Embedded Files
Student Agency
Student Agency
At the heart of the Primary Years Programme (PYP) is the idea of student agency; that students have voice, choice and ownership for their own learning.
"These elements provide the foundation for students to develop transdisciplinary thinking, to explore real-life issues and to effect change" (International Baccalaureate Organization (UK) Ltd, 2018)
The Learner Profile
The Learner Profile
These are a set of learning dispositions identified by the IB, as necessary to nurture active, compassionate and lifelong learners. Developing and demonstrating these dispositions provides an important foundation for international-mindedness.
Transdisciplinary themes
Transdisciplinary themes
These six themes are the starting point for children's learning and their inquiries and are designed to have global significance to all students. Subject knowledge is not to be confined to traditional, discrete subjects, but taught across the unit of inquiry (work).
Each unit then focuses on:
- a central idea
- key and related concepts
- lines of inquiry
Central idea
Central idea
This is the big idea that we want students to understand by the end of the unit. The knowledge and skills taught during the unit support the student to understand this. This identifies the main related concepts that will be explored.
Lines of inquiry
Lines of inquiry
These are statements that are created that identify the possible scope of the inquiry. These are also focused on the
Key Concepts
Key Concepts
The IB has identified 7 key concepts which are used to guide the unit of inquiry. Concepts are the big ideas that are: timeless, abstract, universal and transferable. Therefore, learning that takes place in this unit of inquiry can be transferred to other learning experiences in the future.
Approaches to Learning
Approaches to Learning
The IB Curriculum is built upon a belief that learning how to learn is fundamental to a student's education. These skills are developed through learning experiences within a unit of inquiry, alongside the concepts and knowledge.
There are 5 categories of skills and associated sub-skills.
Action
Action
This is the moment that students transfer and apply the knowledge and skills gained during the unit of inquiry. Action should be: authentic, meaningful, mindful, responsible and responsive. Action can be short or long term, revisited or ongoing. It may be individual or collective, small or large scale and may take place at home, at school or in local or wider communities.
"Children inquire, question, wonder and theorize about themselves, others and the world around them. They are keen observers and explorers. Through their experiences and interactions, they naturally develop intricate, multi-layered perceptions and understandings". (International Baccalaureate Organization (UK) Ltd, 2018)
In the final year of the Primary Years Programme, students participate in a culminating project known as the Exhibition. This is a rigorous, challenging and, ultimately, extremely rewarding experience that requires students to draw upon the abilities they have developed as inquirers during their time in the programme.
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