child programmes at UNIS Hanoi.

1. Prioritise Sleep, Nutrition, and Physical Activity

Improved sleep increases concentration, memory, and mood control. Healthy food powers the brain and body for studying, while physical training strengthens concentration, energy levels, and emotional balance.

Lack of sleep and irregular eating create a cycle of stress, making even small challenges overwhelming. Exercise, a walk, yoga, or a team sport is a tension reliever and a confidence booster.

At UNIS Hanoi, our School Health Centre provides education on sleep hygiene, balanced diets, and physical fitness. Co-curricular activities offer opportunities for sport and wellness activities where healthy lifestyles become everyday routines.

2. Practise Mindfulness, Meditation, and Grounding Techniques

Mindfulness practices such as deep breathing (including the 4-7-8 method), box breathing, or the 5-4-3-2-1 grounding exercise can immediately lower stress levels. Meditation encourages emotional regulation, while grounding restores calm during high-pressure situations.

UNIS Hanoi integrates mindfulness into everyday life. Mindful eating habits during breaks illustrate to younger students how awareness can reduce stress, while older students have formalised counselling periods with mindfulness activities and regulation of emotions skills.

3. Use Relaxation Techniques: Guided Imagery, Progressive Muscle Relaxation, Autogenic Training

Guided imagery is visualising peaceful, calm environments, such as a beach or a forest, to allow the mind to become free from anxiety.

Progressive muscle relaxation is tensing and relaxing muscle groups with consciousness of tension in body areas. Autogenic training, through repeated self-suggesting, induces a sense of warmth and calm.

At UNIS Hanoi, counsellors guide students to apply these skills on their own or through group workshops, maintaining safe spaces where they learn stress management.

4. Time Management, Planning, and Saying No

With planning, students can prevent last-minute stress and burnout. Making lists, segmenting the tasks into steps, and rank ordering of priorities keep the workload in harmony.

Saying no is also similar, taking on more commitments allows quality over quantity in school life and social life.

Specialised support from UNIS Hanoi Student Success Teams involves coaching students in organisation, study routines, and balancing school and extracurricular activities. These approaches enable students to thrive without sacrificing their well-being.

5. Social Support and Counselling

Friendships, family, and supportive adult mentors all provide encouragement and perspective.

Open communication helps students feel heard and understood, which reduces feelings of isolation. Professional counselling enables the student to problem-solve and establish positive coping strategies.

At UNIS Hanoi, our Trained Counsellors and Psychologists are part of the Student Success Teams and offer wrap-around guidance that is accessible to students both academically and emotionally to foster resilience outside of the classroom.

6. Spend Time in Nature and Outdoors

Nature settings reduce blood pressure, calm anxiety, and improve mood. Outdoor activity, whether a brief walk, gardening, or outdoor learning, is a peaceful break from computer screens and academic pressures.

At UNIS Hanoi, students benefit from a lush green campus that invites exploration and relaxation.

Outdoor classes, field trips, and expeditions promote both well-being and discovery, connecting students to the environment in ways that enhance their overall education.

7. Creative Outlets: Music, Art, Journaling

Creative activities offer a safe outlet for emotions and can help students process stress in positive ways.

Listening or playing music, for example, can be used to relax and to express. Journaling lets students process thoughts and reflect on experience, becoming clearer and more problem-solving. Art provides non-verbal ways of coping with unpleasant feelings, tending to soothe when words fall short.

These practices nurture creativity, resilience, and self-understanding.

UNIS Hanoi’s Enrichment & Extension programmes provide structured opportunities for music, visual arts, and creative writing, ensuring students have multiple avenues to explore and regulate their emotions.

8. Build Resilience and Self-Awareness

Resilience enables students to persevere through challenges, while self-awareness allows them to recognise stress signals and act accordingly. Routines, realistic goal-setting, and the ability to learn from mistakes foster resilience.

Self-awareness empowers students to identify emotional triggers, acknowledge their impact, and seek support when needed. Both qualities are essential life skills that extend into adulthood.

At UNIS Hanoi, resilience and self-awareness are embedded in the curriculum through well-being programmes, reflective activities, and personal goal-setting exercises.

Students are consistently guided to embrace setbacks as learning opportunities, strengthening their confidence and adaptability.

Why UNIS Hanoi Supports Effective Stress Management for Students

At UNIS Hanoi, we understand that academic success and emotional health are inseparable. Our well-being framework offers comprehensive, multi-layered support designed to respond to the diverse needs of our international student body.

Our provision includes:

• Comprehensive Student Support Services: Collaboration between counsellors, psychologists, and Student Success Teams ensures that both academic and emotional challenges are addressed.
• Multi-Tiered Systems of Support (MTSS): Tailored interventions provide personalised support at varying levels, ensuring each student receives what they need to succeed.
• Health and Well-being Infrastructure: Our School Health Centre, staffed by experienced nurses, delivers care and education on essential topics such as sleep, nutrition, and healthy living.
• Integrated Programmes: Mindfulness, resilience training, and emotional awareness are part of daily routines, ensuring consistency and reinforcement of good habits.
• Creative Enrichment Opportunities: Students participate in programmes that promote music, drama, and visual arts, enhancing both creative growth and emotional balance.
• Outdoor and Experiential Learning: With access to our expansive green campus, field trips, and community-based projects, students build connections to nature and to one another.

This multi-faceted approach ensures that students at UNIS Hanoi acquire practical stress management techniques and experience growth that is personal, social, and academic.

Nurturing Stronger, Healthier Students Together with UNIS Hanoi

Stress management techniques for students are essential for fostering resilience, confidence, and long-term success. At UNIS Hanoi, we are committed to nurturing an environment in which emotional well-being and academic performance are equally prioritised.

We invite families to partner with us in creating a supportive community where learners grow stronger, healthier, and more capable of handling life’s challenges. Contact us today to learn more about our wellbeing programmes and discover how your child can thrive at UNIS Hanoi.

By addressing diversity in classrooms, including differences in abilities, languages, cultures, and backgrounds, schools ensure that every child feels valued and able to succeed. For parents, understanding how inclusivity works in practice helps them make informed choices about their child’s education.

In this article, we explore what an inclusive learning environment is, why we need it, how we construct it, and how we at UNIS Hanoi embody the philosophy on a daily basis.

Definition of Inclusive Learning Environment

An inclusive learning environment is a constructively created setting where all students, regardless of their background, ability, or identity, have the same chance to learn and are encouraged to do their best.

It is not simply physical integration or sitting in the same room; it is about making genuine provision for all learners to succeed.

The main features of an inclusive learning environment include:

• Equity in teaching and assessment: ensuring no student falls behind due to how content is presented or tested.
• Universal Design for Learning (UDL): purposely designing lessons so they are available to the most students from the beginning.
• Proactive removal of barriers: identifying and addressing challenges before they hinder learning or participation.

Behind these practices are guiding values: respect, cooperation, participation, and belonging. An inclusive classroom views each child as active members of the community.

Importantly, inclusion also incorporates the belief that teachers, peers, and the broader school community share responsibility for making every child included and welcome.

Why Inclusive Learning Environments Matter

Inclusive learning environments are fair in principle and beneficial in measurable ways. These classrooms help build academic resilience, social-emotional resilience, and readiness for diverse societies.

1. Academic Benefits for All Students

Students with diverse learning needs often perform better in inclusive classrooms than in separate settings, as they have equal opportunities to engage with challenging content alongside their peers.

At the same time, classmates in inclusive settings experience neutral or positive achievement outcomes, with evidence showing improvements through greater engagement and collaboration.

UDL-based instruction, offering multiple representations of content, varied opportunities for expression, and flexible ways of engaging, has been demonstrated to enhance motivation, persistence, and problem-solving in students.

This also benefits parents as well, by ensuring that children of all backgrounds progress at a pace that reflects their potential. Parents can be confident that their child is not left behind, nor held back, but challenged and facilitated appropriately.

2. Social and Emotional Development

Beyond academics, inclusive classrooms nurture empathy, respect, and acceptance.

Everyday interaction with students from varying backgrounds socialises students further, lessens prejudice, and becomes more empathic prosocial behaviour. For instance, they learn to be effective listeners, value diversity as strength, and communicate cooperatively.

Inclusion also promotes better emotional well-being. Children feel less anxious and are more secure when they are observing themselves as being included and accepted.

For parents, this means your children are learning content and building resilience, emotional intelligence, and life skills.

3. Equity, Diversity, and Societal Preparedness

Inclusive education upholds the principle that all children can learn and are entitled to fair, age-specific education. It views differences in ability, culture, language, socio-economic background, gender, and so on.

By eliminating barriers and offering equal access, schools are directly supporting social justice.

These environments break down stereotypes and cultivate mutual respect.

In the long term, inclusive education prepares the student to perform well in multicultural and diverse communities.

For parents, this translates into confidence that your child is being equipped for a world where flexibility, respect, and inclusivity are required skills.

How to Build an Inclusive Learning Environment

Incorporating inclusivity requires careful planning, consistent culture reinforcement, and strong support systems. At UNIS Hanoi, we build an inclusive culture based on UDL, accessibility, respect, and professional growth. Below are key strategies we implement.

1. Differentiated Instruction & Universal Design (UDL)

We structure lessons on UDL principles through different means of representation, engagement, and expression.

All students are able to learn in the most helpful way to them. Teachers apply flexible grouping, multiple assessments, and scaffolded activities to address diverse students. Our Student Success Teams partner with teachers to craft personalised strategies for individual needs.

In literature units at UNIS Hanoi, some students may choose to write essays, others may produce digital storytelling projects, and still others may create visual presentations. Every learner’s strengths are recognised and valued equally.

2. Accessible Physical & Social Environment

We work to minimise physical and psychological barriers on our campus. There are ramps, sensory rooms, and adaptive seating spaces to enable comfort and access.

Teachers use assistive technology, visual routines, and clear schedules to create predictable, calming environments. Social inclusion is also actively cultivated through structured peer interactions.

UNIS Hanoi’s outdoor learning allows children to learn outdoors to meet sensory and physical needs to include all children in active participation.

3. Inclusive Classroom Culture

Culture is the backbone of inclusion. We at UNIS honour diversity of language, culture, and personality and use differences as strength.

Respect, empathy, and acceptance norms are developed daily in interactions. Teachers model inclusive language and create open dialogue about equity, identity, and belonging.

On International Day, UNIS Hanoi students celebrate their traditions, histories, and languages, building appreciation for differences and reinforcing school-wide inclusivity.

4. Collaborative and Supportive Practices

We foster inclusion by engaging students in working together. We employ buddy systems to induct new students and provide support.

Peer mentoring and collaborative projects promote peer responsibility. Inclusive support models and co-teaching provide assistance to learners with additional needs without segregation.

At UNIS Hanoi project-based and service learning, diverse teams cooperate in solving real-world problems.

Every contribution counts, illustrating for students that teamwork relies on diversity of knowledge and viewpoint.

5. Leadership, Policy & Professional Development

At UNIS Hanoi, school leadership is central to developing inclusive practice. Our policies reflect our commitment to promoting diversity, while resources ensure this mission is supported in the classroom.

We invest in staff professional development in UDL, culturally responsive teaching, and equity practices. Our Multi-Tiered Systems of Support (MTSS) system provides early identification of academic or emotional needs, followed by targeted interventions.

UNIS Hanoi teachers regularly attend pedagogy of inclusion workshops, where they keep refining approaches in teaching multilingual students, overcoming unseen barriers, and embracing diversity.

Grow Your Child in an Inclusive Community with UNIS Hanoi

An inclusive learning environment fosters academic performance and social-emotional growth and life-readiness skills.

At UNIS Hanoi, we live this mission daily through reflective design, culture of belonging, and professional commitment to continuous refinement.

Experience how inclusion shapes our student-centred approach to education. Connect with us today and explore how your child can thrive in our inclusive, supportive community.

Innovative teaching strategies are creative, evidence-based approaches that enable active, tailored, and culturally responsive learning. In today’s complex world, students must be empowered to think critically, respond flexibly, and act meaningfully with the problems they face.

Below, we present 8 innovative teaching strategies with specific examples of how we at UNIS Hanoi apply them in our classrooms to promote curiosity, motivation, and lifelong learning.

8 Top Innovative Teaching Strategies to Inspire Student Engagement

We implemented these innovative teaching strategies here at UNIS Hanoi to create student engagement, encourage creativity, and foster global competence. We integrate each strategy purposefully into our curriculum to establish curiosity, reflection, and thoughtful collaboration.

1. Active and Inquiry-Driven Techniques

Active and inquiry approaches place learners at the centre. Instead of passively absorbing information, students acquire knowledge through finding out, asking questions, and constructing knowledge with others. Inquiry-based learning draws on children’s curiosity to help them be responsible for their learning process.

These techniques, like think-pair-share, peer discussions, Socratic seminars, or problem-based questioning, foster engagement and encourage deeper connections.

Active learning strategies are the foundation of our UNIS Hanoi IB inquiry units.

Faculty regularly employ think-pair-share and similar techniques, supported by faculty development sessions that strengthen teachers’ facilitation skills. Classrooms transform into vibrant, engaging, and dialogue-filled environments.

2. Project-Based Learning (PBL)

Project-Based Learning is long-term, real-world projects where students acquire knowledge, collaborate, and reflect to address actual problems. It builds grit, autonomy, and capacity far beyond the test. Children learn to pose questions, develop plans, tackle timelines, and document outcomes.

Project-Based Learning (PBL) is flourishing at UNIS Hanoi with projects like our STEAM Project Week where students create models of sustainable cities using advanced digital tools.

We also collaborate with local NGOs, offering students an opportunity to work on critical environmental concerns and offer solutions to community stakeholders.

Additionally, our MYP “Phoenix’s Nest” project motivates students to embrace sustainability issues, researching alternatives for disposable plastics, designing solar power systems, or planning cultural heritage exhibitions that integrate art, history, and design.

3. Interdisciplinary Learning

Interdisciplinary learning integrates multiple subject areas to explore problems holistically. Combining data from science, humanity, mathematics, and art, students acquire global understanding, critical thinking, and understand relationships that are hard to define in isolated study.

Interdisciplinary units form a central part of our Middle Years Programme at UNIS Hanoi.

Projects, for instance, may challenge students to explore historical issues through evidence from science or resolve environmental problems in creative performance.

By approaching problems in this way, students become intellectually flexible and prepare themselves to deal with complexity with ease.

4. Challenge-Based Learning (CBL)

Challenge-Based Learning teaches students to work together to tackle real-world problems with authentic outcomes.

Based on Apple’s ACOT2 model, CBL takes problem-solving an extra step by placing responsibility in students’ hands. They identify meaningful challenges, research, develop solutions, and test results.

At UNIS Hanoi, service-learning is deeply connected with CBL. Students address real issues in the local area such as wildlife conservation, fairness in education, or urban environment.

They design projects with real-world impact, from creating awareness campaigns to designing helpful tools or partnerships.

Reflection is central: students review both failure and success, which refines their skills for the future. This blend of doing and reflecting builds empathy, civic responsibility, and resilience.

5. Personalised & Blended Learning

Personalised and blended learning adapts instruction to suit individual learners’ needs.

With online and classroom learning, students receive flexibility while still benefiting from teacher guidance. This format recognises that each learner is unique and works towards creating customised paths to success.

We encourage individualised paths within UNIS Hanoi via individual mentoring, reflective diaries, and goal-setting. Students utilise planners for planning academic goals and well-being, blending teacher-led courses with self-paced study.

For example, a student who is good in maths but has difficulties with writing can receive differentiated support while maintaining overall progress. This approach promotes autonomy, accountability, and allows all students to receive scaffolding they need to thrive academically and emotionally.

6. Gamification & Game-Based Learning

Gamification takes concepts from game-like frameworks, points, challenges, or narrative and uses them in the classroom, and game-based learning has formally constructed games designed for meeting learning goals.

Both are leveraging intrinsic student motivation to make learning experiences more enjoyable and rewarding.

At UNIS Hanoi, gamification is just beginning to shape inquiry units.

For instance, students are given points for collaboration, can gain levels of inquiry as they master ideas, or solve story-challenges that make learning come alive.

Early trials suggest that gamification strengthens focus, builds resilience, and encourages collaborative problem-solving. As it develops further, this practice will be an influential addition to existing practices.

7. Reflective & Metacognitive Practices

By analysing their thinking habits, students discover their strengths, weaknesses and how to progress. These skills enable children to learn how to learn, which is invaluable in a world where information is constantly changing.

At UNIS Hanoi, reflective practice is embedded at all levels of curriculum.

Students maintain journals, set learning goals, and participate in mentoring sessions to monitor progress. Teachers guide learners to create hypotheses, test assumptions, and critically evaluate outcomes.

Through this process, students acquire habits of mind that enable them to respond to challenges with resilience and adaptability. Reflection also maximises emotional well-being, enabling students to establish balance with academic success.

8. Culturally Inclusive & Global Learning

Culturally responsive teaching transforms the curriculum to make it relevant to all students by connecting curriculum with their multicultures.

It gives a sense of belongingness and makes the students ready for success in multicultural and globalised life. Global learning goes further by infusing cross-cultural knowledge in daily teaching.

Cultural diversity is the essence of UNIS Hanoi values.

Students take part in storytelling festivals that honour diverse traditions, and learn lessons from diverse viewpoints and languages. Our global student community makes being culture-sensitive not theory but a practice.

By learning from each other’s stories, students become more empathetic, open-minded, and globally competent.

Discover Innovative Teaching and Learning at UNIS Hanoi

Innovative teaching strategies are not abstract theories; they are the methods through which we nurture curiosity, deepen learning, and equip students with essential 21st-century skills.

At UNIS Hanoi, these strategies are brought to daily life, ensuring that learners achieve academically and grow as adaptable, empathetic, and responsible global citizens.

We invite parents to discover how our innovative classroom practices can benefit your children. Connect with us to experience our student-centred learning community and witness the transformative impact of education that values both excellence and inclusion!

The Vietnam education system is a structured, centralised framework from pre-primary through tertiary levels under the Ministry of Education and Training (MOET). Compulsory primary and secondary stages and exam-driven pathways with an emphasis on academic rigour.

We engage with this system at UNIS Hanoi to enable local teachers to work their way through international best practice, building Vietnam’s national education system and its sustainable development.

Overview of the Vietnam Education System: Structure & Context

The Vietnam education system is designed to offer inclusive education chances to equip students well for professional and academic achievement. It’s a centralised and rigorous system, with the MOET playing a crucial role in policy, curriculum, and exam standards.

There are 5 major levels in the system, each serving a distinct developmental purpose and reflecting national priorities:

• Preschool (ages 3–6): Offering optional kindergarten and nursery to develop early social, emotional, and intellectual foundations. Learning programmes encourage children to learn through play and introduce them into formal education gradually.
• Primary Education (ages 6–11): Compulsory five years of Vietnamese language, mathematics, moral education, science, and arts. This stage establishes foundational literacy and numeracy, shaping lifelong learning habits.
• Lower Secondary (ages 12–15): Four mandatory years within a broad subject field, such as foreign languages, history, geography, and technology. Progression is tracked through examination and teacher evaluation.
• Upper Secondary (ages 16–18): Three years with academic or vocational tracks options. The students prepare for university entrance exams or professional certifications. University and career entry are determined by public examinations.
• Higher Education: College, university, and vocational school competitive entrance exams. Bachelor’s, Master’s, and Doctoral degrees comprise the basis of Vietnam’s human resources.

Partnering with Vietnam Education System: UNIS Hanoi’s Commitment

UNIS Hanoi is committed to empowering Vietnamese educators through sustained partnerships. Our initiatives, Vietnam Learning Together Conference (VLTC), Early Childhood Education Renovation Programme (ECERP), and SENIA training, create lasting impact by equipping teachers with international best practices.

1. Vietnam Learning Together Conference (VLTC)

The Vietnam Learning Together Conference is an annual professional development event that celebrates collaboration and shared expertise.

In 2025, its seventh edition adopted the theme “Unity in Diversity: Building Global Bridges Through Education.” The event attracted over 600 local and international teachers.

Highlights included a keynote address from UNIS parent Phil Psilos, with over 60 speakers contributing, among them our Grade 12 students, who provided fresh perspectives on modern learning.

The conference encourages learning and innovation in a peer-to-peer environment. A primary teacher demonstrated how 3D-printing can enhance model design, while the others presented a general view on digital collaboration using Zoom, Teams, and Flip.

Sessions also examined artificial intelligence and translation technologies, encouraging teachers to consider both practical applications and ethical concerns in classroom contexts.

What sets VLTC apart is access: participation is free for local teachers, so there are no knowledge-sharing barriers.

Through this initiative, UNIS Hanoi opens up opportunities for professional development that refine practice, build confidence, and facilitate innovation to the broader Hanoi teaching community

2. Early Childhood Education Renovation Programme (ECERP)

For more than 25 years, ECERP has stood as a model of meaningful partnership. Established in 1998 with the Hanoi Department of Education and Training (DoET), the programme supports kindergarten teachers at 25 partner schools. About 30 teachers receive training workshops every six months on strengthening pedagogical practices.

The programme followed systemic changes such as the class size decrease, enhanced teaching support, and child-centred education.

In addition to conventional classrooms, ECERP facilitated the development of lively classrooms in which children learn through experience, questioning, and discovery.

Testimonials highlight ECERP’s transformative role. Deputy Principal Ms Nguyen Thi Le Huyen noted the programme increased the level of enrolment and parental confidence. Teacher Ms Le Phuong Hang indicated enhanced active and independent students.

At UNIS Hanoi, our ECERP Coordinator, Ms Tran Bao Ngoc, ensures that the programme continues to evolve, sustaining its relevance and embedding positive change across Hanoi’s early years landscape.

3. SENIA Foundations Course & Inclusion Training

Beyond Early Years and mainstream education, UNIS Hanoi also champions inclusion.

We are active members of SENIA (Special Education Network and Inclusion Association) and have worked with them closely to translate an 8 module Foundations Course into Vietnamese over a six month period. More of our Teaching Assistants were then able to take this SENIA Foundations Course and following their successful completion, thirteen UNIS Hanoi Teaching Assistants moved on to receive further certification as SENIA Expert Facilitators — who are now qualified as facilitators of the SENIA Foundations Course and are ready to share this learning with educators across Vietnam.

The project represents a meaningful step forward in strengthening inclusive practice at UNIS Hanoi while seeding sustainable, local capacity to support neurodiverse students across the country.

Through localisation, Vietnamese teachers can access international materials in Vietnamese, building long-term capacity and ensuring sustained improvement.

Why UNIS Hanoi Is a Trusted Partner in the Vietnam Education System

UNIS Hanoi’s reputation as a partner to the Vietnam education system is founded on reliability, inclusivity, and extended collaboration. We have worked directly with local institutions for over two decades to provide contribution to teaching quality, assist reform, and drive inclusive practices.

Here is how UNIS Hanoi demonstrate our commitment:

• Deep and Sustained Engagement: Through over 25 years of continuous collaboration through ECERP, UNIS Hanoi has influenced early childhood teaching in Hanoi with a long-lasting legacy of classroom practice and teaching quality.
• Bridge-Building Events: The VLTC has become a national centre of excellence for professional discussion, innovation, and peer-to-peer learning. Private and public school educators meet to share ideas, therefore it is a platform bringing together Vietnam’s diverse education community.
• Inclusive Education Leadership: From SENIA partnerships, UNIS Hanoi is a pioneer in inclusive practice to enable schools to develop structures in which all children have an equal opportunity.
• System-Embedded Impact: Our work is specifically designed to be woven into MOET reform priorities, learner-centered instruction, teacher development, and universal access.
• Accessible, Practical Training: Unlike most other international programmes, which are too expensive for local teachers to afford, UNIS Hanoi training is low-cost or no-cost, further supporting our philosophy of equity in education.
• Commitment to Local Development: Beyond pedagogy, our training shares healthier school communities by building connections, collaboration, and equipping teachers with practical, sustainable tools.

Through these strengths, UNIS Hanoi promotes Vietnam’s sustainable education development towards meeting global challenges and opportunities.

Join Our Partnership for Educational Excellence

The Vietnam education system is robust, and it continues to adapt in response to modern challenges. At UNIS Hanoi, we are proud to partner in this journey. Through programmes such as VLTC, ECERP, and SENIA Foundations Course, we equip local teachers with innovative methodologies, inclusivity, and excellence.

Join our conferences, participate in our programmes, and join with UNIS Hanoi to see for yourself the power of collaboration. By working together, we can elevate Vietnam’s education system, ensuring that it continues to thrive for generations to come.

The benefits of IB curriculum extend far beyond traditional academic achievement, offering students a holistic pathway to personal growth, intercultural understanding, and readiness for global citizenship.

The International Baccalaureate (IB) curriculum fosters both intellectual and emotional growth, equipping students with the skills to navigate an increasingly complex world. Committed to our mission, UNIS Hanoi grows students to be critical thinkers capable of becoming empathetic leaders of tomorrow.

10 Benefits Of IB Curriculum For Students

The benefits of IB curriculum are reflected in all aspects of the students’ growth. UNIS Hanoi teaches its students a moral framework and international-mindedness skills within an integrated system.

1. Holistic and Advanced Educational Philosophy

The IB curriculum follows a holistic educational philosophy that supports students’ intellectual, emotional, physical, and ethical growth.

At UNIS Hanoi, our curriculum design integrates academics with the Creativity, Activity, Service (CAS) component, personal projects, and reflection. This structure ensures our students excel academically and cultivate emotional intelligence, empathy, and balance in life.

By nurturing well-rounded individuals, we aim to foster young people who are capable of making thoughtful, ethical decisions that benefit their communities.

2. Globally Recognised Programme

One of the most defining benefits of IB curriculum is its widespread global recognition. The programme has been recognised by the top universities and companies worldwide due to its name, moral standing, and the demanding learning concept.

UNIS Hanoi students have greater university admission and academic credit prospects due to the rigorous standards upheld in the IB Diploma Programme. Our graduates secure entry to highly competitive universities in North America, Europe, Asia, and Australia.

The depth and width of our program prepare students for admission and success in rigorous university environments.

3. Developing Global Citizens

The IB encourages international-mindedness and develops an awareness and sense of social responsibility.

At UNIS Hanoi, we consciously embed service learning into our academic issues and scope global concerns. Students are encouraged to consider the impact of their actions and to take meaningful steps to improve the world around them.

From participating in Model United Nations to engaging in local and international community service initiatives, our students develop compassion, cross-cultural communication skills, and a commitment to positive change. These experiences nurture a lifelong sense of global citizenship.

4. Inquiry-Based Learning

IB’s greatest difference is its emphasis on inquiry-based learning, with investigative and curiosity-driven learning.

We encourage UNIS Hanoi students to question, research independently, and challenge assumptions through active learning strategies. Our pedagogy centers on the learner, fostering independence, critical thinking, and curiosity.

Students learn research and problem-solving skills in what they are doing, for example, science experiments, debating, or extended essay writing.

5. Supportive Learning Environment

The IB programme recognises the contribution of emotional and social wellbeing to academic achievement. Wellbeing is the utmost priority at UNIS Hanoi through whole-school systems of support, including pastoral care, peer support, and access to professional counsellors.

Our teachers are trained to meet more than one learning need, so all students are heard, seen, and set up to succeed. Our small class sizes and co-teaching practices enable us to differentiate and intervene early.

Our supportive community helps students be academically brave, gain confidence, and become resilient.

6. Intercultural Understanding

With international-mindedness leading the way, IB programmes develop intercultural understanding and respect. At UNIS Hanoi, where more than 60 nationalities are represented among the students, students are educated in a fully internationalised student community.

Through the study of multiple languages, exploration of world cultures, and engagement with diverse perspectives, learners become adept at navigating cultural differences. Our curriculum reinforces this understanding by emphasizing open-mindedness, empathy, and respect, preparing students to interact meaningfully with people from all walks of life.

7. Experiential Learning

Experiential learning is integrated into all subjects of the IB curriculum so that students learn through doing and reflection. UNIS Hanoi makes it real in direct projects, interdisciplinary blocks, solving real-life problems, and service learning.

Our Creativity, Activity, Service (CAS) projects allow students to step beyond academic boundaries, develop leadership skills, and discover new passions.

Additionally, co-curricular programmes such as sports, arts, and student-led clubs further enrich their learning. They build flexibility, communication, and a strong connection between reality and academic theory.

8. Seamless Learning for Transition

IB continuum offers an integrated learning journey from early childhood through graduation.

UNIS Hanoi students benefit from a well-planned continuum through the PYP, MYP, and DP. This continuum facilitates academic and social transition among the different stages of schooling.

Shared learning philosophy between programmes also enables them to make connections from current knowledge cumulatively and apply generic skills like reflection, goal-setting, and self-regulation.

9. Alumni and Networking Opportunities

IB graduates join a powerful network of global thinkers, innovators, and change-makers.

UNIS Hanoi celebrates a vibrant and connected alumni community that remains engaged with our school. They are mentors and role models who share guidance and experience with current students.

Through events, panels, and career talks, current students have firsthand experience of university life, career paths, and international industries. These networks enrich our school culture and open doors to collaborative and lifelong learning.

10. Strong Foundation for Global Universities

IB Diploma Programme is among the broadest pre-university curricula available.

We offer this programme at UNIS Hanoi with academic quality and rigor so that our students gain the knowledge and skills necessary for success in university studies. The CAS, TOK, and Extended Essay parts hone research, writing, and reflective skills needed for success in the university.

Our graduates exhibit intellectual maturity, time management, and comfort with academic argumentation, traits that set them apart from their peers in competitive university environments and life.

Shape Well-rounded Learners With UNIS Hanoi

UNIS Hanoi is committed to the IB curriculum’s promise of re-shaping students to be academically capable, morally equipped, and internationally minded. The benefits of IB curriculum are embedded in every aspect of our learning, teaching, and school life.

By choosing UNIS Hanoi, parents invest in an education that prioritises both achievement and character. Apply now to give your child a world-class education, guided by international standards and a deep commitment to holistic student development!

Thriving in a global, fast-paced, and complex world requires students to possess a set of transferable emotional, social, and academic skills.

This article delves into the 10 essential skills for students’ success in school and life, illustrating how we at UNIS Hanoi actively foster their development through an integrated curriculum and a comprehensive co-curricular framework. Let’s get started!

10 Crucial Skills for Students Success in Future Endeavours

At UNIS Hanoi, we educate all students with the clear aim of nurturing and modeling these skills for students success through the academic curriculum, real world application, leadership roles, service learning initiatives, and wellbeing support programs.

1. Communication

The skills of communication form the foundation of all academic success and personal relationships.

By attending classes, UNIS Hanoi students are able to experience and hone skills in talking, advanced group writing, debate, and student-led performances through active participation.

From the active participation in the classrooms, students hone the skills to actively take part in debates, give talks, advanced collaborative writing, and perform student-led performances.

Moreover, students can improve their relationship management and idea exchange across cultures through language acquisition and cross-cultural projects.

2. Research and Analytical Skills

In our information-saturated society, students must be able to obtain relevant data and investigate information. At UNIS Hanoi, we train students to navigate diverse sources, critically evaluate information, and construct evidence-based arguments.

We foster these competencies within the framework of the International Baccalaureate (IB) through the Extended Essay, personal projects, or internal assessments in specific subjects.

As part of these projects, students engage in goal-oriented research, formulate sophisticated analyses, and compile their findings into formal presentations, which cultivate their decision-making and life skills for their future education.

3. Critical Thinking and Problem Solving

The ability to analyse information and solve complex problems is a foundational skill of modern education.

Inquiry-based learning, thematic teaching, and authentic learning experiences at UNIS Hanoi weave critical thinking into every discipline.

Our students gain the ability to assess and even challenge the assumptions around any literary work, historical event, or scientific anomaly by exploring alternative views and formulating reasoned solutions.

Moreover, group projects and cross-disciplinary tasks push learners to collaborate, assess multiple viewpoints, and refine their problem-solving strategies in dynamic settings.

4. Adaptability and Resilience

The capacity to cope with change and persevere in the face of setbacks is crucial for both academic and personal wellbeing.

UNIS Hanoi fosters an environment where students can learn effectively to reach their full potential with the right help. Resilience is developed through the reflective counselling sessions, outdoor expeditions, athletic participation, and during transitions between various learning stages.

The structured and unstructured environments of self-regulation require students to effectively manage emotions, view obstacles optimistically, and embrace a growth mindset through our Social and Emotional Learning (SEL) programmes.

5. Digital Literacy

Students must be equipped in today’s environment with safe, ethical, and effective technology usage.

UNIS Hanoi integrates lessons on digital literacy through 1:1 laptop programs, cloud-based or other collaborative tools, and web-based resources as part of the curriculum.

While learning coding, robotics, and multimedia storytelling, they also learn appropriate cybersecurity, digital etiquette, and how to verify information.

Responsible digital citizenship is also integrated into our programs, so students develop as responsible, engaged citizens in a digital society.

6. Time Management

At UNIS Hanoi, we teach students actionable goal setting, effective task management, and fostering the ability to balance physical and mental wellbeing while managing deadlines.

Through the use of planners, reflective journals, and individual mentoring sessions, learners identify their peak productivity hours and develop personal strategies to manage academic workloads alongside extracurricular commitments.

Time management skills are also reinforced through long-term projects, where students break tasks into manageable steps and track progress systematically.

7. Creativity and Innovation

Creative thinking and innovative problem-solving enable students to explore new possibilities and contribute meaningfully to the world.

UNIS Hanoi fosters creativity in students through arts education, design thinking, and interdisciplinary learning that combines science, humanities, and technology.

Creating and developing original ideas is passionate work that reflects the students’ values and embraces risk and ambiguity. This is evident when students compose original music, choreograph performances, develop engineering prototypes, or launch social initiatives.

Our other programs in Makerspaces and entrepreneurship highlight innovation as well.

8. Self-Evaluation and Self-direction

UNIS Hanoi understands that personal development begins with self-assessment and genuine reflection. Our students learn how to track their learning milestones and reflect on their growth.

In addition, they review and build fundamental skills by attending goal-setting sessions, e-portfolio maintenance, and advisory conferences.

Structured goal-setting sessions combined with e-portfolios and advisory conferences empower students to reflect and constructively assess their interests with autonomy and purpose.

9. Leadership and Collaboration

UNIS Hanoi provides a wealth of opportunities for students to work collaboratively while taking initiative through student councils, Model United Nations, service clubs, and group-based learning experiences.

Learners practice negotiating roles, resolving conflicts, building consensus, and motivating peers. Our emphasis on ethical leadership ensures students act with integrity, empathy, and social responsibility as they lead projects and represent their communities.

10. Financial Literacy

As students learn to manage their academic and personal lives, a sound understanding of financial principles is vital for responsible living.

UNIS Hanoi integrates financial literacy into the curriculum through practical maths, interdisciplinary units, and elective workshops. Our students evaluate consumer scenarios, understand budgeting, interest rates, and consider savings and investing for the future.

These choices help students develop strong personal finance skills alongside responsible economic citizenship and informed decision-making.

Invest In Your Child’s Potential For Future Success With UNIS Hanoi

Preparing children for the challenges and opportunities of tomorrow means investing in an education that fosters character, competence, and a global perspective. At UNIS Hanoi, we are dedicated to cultivating the full spectrum of skills for students’ success through an inclusive, dynamic, and future-focused learning environment.

Join our community of learners and leaders where education is not just about what students know, but who they become. Empower your child for lifelong success by applying today at UNIS Hanoi!

Understanding “what is mindfulness for children?” is crucial for fostering healthy emotional and cognitive development. Mindfulness helps children manage stress, regulate emotions and build resilience.

Through simple exercises, young minds can learn to stay present and engaged. This article explores mindfulness for children and offers ten practical exercises grounded in research and school-based implementation. Let’s delve in!

What Is Mindfulness For Children?

Mindfulness for children is the intentional practice of focusing awareness on the present moment, with curiosity and without judgment. It involves helping children pay attention to their thoughts, feelings, bodily sensations, and environment.

Mindfulness exercises for children are often short, engaging, and rooted in sensory experiences to suit their developmental stage.

Parents can use relatable metaphors to explain mindfulness to a child. For instance, you might refer to thoughts as clouds floating in the sky and emotions as waves, like the ocean.

Parents should reinforce that all kinds of feelings are permissible, and mindfulness allows us to notice and understand feelings better.

Benefits Of Mindfulness For Children

Mindfulness has wide-ranging benefits for children, supporting their mental, emotional and social development. Cultivating present-moment awareness nurtures both inner resilience and outer calm.

Benefits of mindfulness for children include:

• Emotional Regulation: Mindfulness aids children in recognising and managing emotions. Instead of reacting impulsively, they learn to pause and respond thoughtfully.
• Concentration Improvement: Regular practice enhances a child’s ability to focus on tasks by training attention and reducing mental distractions.
• Stress Reduction: Mindful breathing and observation reduce cortisol levels, helping children feel calmer in stressful situations.
• Self-awareness Discovery: Children become more conscious of their thoughts, emotions, and actions, which helps them later on to reflect and understand their inner self.
• Empathy Enhancement: When children understand feelings, they show kindness and care for others.
• Resilience Increase: Mindfulness helps children recover from setbacks more easily by fostering emotional flexibility and a positive mindset.
• Overall Well-being Boost: Through consistent practice, children experience improved sleep, reduced anxiety, and a more positive outlook.

10 Mindfulness Exercises for Children

To fully grasp what is mindfulness for children, it is essential to see it in action. The following exercises are practical, accessible, and adaptable to various settings, including at home and in schools.

1. Honour the Feelings

This exercise consists of asking children to name their emotions, encouraging them to label their feelings without judgment as they speak.

Children can “label” feelings as “angry”, “excited”, or “nervous”. This allows children to distance themselves from emotions and respond thoughtfully rather than reacting impulsively.

At UNIS Hanoi, honouring emotions is part of the school’s wellbeing philosophy.

Through guided discussions and age-appropriate activities in a safe and nurturing environment, we provide students with tools to identify and articulate what they feel as a form of emotional literacy.

2. Try ‘Teddy Bear’ Breathing

Have children lie down and place a small stuffed animal on their belly. As they breathe in and out, they can watch the toy rise and fall. This visual cue helps focus attention on the breath.

UNIS Hanoi integrates these imaginative breathing techniques into our daily routines.

Teddy bear breathing is a favourite in the early years programme, fostering body awareness and relaxation in a playful, effective manner.

3. Eat Mindfully

Ask children to eat a small snack (like a raisin or piece of chocolate) slowly, noticing its texture, taste, and smell. This activity builds awareness of sensory experiences and encourages gratitude.

UNIS Hanoi practices mindful eating during snack breaks. Our educators remind students to eat mindfully, allowing them to savour their food to appreciate their feelings and how it affects their well-being.

4. Practice Stillness

Guide children to sit quietly for a minute or two, focusing only on the sensations in their body or sounds around them. This builds tolerance for quiet and calm.

UNIS Hanoi values moments of stillness as part of our holistic educational approach. Designated quiet times during the school day allow students to reset, reflect, and centre themselves amid academic activities.

5. Encourage Journaling

Give children a journal and a writing prompt about their day, feelings, and gratitude. Journals encourage self reflection and emotional expression.

At UNIS Hanoi, journaling is encouraged as a reflective practice in classrooms. Children are given space and time to express their inner thoughts, supporting self-exploration and emotional clarity.

6. Practice ‘Cool the Pizza’ Breathing

Invite children to imagine holding a hot slice of pizza. They take a slow breath in to smell it and blow out gently to cool it down. This playful method engagingly teaches deep breathing.

UNIS Hanoi incorporates this creative technique to teach breathing control. Teachers use storytelling and imagery to help children visualise scenarios, making mindfulness relatable and fun.

7. Do Meditation

Introduce short guided meditations tailored to a child’s age. Focusing on the breath or visualising a calm scene are a few examples that may help with relaxation.

At UNIS Hanoi, meditation is integrated into all aspects of student wellbeing

Students join guided meditative practices in assemblies and in class, which helps with mental clarity and emotional balance.

8. Do Yoga

Yoga is breathing exercises combined with physical movement. Simple poses like tree or cat-cow help children build body awareness, coordination, and emotional calm.

UNIS Hanoi offers yoga as part of our physical education and after-school programmes. We recognise the holistic benefits of yoga in nurturing both physical health and mindfulness.

9. Focus on the Senses

Encourage children to use their five senses to explore their environment. Ask what they see, hear, smell, taste, and feel in the moment. This strengthens sensory awareness and present-moment focus.

At UNIS Hanoi, we embrace sensory exploration in our learning environments. Outdoor activities and sensory corners help students mindfully connect with their surroundings.

10. Count Your Breaths Together

Sit with your child and count each breath aloud to ten. Then start again. This shared breathing practice builds connection and soothes nervous energy.

This practice is regularly used in UNIS Hanoi’s wellbeing sessions. Our teachers guide group breathing exercises during transitions or after energetic activities to help students recalibrate and refocus.

Embracing Mindfulness for Children with UNIS Hanoi

Understanding what mindfulness is for children is a practical way to build compassion and awareness. UNIS Hanoi embeds it into school culture, nurturing children’s mental health from the earliest years.

If you are looking for an all-rounded education that integrates wellness with academics, apply to UNIS Hanoi and witness a mindful community flourish!

Summer is the perfect time for young minds and bodies to explore, learn, and grow. The best way to maximise this opportunity is by engaging in structured, creative, and developmentally beneficial programmes.

In this article, we highlight the 14 best summer activities for children in 2025, ensuring a fulfilling and enriching break from the school year.

6 Benefits of Summer Activities for Children’s Development

Participating in summer activities allows children to enjoy their holidays while nurturing their physical, intellectual, and emotional development. Educators and child development experts around the world consistently recognise these benefits.

Benefits of summer activities for children include:

• Improve children’s physical strength: Engaging in outdoor games and sports during summer boosts physical fitness, coordination, and endurance, reducing sedentary behaviour.
• Keeps children intellectually engaged: Activities such as reading challenges, science experiments, or creative workshops keep children mentally stimulated, preventing learning loss during the break.
• Teach children teamwork and resiliency: Group-based activities cultivate collaboration and adaptability as children learn to navigate challenges with peers.
• Support mental and emotional health: Summer playgrounds serve as a critical escape for children by relieving emotional tension and fostering self-assurance.
• Connect children with nature: Outdoor activities instil environmental awareness, curiosity, and a deeper understanding of the world.
• Develop lifelong skills: Children acquire lifelong skills such as problem-solving, effective communication, responsibility, and creativity that stay with them well into adulthood.

14 Best Summer Activities for Children in 2025

To kickstart the list of 2025 summer activities for children, here are our top 14 suggestions that will keep children inspired, energised, and engaged throughout their break.

1. Summer Camp

Summer camps build well-rounded kids by combining fun and learning in one place. They offer children the chance to develop new interests, build friendships, and engage in structured activities that support their growth on multiple levels. Camps also foster independence, problem-solving skills, and creativity through interactive projects and group work.

At UNIS Hanoi, our Summer Programme is uniquely designed to offer a rich blend of academic enrichment, arts, sports, and life skills.

We engage children through swim classes, drama, visual arts, storytelling, robotics, science, and international cooking. Every day is carefully planned to guide children’s engagement while promoting self-discovery.

Every child deserves a rich, warm, and constructive atmosphere in which they can freely explore their gifts and learn. Our teachers and facilitators make this possible.

2. Talent Show

Hosting a talent show allows children to showcase their unique abilities, be it singing, dancing, acting, or playing an instrument. Preparing for such an event helps boost confidence and encourages self-expression.

It also fosters empathy as children cheer on their peers and appreciate diverse forms of talent. Such events promote inclusivity and help children overcome stage fright at an early age.

3. Water Balloon Dodge Ball

A classic game with a twist will always bring amusement and joy to a summer afternoon. This game assists children in improving strategic planning alongside hand-eye coordination, and promotes teamwork.

In hot weather, it also provides much-needed physical activity while keeping children cool. The game is best played in open spaces, ensuring safety while encouraging energetic play.

4. Hopscotch

A timeless game that requires only chalk and imagination, hopscotch enhances balance, counting skills, and coordination.

It encourages children to engage in outdoor play and interact with peers, helping develop both gross and fine motor skills.

Moreover, designing their own hopscotch paths can introduce children to simple concepts of spatial awareness and creativity.

5. The Beadery

Creating bracelets, keychains, or name tags from colourful beads enhances fine motor coordination and hand-eye precision. It also introduces children to patterns, sequencing, and colour matching.

Through beading, children learn patience, focus, and the joy of completing a project.

This activity is particularly effective in helping children develop dexterity and spatial understanding while providing a creative outlet that they can proudly wear or gift.

6. Cooking

When children help prepare meals, they develop a sense of ownership and responsibility. Tasks such as measuring ingredients, chopping (with safe tools), mixing, and plating teach maths, science, and safety concepts. Cooking also encourages healthy eating habits and exposes children to diverse cuisines.

In a summer setting, activities like making smoothies, baking cookies, or creating fruit kebabs can become both a sensory experience and a meaningful bonding opportunity between peers or family members.

7. DIY Musical Instruments

Transforming household materials into musical instruments allows children to explore sound, rhythm, and design.

Creating shakers from rice and containers, drums from tins, or string instruments from rubber bands stimulates creativity and reinforces STEAM concepts.

It also encourages children to perform in small groups, enhancing teamwork and boosting their musical confidence. The process of designing and testing instruments teaches resilience and iterative thinking.

8. Woodshop

Guided woodworking projects teach children precision, patience, and perseverance.

Children build spatial reasoning, learn tool safety, and develop craftsmanship by making birdhouses and picture frames.

With adult supervision, woodshop activities provide immense satisfaction and a sense of achievement from creating something tangible from scratch.

9. Homemade Playdough

Creating playdough from scratch is a sensory-rich activity that combines science, art, and fun.

Measuring ingredients, kneading the dough, and mixing colours allow children to explore chemical reactions and textures.

Once made, the playdough becomes a medium for imaginative play. Children can sculpt animals, numbers, letters, or entire stories, enhancing their motor skills and language development.

10. Phonics Treasure Hunt

Combining literacy and adventure, a phonics-based treasure hunt engages children in identifying letter sounds and forming words.

Children search for objects or clues that correspond with specific phonetic sounds or letters, helping them associate sounds with real-world items.

The physical aspect of the hunt promotes movement and coordination, while the language component supports reading readiness.

11. Inventions

Encouraging children to invent new gadgets or solve problems with available materials nurtures innovation and analytical skills.

Children can brainstorm, sketch, and prototype using cardboard, tape, and imagination.

This activity enhances problem-solving, engineering thinking, and resilience as children learn from trial and error. Celebrating their ideas, no matter how whimsical, reinforces creativity and initiative.

12. Field Day

Field Day is a highlight of any summer programme, bringing together children in a festival of physical challenges and team-based competitions.

From relay races and tug-of-war to sack races and obstacle courses, Field Day encourages physical activity, healthy competition, and school spirit.

It’s an excellent opportunity for children to showcase their strengths, support their teammates, and celebrate community.

13. Nature Scavenger Hunt

Exploring nature with a checklist of items to find, such as a feather, a red leaf, or a round stone, builds observation skills and environmental curiosity.

It fosters mindfulness and encourages children to slow down, notice details, and engage with the natural world. This activity promotes ecological awareness in a fun, explorative manner.

14. Summer Scrapbook

Documenting summer experiences in a scrapbook helps children reflect on what they’ve learned and enjoyed. They can include photographs, ticket stubs, journal entries, drawings, and more.

The process of arranging and decorating pages improves planning, storytelling, and design skills.

A scrapbook becomes a treasured keepsake, reminding children of their adventures and accomplishments well beyond the season.

Outdoor learning activities blend fresh air, natural environments, and real world experiences to enrich education. These activities nurture children’s natural curiosity, imagination, and brain development.

In this article, we hope to inspire and empower parents and teachers with 12 creatively driven activities that will foster your child’s holistic growth. Let’s get started!

Benefits Of Outdoor Learning Activities

Establishing outdoor learning activities as part of a child’s daily schedule can be greatly beneficial from an overall development perspective. Beyond physical exercise, they powerfully impact a child’s body, mind, and social development.

Benefits of outdoor learning activities include:

• Physical Boost: Children’s outdoor activities benefit physical health by enhancing fitness, coordination, and gross and fine motor skills. Exploration and running, climbing, or scrabbling over natural terrains strengthen children’s endurance and fortify their strength.
• Cognitive Enhancement: Learning in nature stimulates the brain through problem-solving, observation, and hands-on experimentation. In addition, memory recall and critical thinking skills are nurtured with nature scavenger hunts and similar activities.
• Social-Emotional Lift: The outdoors also boosts empathy and emotional recovery. Group activities like team games and exploration tasks help students communicate, wait their turn, and resolve conflicts constructively. These interactions help develop confidence and emotional intelligence.

By integrating outdoor learning activities, parents and educators support children in becoming more well-rounded, self-aware, and capable learners.

12 Outdoor Learning Activities for Children

Outdoor learning activities provide exciting opportunities for experiential education in natural settings. These experiences ignite imagination and stimulate all areas of a child’s development.

1. Bird Watching Adventure

Equipped with a pair of child-friendly binoculars and a simple bird guide, children can observe various bird species in local parks or gardens.

They learn to identify birds by colour, shape, sound, and movement, fostering observational skills and patience.

Encourage children to record their findings in a bird log, enhancing literacy and scientific documentation.

2. Outdoor Science Experiments

Children can perform simple experiments using everyday materials outdoors.

For example, testing which objects float or sink in a water tub or observing how shadows change throughout the day teaches scientific principles in a hands-on manner. These experiments encourage curiosity, hypothesis formation, and critical thinking.

3. Garden Exploration

Gardening activities like planting seeds, watering plants, and observing growth cycles allow children to learn about biology and responsibility.

Understanding the needs of plants and how they grow over time develops patience and care.

Gardens also serve as excellent platforms for discussing sustainability and healthy eating.

4. Nature Scavenger Hunt

A nature scavenger hunt turns a simple walk into a thrilling learning adventure.

Children receive a list of items to find, such as a red leaf, a round stone, or a bird feather.

This activity sharpens observation, categorisation, and spatial awareness while encouraging active exploration.

5. Outdoor Art Projects

Using natural materials such as leaves, twigs, and stones, children can create sculptures, mandalas, or collages.

Painting rocks or making leaf rubbings are excellent ways to merge creativity with tactile experiences.

These art projects promote fine motor skills and imaginative expression in a sensory-rich environment.

6. Nature Memory Game

In this simple game, children are shown a group of natural items for a short time, then one is removed while their eyes are closed.

They must guess which one is missing. This improves attention, visual memory, and recall. It’s an excellent group activity that builds focus and friendly competition.

7. Letter and Number Race

Using chalk or sticks, write letters or numbers on the ground.

Call out one at a time and have the child run to touch or stand on it. This playful game reinforces literacy and numeracy skills while keeping children physically active and engaged.

8. Nature Journaling

Provide children with notebooks and encourage them to record observations, sketches, and thoughts about their surroundings.

Nature journaling helps children build descriptive language, artistic expression, and reflective thinking. It also strengthens mindfulness and appreciation for the natural world.

9. Leaf Printing

Collect leaves of various shapes and sizes, then use paint to create prints on paper.

Children learn about leaf structures, symmetry, and patterns while expressing their creativity. This artistic activity also introduces them to basic botanical vocabulary and texture recognition.

10. Nature Colour Hunt

Give children a colour palette or swatches and challenge them to find natural objects that match each hue.

This activity enhances colour recognition, observation, and appreciation for diversity in the environment. It also introduces early concepts of categorisation and sorting.

11. Nature Walks

Regular walks in parks or forests expose children to seasonal changes, diverse flora and fauna, and varying ecosystems.

Encourage children to collect leaves, ask questions, or take photos. These walks offer immersive learning experiences and foster environmental awareness and physical well-being.

12. Journey Stick

A journey stick is a storytelling tool made by tying found objects (feathers, leaves, bark) to a stick during a walk.

After the journey, children use the stick to retell their adventure in sequence. This supports narrative skills, memory development, and sequencing abilities.

How UNIS Hanoi Boosts Students’ Development with Outdoor Activities

UNIS Hanoi places great value on outdoor learning as a catalyst for academic, social, and emotional development.

Our campus and educational programmes are thoughtfully designed to maximise the benefits of experiential education.

Firstly, our purpose-built campus features open green spaces, outdoor classrooms, and nature-inspired play areas. These facilities provide students with daily access to fresh air and interactive environments where learning comes to life.

Whether it’s a science class in the eco-garden, a literature session under the shade of trees, or maths problems solved on walking trails, our learners engage with academic content actively and meaningfully.

Secondly, through our comprehensive Service Learning programme, students actively participate in community projects that often occur outdoors. These include environmental clean-up initiatives, tree planting, and garden maintenance.

Working in these contexts allows students to connect theory with action, cultivate empathy, and recognise their role in sustainable development.

Thirdly, our trips and expeditions programme introduces students to Vietnam’s diverse geography and culture.

From multi-day hikes in national parks to eco-camps by the sea, these excursions are carefully crafted to support leadership, teamwork, environmental literacy, and independence.

Activities such as orienteering, field research, and cultural immersion promote adaptability and real-world learning.

At UNIS Hanoi, we are committed to nurturing students who are not only academically capable but also environmentally conscious, socially responsible, and prepared to lead in a global context. Learn more about Experiential Learning at UNIS Hanoi.

Nurture a Well-Rounded Child with UNIS Hanoi

Outdoor learning activities nurture physical vitality, intellectual engagement, and emotional resilience in children from an early age. At UNIS Hanoi, we incorporate diverse outdoor learning opportunities that empower our students to thrive in all areas of life.

If you are ready to offer your child an education enriched by creative outdoor learning activities, we warmly invite you to apply to UNIS Hanoi today.

What is global citizenship, and why is it vital in today’s interconnected world? For students, understanding global citizenship helps build a sense of responsibility beyond borders. It shapes their awareness of global issues and encourages empathy, collaboration, and meaningful action.

As the world becomes increasingly globalised, raising globally minded children is no longer optional but essential. Discover how your child can become a global citizen in our article. Let’s get started!

What is Global Citizenship?

Global citizenship is a mindset and practice where individuals see themselves as part of a broader global community.

It involves recognising the interdependence of people and nations, appreciating compassion, and undertaking responsibilities that make the world a better place without exclusivity.

Global citizens respect cultural differences, value human rights, practice responsible social citizenship, and support environmental causes.

For example, a student who participates in international service projects, engages in environmental sustainability initiatives, or raises awareness about social justice concerns shows traits of a global citizen.

They might work to provide funding for clean water projects in underprivileged countries or interact with other students digitally to tackle international issues collaboratively.

These students show they are global citizens through their awareness, compassion, and willingness to take action.

At its core, global citizenship is more than an abstract ideal. It is an active, conscious way of living that nurtures empathy, accountability, and global engagement.

In cultivating global citizens, we equip youth with the potential to become leaders and change agents.

Benefits of Global Citizenship for Students

Global citizenship education offers various benefits that extend beyond academic success. Students who adopt this perspective gain invaluable tools for navigating an increasingly complex world.

Benefits of global citizenship for students include:

• Broader Perspective: Students become increasingly aware of cultural diversity and global interdependence. They appreciate how the happenings in one part of the world can greatly influence another, prompting them to think more critically and compassionately.
• Personal Growth: While addressing global challenges, students undergo self-discovery, which teaches them about themselves and others. They gain confidence, ethical awareness, and a stronger sense of identity. In addition, they learn to cultivate resilience, humility, and greater openness for personal development.
• Improved Problem-solving Skills: Students need to devise novel solutions to world problems, which requires them to think differently and from various angles. Students put their minds together to come up with new methods while analysing intricate data.
• Educational and Cultural Enrichment: Through language acquisition, students gain historical, social, and scientific knowledge, developing intercultural competence. Field trips, cultural exchanges, and global classroom projects further enrich students’ learning.
• Enhanced Career Opportunities: Employers highly value global citizens for their adaptability, cultural fluency, cross-border collaboration, and responsible innovation. Their competency also makes them better equipped for various jobs and career paths.

Ultimately, global citizenship education shapes students to become informed, responsible, and active participants in society.

How Schools Promote Global Citizenship in the Classroom

Fostering global citizenship allows students to participate in the classroom with informed attitudes and skills for authentic engagement. It begins with a curriculum and school culture that promote critical thinking, cultural understanding, and responsible action.

Asking Questions

Encouraging open-ended questions allows students to think about global issues, culture, and social justice, supporting their self-directed learning.

Boosting inquiry fosters the ability to think critically, engage, and interact with diverse, multilayered ideas.

At UNIS Hanoi, we implement this through project-based learning, the IB curriculum, and inquiry-based lessons.

Students pose essential questions such as “How does climate change affect different regions?” or “What are the causes of global inequality?” This approach cultivates deeper engagement and independent thinking.

Making Connections

Recognising the links between personal experiences and global systems allows students to see the relevance of global citizenship in their daily lives.

Making connections helps them understand how local actions influence global outcomes and vice versa. It reinforces the idea that these issues are not abstract but deeply personal and interconnected.

We at UNIS Hanoi encourage students to draw links between their personal lives and global themes through integrated units of inquiry, collaborative projects, and cross-cultural exchanges.

For instance, when studying local water use, students explore access to clean water in other parts of the world, recognising both similarities and disparities.

Exploring Viewpoints and Values

A key component of global citizenship is appreciating different viewpoints and respecting diverse values. This includes reflecting on one’s own beliefs and being open to others.

Our classrooms at UNIS Hanoi provide safe, inclusive spaces for dialogue. Students engage in discussions about global ethics, human rights, and cultural differences, guided by teachers trained in intercultural competence.

Activities like Model United Nations (MUN) simulations and literature circles cultivate understanding and appreciation of differing perspectives.

Responding as Active Global Citizens

Beyond awareness, global citizenship also includes responsible action.

Schools must give students opportunities to apply their learning in real-world contexts, making positive contributions to their communities and the wider world.

Active participation strengthens civic responsibility and personal agency.

UNIS Hanoi promotes active global citizenship through our Service Learning curriculum and Community Programmes, and more.

Our students conduct recycling drives, partner with local NGOs, and run awareness campaigns for international humanitarian initiatives.

These experiences encourage students to become proactive contributors to global well-being.

Assessing Learning

In global citizenship education, schools need to assess the cognitive and affective dimensions for the learning to be impactful. This means looking into what students have, how they put that into action, and how they evolve individually.

At UNIS Hanoi, assessment is holistic and formative. Students show their understanding through reflection, digital portfolios, journals, exhibitions, and presentations.

These assessments measure comprehension, track personal growth, ethical reasoning, and collaboration, and serve as key indicators of global citizenship.

Raise Your Child to Become a Global Citizen with UNIS Hanoi

At UNIS Hanoi, we take global citizenship seriously because we understand its transformative power. Indeed, we prepare students to be inquirers and changemakers and act with integrity and compassion, empowering them to navigate a complex world.

If this is how you envision your child’s future, join us at UNIS Hanoi. Discover how your child can become part of this journey. Apply now and become part of a community that is shaping tomorrow, today.