International Baccalaureate Primary Year Programme
At the heart of the International Baccalaureate Primary Years Programme (IBPYP) philosophy, is a commitment to structured inquiry as the leading vehicle for learning. Six transdisciplinary themes provide the framework for the exploration of concepts and knowledge. Teachers and students are guided by these themes as they design curricular units for exploration and study.
The Curriculum Framework consists of five essential elements:
- Concepts;
- Knowledge;
- Skills;
- Attitude;
- Action.
The knowledge component is developed through inquiries into six transdisciplinary themes of global significance, supported and balanced by six subject areas.
The PYP is a transdisciplinary curriculum which means that the connections that learners naturally make between and within subjects is stressed. This means that learning happens either through the study of integrated units or single subject units, known as Stand Alone Units.
A Unit of Inquiry can be an inquiry into an important piece of learning from one subject area or content from a number of subjects that are connected under a common big idea or understanding. At any time during the year students will study one Unit of Inquiry based on a PYP organizing theme and a number of Stand Alone Units.
The Curriculum Framework
The PYP offers a comprehensive approach to teaching and learning. It provides a complete curriculum model that incorporates guidelines on what students should learn, as well as guidelines on teaching methodologies and assessment strategies.
The Curriculum Framework is further structured around three interrelated questions:
- What do we want to learn? The written curriculum;
- How best will we learn? The taught curriculum;
- How will we know what we have learned? The learned curriculum.
The Written Curriculum incorporates 4 essential elements:
- Concepts;
- Skills;
- Attitudes;
- Action.
| CONCEPT |
SKILLS |
ATTITUDES |
ACTION |
| Form |
Thinking |
Tolerance |
Reflect |
| Function |
Communication |
Respect |
Act |
| Causation |
Social |
Integrity |
Choose |
| Change |
Research |
Independence |
|
| Connection |
Self-management |
Enthusiasm |
|
| Perpective |
|
Emphaty |
|
| Responsibility |
|
Curiosity |
|
| Reflection |
|
Creativity |
|
| |
|
Cooperation |
|
| |
|
Confidence |
|
| |
|
Commitment |
|
| |
|
Appreciation |
|
|
