Curriculum - Early Childhood Center Primary Years
Program (PYP)
Primary Years Program (PYP)
WAB is an IB World School authorized to deliver the International
Baccalaureate Primary Years Program (IBPYP) and follows an inquiry
based approach to learning. The IBPYP or PYP identifies a body
of significant knowledge that is suitable for all students across
a range of curriculum areas. In the Early Childhood Center, the following
units form the basis of the year’s program.
Nursery
Pre-K
Who are we?
Our ECC community
How does the world work?
I have something to say (storytelling)
How do we express ourselves?
Light
How do we share the planet?
Caring for living things
Philosophy and Methodology
The philosophy of the ECC centers around the belief that young
children learn best in a play based environment. During play experiences,
children investigate materials, ideas and people. They explore patterns
and relationships, hypothesise and make connections.
“Play is the first work any of us do – it is the business
of childhood and is as essential to normal development as food and
drink. Play is not trivial, it is highly serious and of deep significance.”
- Froebel.
There is a strong focus on the Arts, where children are encouraged
to develop ideas and theories. Through this medium they expand their
understanding, listen to others and discuss their thinking.
Implementation
The ECC facilitates the implementation of the curriculum through
providing extended periods of time and as much space as possible
for young children to explore, investigate and play, with a variety
of materials, in order to learn about themselves, other people and
the world around them. Our centre environment has a range of clearly
defined areas to encourage the exploration, investigation and play,
both in and out of doors. These include spaces for reading, writing,
art, construction, imaginative play and science and technology,
with a wide variety of appropriate resources in each. Children’s
interactions in and with these spaces stimulates them to become
active learners, by providing ongoing opportunities for them to:
make choices and decisions
use materials in flexible and imaginative ways
initiate inquiry and ask questions
work collaboratively with others
sustain their interests and extend their knowledge
develop understanding.
The facilities in the ECC are aesthetic and innovative. Classes
of fourteen children each have a teacher and teaching assistant
as well as access to single subject teachers in music, art and physical
education. A large, open central space (the ‘Piazza’) facilitates
cooperation, socialization and collaborative learning.
