Our IB Primary Years Programme (PYP) is designed for ALL Patterson International students. Patterson International's PYP provides the knowledge, concepts, skills, and capacity to take action. This is all of which younger students need to equip them for successful lives, both now and in the future.
Students will explore global, topical, and relevant ‘big picture’ questions, or transdisciplinary themes.
Student-centered learning
The PYP provides an ideal foundation for children to become successful, lifelong learners by developing their:
social and emotional well-being
independence, as they take responsibility for their own learning
international mindedness
understanding of the world and their ability to function effectively within it
attitudes and dispositions for learning
ability to take mindful, appropriate, and sustainable student-initiated action
language skills; all students study an additional language from at least 7 years of age.
IB Late Start Collaboration Teams
IB Late Start Collaboration Planning Update
IB Planner Template - Updated 2021
Annotated IB Planner - Updated 2021
Learning in the PYP is underpinned by six transdisciplinary themes, each selected for their relevance to the real world. Young learners explore the commonalities of human experience by investigating these themes through a programme of inquiry. The six transdisciplinary themes are...
Who we are
Inquiry into the nature of the self; beliefs and values; person, physical, mental, social and spiritual health; and human relationships.
Where we are in place and time
Inquiry into our orientation in place and time; personal histories; the discoveries and explorations of humankind; and the interconnectedness of individuals and civilizations.
How we express ourselves
Inquiry into the ways in which we discover and express ideas, feelings, nature, culture, beliefs and values.
How the world works
Inquiry into the natural world and its laws, the interaction between the natural world and human societies; the impact of scientific and technological advances on society and on the environment.
How we organize ourselves
Inquiry into the interconnectedness of human-made systems and communities; the structure and function of organizations; and their impact on humankind and the environment.
Sharing the planet
Inquiry into rights and responsibilities in the struggle to share finite resources with other people and other living things; access to equal opportunities; and peace and conflict resolution.
The exhibition
The exhibition is an extended, in-depth project celebrating the culmination of a child’s learning experience in the PYP before they move on to the next stage in their education.
Young learners conduct an in-depth inquiry into real-life issues or challenges. Students present their research, investigation, and resulting action to the whole school community.
Recent research into the impact of the PYP exhibition found it to be a “valuable and pivotal experience in the life of the schools, families, and students who were involved.”
Success with the PYP
Learning in the PYP is viewed as a continuous journey; teachers work with students to identify their needs and then document, monitor, and provide ongoing assessment and feedback to plan the next stage of their learning.
Will teaching the PYP differ at International schools and State schools?
Patterson International's instruction reflects the IB mission to create a better and more peaceful world through intercultural understanding and respect and their approaches to learning and approaches to teaching will meet the high expectations of IB standards and practices.
We continue to align the standards and curriculum of Jeffco Public Schools with the PYP framework.
Quality assurance
Implementation of the PYP is a transformative experience for students, schools, and the wider learning community. Professional development for teachers together with a rigorous process of authorization and regular evaluation to ensure that IB World Schools deliver the best possible education for PYP students.
*Adapted from PYP for Parents on January 13, 2021.