Primary Years Program: PPK - 5th grade
Each grade level 1 - 5th works on one unit of inquiry for each of the six themes every school year. In PPK, PK, and K they work on four units, including Who we are and How we express ourselves. Our Program of Inquiry (POI) includes all the grade level units of inquiry (Program of Inquiry). In addition, single subject teachers also develop subject specific units of inquiry that complement the POI as well as further develop the knowledge, content, and skills of that particular subject.
PYP Curricular framework responds to the IB philosophy and best practices:
- Constructivist approach
- Developmentally appropriate
- Student centered
- Inquiry driven
- Concept based
The PYP is also characterized by its transdisciplinary approach, exploring ideas through a conceptual lens that integrates and moves beyond the disciplines to address real world problems and situations. The focus of the curriculum is providing learning opportunities that allow for hands-on inquiries that engage and empower learners to construct knowledge, deepen understanding, and develop skills.
Subject Areas
The traditional subjects are integrated and worked on through the units of inquiry. Units of inquiry are in depth explorations into a Central Idea (for example: Personal decisions affect how we can lead a balanced and healthy lifestyle.). These units last several weeks and include a purposeful integration of the 5 Essential Elements, the Learner Profile, and the knowledge, concepts, and skills of the relevant subjects. Teachers strive to balance a transdisciplinary approach with direct instruction of the core skills in each of the subjects.
- English
- Spanish
- Math
- Science
- Social Studies
- Visual Arts
- Performing Arts
- Physical Education
- Technology/Computers
- Library
5 Essential Elements of the PYP
Transdisciplinary themes: The knowledge component includes the significant, relevant content that the students explore and know about, taking into consideration their prior experience and understanding. Knowledge is framed by six transdisciplinary themes:
- Who we are
- How we express ourselves
- How we organize ourselves
- How the world works
- Where we are in place and time
- Sharing the planet
Each grade level K - 5th works on one unit of inquiry for each of the six themes every school year. In PPK and PK they work on four units, including Who we are and How we express ourselves. Our Program of Inquiry (POI) includes all the grade level units of inquiry. In addition, single subject teachers also develop subject specific units of inquiry that complement the POI as well as further develop the knowledge, content, and skills of that particular subject.
Concepts: An emphasis on conceptual understanding is based on powerful ideas that have relevance within the subject areas but also transcend them. Students explore and re-explore key and related concepts in order to develop a coherent, in-depth understanding. In the PYP there are eight key concepts and many related concepts. Examples of related concepts are conflict, harmony, exchange, conservation, location, roles, relationships and so forth.
Key Concepts
| Form | What is it like? |
| Function | How does it work? |
| Causation | Why is it like it is? |
| Change | How is it changing? |
| Connection | How is it connected to other things? |
| Perspective | What are the points of view? |
| Reflection | How do we know? |
| Responsibility | What is our responsibility? |
Skills: In the PYP we understand that skills are those capabilities that the students need to demonstrate to succeed in a changing, challenging world, which may be disciplinary or transdisciplinary in nature. The transdisciplinary skills or Approaches to Learning are grouped into five categories, with subsets in each.
- Critical thinking skills
- Analyzing and evaluating issues and ideas, forming decisions.
- Creative thinking skills
- Generating novel ideas and considering new perspectives
- Information transfer skills
- Using skills and knowledge in multiple contexts
- Reflection/metacognitive skills
- Using thinking skills to reflect on the process of learning
- Information-Literacy skills
- Formulating and planning, data gathering and recording, synthesizing and interpreting, evaluating and communicating
- Media-literacy skills
- Interaction with media to use and create ideas and information
- Ethical use of media/information
- Understanding and applying social and ethical technology
- Exchanging information skills
- Listening, interpreting and speaking
- Literacy skills
- Reading, writing and using language to gather ans communicate information
- ICT skills
- Communicating using technology to gather, investigate and share information
- Developing positive interpersonal relationaships ans. collaboration skills
- Developing social-emotional intelligence
- Organization skills
- Managing time and tasks effectively
- States of mind
- Using strategies that manage state of mind
Attitudes: Explained below are the dispositions that are expressions of fundamental values, beliefs and feelings about learning, the environment and people. These habits of mind and behavior facilitate successful learning. When practiced in daily interactions and experiences the twelve attitudes are understood to develop the attributes of the Learner Profile.
- Appreciation: Appreciating the wonder and beauty of the world and its people.
- Commitment: Being committed to their own learning, persevering and showing self-discipline and responsibility.
- Confidence: Feeling confident in their ability as learners, having the courage to take risks, applying what they have learned and making appropriate decisions and choices.
- Cooperation: Cooperating, collaborating, and leading or following as the situation demands.
- Creativity: Being creative and imaginative in their thinking and in their approach to problems and dilemmas, as well as solutions.
- Curiosity: Being curious about the nature of learning, about the world, its people and cultures.
- Empathy: Imagining themselves in another’s situation in order to understand his or her reasoning and emotions, so as to be open-minded and reflective about the perspectives of others.
- Enthusiasm: Enjoying learning and willingly putting the effort into the process.
- Independence: Thinking and acting independently, making their own judgments based on reasoned argument, and being able to defend their judgments.
- Integrity: Being honest and demonstrating a considered sense of fairness.
- Respect: Respecting themselves, others and the world around them.
- Tolerance: Being sensitive about differences and diversity in the world and being responsive to the needs of others.
Learner Profile
The Learner Profile includes ten (10) attributes that are understood to describe an effective lifelong learner. As the guiding light of all IB programs, we intentionally weave learning opportunities that develop these attributes throughout the curriculum. This development of these attributes begins with our youngest learners, however it is understood to be an ongoing process - not a goal to be reached and checked off by year’s end. All constituents are expected to be aware of the Learner Profile, as well as to engage in the purposeful reflection of one’s strengths and areas of improvement within it. (PYP Attitudes have been highlighted in the descriptions below.)
Inquirers We nurture our curiosity, developing skills for inquiry and research. We know how to learn independently and with others. We learn with enthusiasm and sustain our love of learning throughout life.
Knowledgeable We develop and use conceptual understanding, exploring knowledge across a range of disciplines. We engage with issues and ideas that have local and global significance.
Thinkers We use critical and creative thinking skills to analyze and take responsible action on complex problems. We exercise initiative in making reasoned, ethical decisions.
Communicators We express ourselves confidently and creatively in more than one language and in many ways. We collaborate effectively, listening carefully to the perspectives of other individuals and groups.
Principled We act with integrity and honesty, with a strong sense of fairness and justice, and with respect for the dignity and rights of people everywhere. We take responsibility for our actions and their consequences.
Open-minded We critically appreciate our own cultures and personal histories, as well as the values and traditions of others. We seek and evaluate a range of points of view, and we are willing to grow from the experience.
Caring We show empathy, compassion and respect. We have a commitment to service, and we act to make a positive difference in the lives of others and in the world around us.
Courageous (Risk-takers) We approach uncertainty with forethought and determination; we work independently and cooperatively to explore new ideas and innovative strategies. We are resourceful and resilient in the face of challenges and change.
Balanced We understand the importance of balancing different aspects of our lives — intellectual, physical, (spiritual) and emotional — to achieve well-being for ourselves and others. We recognize our interdependence with other people and with the world in which we live.
Reflective We thoughtfully consider the world and our own ideas and experience. We work to understand our strengths and weaknesses in order to support our learning and personal development.
Fifth Grade Exhibition
Assessment
