Understanding the New IB PYP Inquiry Learning Progressions (April 2025)

The International Baccalaureate (IB) has released a major update to the Primary Years Programme (PYP) curriculum in April 2025, with a particular focus on the new Inquiry Learning Progressions document. This article will unpack what inquiry learning progressions are, highlight the key differences between the new and previous frameworks, and explain why these changes matter for educators, learners, and the future of inquiry-driven learning.

𝗪𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗔𝗿𝗲 𝗜𝗻𝗾𝘂𝗶𝗿𝘆 𝗟𝗲𝗮𝗿𝗻𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗣𝗿𝗼𝗴𝗿𝗲𝘀𝘀𝗶𝗼𝗻𝘀?

Inquiry learning progressions are structured, skills-based frameworks that describe how inquiry skills develop and become more sophisticated over time. They are designed for learners aged 5 to 16 and serve as a guide for both educators and students to:

Make visible and explicit the skills of effective inquirers
Support understanding of learner growth in inquiry skills
Provide a model balancing surface and deep cognitive processing
Guide feedback, monitoring, and documentation of learning
Focus on growth rather than deficits
Support learner agency and personalized learning journeys
Emphasize inquiry as a continuous learning process

These progressions are not tied to specific grade levels or ages. Instead, they recognize that learners develop at different rates and may be at various points on the progression simultaneously.

𝐄𝐱𝐚𝐦𝐩𝐥𝐞

𝐆𝐫𝐚𝐝𝐞 𝟓 𝐔𝐎𝐈– Sharing the Planet

𝐂𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐫𝐚𝐥 𝐈𝐝𝐞𝐚: Natural resources govern sustainability, equity, and interdependence across societies and ecosystems.

𝐋𝐢𝐧𝐞𝐬 𝐨𝐟 𝐈𝐧𝐪𝐮𝐢𝐫𝐲:

The unequal distribution of natural resources
The impact of human actions on sustainability
Solutions for equitable sharing of resources

𝗜𝗺𝗽𝗼𝗿𝘁𝗮𝗻𝗰𝗲 𝗼𝗳 𝗜𝗻𝗾𝘂𝗶𝗿𝘆 𝗟𝗲𝗮𝗿𝗻𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗣𝗿𝗼𝗴𝗿𝗲𝘀𝘀𝗶𝗼𝗻𝘀 𝗶𝗻 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗣𝗬𝗣

Inquiry-based learning is the cornerstone of the PYP, fostering curiosity, critical thinking, and a lifelong love of learning. The inquiry learning progressions:

Bridge curriculum, assessment, and pedagogy, supporting intentional planning for inquiry
Offer a shared language for inquiry conversations among educators and learners
Help track and celebrate learner growth and set future learning goals
Encourage student agency, allowing learners to take ownership of their learning journey.

Research shows that inquiry-based learning can significantly boost student outcomes, including critical thinking, problem-solving, and knowledge retention, making it a vital component of the PYP.

𝗞𝗲𝘆 𝗖𝗵𝗮𝗻𝗴𝗲𝘀: 𝗡𝗲𝘄 𝘃𝘀. 𝗢𝗹𝗱 𝗜𝗻𝗾𝘂𝗶𝗿𝘆 𝗟𝗲𝗮𝗿𝗻𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗣𝗿𝗼𝗴𝗿𝗲𝘀𝘀𝗶𝗼𝗻𝘀

𝐄𝐱𝐚𝐦𝐩𝐥𝐞

Grade 4 UOI – How We Express Ourselves

Central Idea: People express beliefs and values through the arts and media.

𝐋𝐢𝐧𝐞𝐬 𝐨𝐟 𝐈𝐧𝐪𝐮𝐢𝐫𝐲:

Ways people express ideas creatively
Cultural influences on expression
Interpretation and response to artistic expression

𝐀𝐩𝐩𝐥𝐢𝐜𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐨𝐟 𝐏𝐫𝐨𝐠𝐫𝐞𝐬𝐬𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐬: Some learners may start by identifying different forms of art, while others evaluate how bias is portrayed in media. Teachers use the progression to support differentiated learning pathways. Some learners inquire into the symbolism in protest art, while others present a personal visual response connected to a cultural value, developing their ability to reflect and take action.

𝗞𝗲𝘆 𝗛𝗶𝗴𝗵𝗹𝗶𝗴𝗵𝘁𝘀 𝗼𝗳 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟱 𝗨𝗽𝗱𝗮𝘁𝗲:

𝐔𝐧𝐢𝐟𝐢𝐞𝐝 𝐒𝐭𝐫𝐮𝐜𝐭𝐮𝐫𝐞 𝐀𝐜𝐫𝐨𝐬𝐬 𝐒𝐮𝐛𝐣𝐞𝐜𝐭𝐬: All PYP subjects now follow a consistent structure, making transdisciplinary learning more coherent and accessible for both teachers and students.
𝐄𝐱𝐩𝐥𝐢𝐜𝐢𝐭 𝐈𝐧𝐪𝐮𝐢𝐫𝐲 𝐒𝐤𝐢𝐥𝐥𝐬: Inquiry skills are now clearly defined, with progression points and indicators that describe what inquiry looks like at various stages of development.
𝐄𝐦𝐩𝐡𝐚𝐬𝐢𝐬 𝐨𝐧 𝐋𝐞𝐚𝐫𝐧𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐓𝐫𝐚𝐧𝐬𝐟𝐞𝐫: The new guides focus on investigation skills-such as questioning, research, collaboration, and reflection-that are transferable across disciplines, supporting deeper and more connected learning.
𝐅𝐥𝐞𝐱𝐢𝐛𝐥𝐞, 𝐏𝐞𝐫𝐬𝐨𝐧𝐚𝐥𝐢𝐳𝐞𝐝 𝐏𝐚𝐭𝐡𝐰𝐚𝐲𝐬: Progression points are not tied to grade levels, allowing learners to move through the progressions at their own pace and according to their individual needs.
𝐒𝐭𝐫𝐨𝐧𝐠𝐞𝐫 𝐒𝐮𝐩𝐩𝐨𝐫𝐭 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐋𝐞𝐚𝐫𝐧𝐞𝐫 𝐀𝐠𝐞𝐧𝐜𝐲: The progressions are designed to empower students to take charge of their learning, reflecting the PYP’s commitment to student-centered education.

𝐄𝐱𝐚𝐦𝐩𝐥𝐞 𝟏:

𝐆𝐫𝐚𝐝𝐞 𝟓 – 𝐅𝐨𝐜𝐮𝐬 𝐨𝐧 𝐔𝐧𝐢𝐟𝐢𝐞𝐝 𝐒𝐭𝐫𝐮𝐜𝐭𝐮𝐫𝐞 𝐀𝐜𝐫𝐨𝐬𝐬 𝐒𝐮𝐛𝐣𝐞𝐜𝐭𝐬

Transdisciplinary Theme: How We Express Ourselves

Central Idea: People use multiple forms of expression to share perspectives and provoke change.

Lines of Inquiry:

Forms and styles of artistic and digital expression
The role of expression in communicating beliefs and values
The influence of expression on public opinion and action

Transdisciplinary Connections:

Language: writing persuasive speeches
Arts: multimedia presentations and installations
ICT: digital storytelling and podcasting

Inquiry Skills Focus (from 2025 Progressions):

Investigating – Formulating and refining questions to guide exploration
Communicating – Using a range of strategies to present learning and ideas effectively
Reflecting – Analysing how media can impact different audiences

Link to Update: This unit demonstrates the unified structure across subjects, where students build a conceptual understanding through consistent skill development (inquiry, reflection, communication) across literacy, arts, and ICT, highlighting coherence in transdisciplinary learning.

𝐄𝐱𝐚𝐦𝐩𝐥𝐞 𝟐:

𝐆𝐫𝐚𝐝𝐞 𝟒 – 𝐅𝐨𝐜𝐮𝐬 𝐨𝐧 𝐋𝐞𝐚𝐫𝐧𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐓𝐫𝐚𝐧𝐬𝐟𝐞𝐫 & 𝐏𝐞𝐫𝐬𝐨𝐧𝐚𝐥𝐢𝐳𝐞𝐝 𝐏𝐚𝐭𝐡𝐰𝐚𝐲𝐬

Transdisciplinary Theme: Sharing the Planet

Central Idea: Resource access contributes to the structure, sustainability, and collective well-being of communities.

Lines of Inquiry:

Distribution and consumption of natural resources
Equity and access to basic needs
Personal and collective responsibilities toward sustainability

Transdisciplinary Connections:

Math: interpreting data about resource distribution
Science: renewable vs. non-renewable resources
Social Studies: human impact on the environment

Inquiry Skills Focus (from 2025 Progressions):

Researching – Locating and interpreting diverse sources of information
Collaborating – Engaging in group inquiry to develop solutions
Transferring – Applying ideas from one subject or situation to another

Link to Update: This unit exemplifies learning transfer across multiple disciplines and allows learners to progress through flexible, personalized inquiry pathways, as students explore topics at different depths and contribute in diverse ways based on readiness and interest, emphasizing agency and personalized learning journeys.

𝗪𝗵𝘆 𝗔𝗿𝗲 𝗧𝗵𝗲𝘀𝗲 𝗖𝗵𝗮𝗻𝗴𝗲𝘀 𝗜𝗺𝗽𝗼𝗿𝘁𝗮𝗻𝘁?

𝐂𝐥𝐚𝐫𝐢𝐭𝐲 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐂𝐨𝐧𝐬𝐢𝐬𝐭𝐞𝐧𝐜𝐲: The unified structure and explicit skills make it easier for teachers to plan, monitor, and support inquiry learning across all subjects.
𝐃𝐞𝐞𝐩𝐞𝐫 𝐋𝐞𝐚𝐫𝐧𝐢𝐧𝐠: By focusing on developmental pathways and transferable skills, the updated progressions foster deeper understanding and the ability to apply learning in new contexts.
𝐏𝐞𝐫𝐬𝐨𝐧𝐚𝐥𝐢𝐳𝐞𝐝 𝐆𝐫𝐨𝐰𝐭𝐡: The flexible, non-age-based approach recognizes that every learner’s journey is unique, supporting differentiated instruction and personalized learning goals.
𝐄𝐦𝐩𝐨𝐰𝐞𝐫𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐄𝐝𝐮𝐜𝐚𝐭𝐨𝐫𝐬 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐋𝐞𝐚𝐫𝐧𝐞𝐫𝐬: Teachers have clearer tools for curriculum design and assessment, while students gain more agency and ownership over their learning.

𝗛𝗼𝘄 𝗜𝘀 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗡𝗲𝘄 𝗙𝗿𝗮𝗺𝗲𝘄𝗼𝗿𝗸 𝗕𝗲𝘁𝘁𝗲𝗿?

𝗚𝗿𝗲𝗮𝘁𝗲𝗿 𝗩𝗶𝘀𝘂𝗮𝗹 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗖𝗼𝗻𝗰𝗲𝗽𝘁𝘂𝗮𝗹 𝗖𝗼𝗵𝗲𝗿𝗲𝗻𝗰𝗲: The new documents are easier to navigate and understand, making them more user-friendly for educators.
𝗦𝘁𝗿𝗼𝗻𝗴𝗲𝗿 𝗙𝗼𝗰𝘂𝘀 𝗼𝗻 𝗚𝗿𝗼𝘄𝘁𝗵: The progressions highlight what learners can do and how they can move forward, rather than focusing on gaps or deficits.
𝗘𝗻𝗵𝗮𝗻𝗰𝗲𝗱 𝗖𝗼𝗹𝗹𝗮𝗯𝗼𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻: The shared language and structure support stronger collaboration among teachers, students, and the wider learning community.
𝗙𝘂𝘁𝘂𝗿𝗲-𝗥𝗲𝗮𝗱𝘆 𝗦𝗸𝗶𝗹𝗹𝘀: By emphasizing inquiry, investigation, and reflection, the new progressions prepare students for a rapidly changing world, nurturing adaptable, critical, and creative thinkers.

𝗖𝗼𝗻𝗰𝗹𝘂𝘀𝗶𝗼𝗻

The April 2025 update to the IB PYP Inquiry Learning Progressions marks a significant step forward in inquiry-based education. By providing clear, developmental pathways for inquiry skills, the new framework empowers educators to design meaningful, personalized learning experiences and supports students in becoming confident, capable, and curious lifelong learners.

For schools and educators, now is the time to explore these new documents, reflect on current practices, and embrace the opportunities that the updated inquiry learning progressions bring to the PYP community.

For a deeper dive, educators are encouraged to access the full Inquiry Learning Progressions document via the IB Programme Resource Centre or their MyIB Dashboard.

𝐄𝐱𝐩𝐥𝐨𝐫𝐞 𝐌𝐨𝐫𝐞 𝐑𝐞𝐬𝐨𝐮𝐫𝐜𝐞𝐬 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐋𝐞𝐚𝐫𝐧𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐎𝐩𝐩𝐨𝐫𝐭𝐮𝐧𝐢𝐭𝐢𝐞𝐬

Want to learn more about me or my Platform Inquiry Classroom Visit my websites.
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𝐘𝐨𝐮 𝐜𝐚𝐧 𝐣𝐨𝐢𝐧 𝐨𝐮𝐫 (𝐈𝐧𝐪𝐮𝐢𝐫𝐲 𝐂𝐥𝐚𝐬𝐬𝐫𝐨𝐨𝐦) 𝐖𝐡𝐚𝐭𝐬𝐀𝐩𝐩 𝐜𝐨𝐦𝐦𝐮𝐧𝐢𝐭𝐲 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐏𝐘𝐏 𝐞𝐝𝐮𝐜𝐚𝐭𝐨𝐫𝐬 𝐚𝐫𝐨𝐮𝐧𝐝 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐰𝐨𝐫𝐥𝐝 𝐭𝐨 𝐥𝐞𝐚𝐫𝐧 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐬𝐡𝐚𝐫𝐞 𝐢𝐝𝐞𝐚𝐬. 𝐉𝐨𝐢𝐧𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐋𝐢𝐧𝐤-

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