The Role of Social Science in the PYP – 

A Guide with the 2025 PYP Enhancements!

𝟭. 𝗜𝗻𝘁𝗿𝗼𝗱𝘂𝗰𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻

Social Science in the Primary Years Programme (PYP) empowers students to understand how people, cultures, and societies shape our world. The 2025 IB PYP enhancements bring a significant shift: the Social Science curriculum is now structured around four strands, with updated names and descriptions that reflect global citizenship, sustainability, and systems thinking. This guide summarizes the new framework, provides a comparison with the previous one, and offers practical strategies for implementation.

𝟮. 𝗨𝗽𝗱𝗮𝘁𝗲𝗱 𝗦𝗼𝗰𝗶𝗮𝗹 𝗦𝗰𝗶𝗲𝗻𝗰𝗲 𝗦𝘁𝗿𝗮𝗻𝗱𝘀: 𝗙𝗼𝘂𝗻𝗱𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝘀 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗜𝗻𝗾𝘂𝗶𝗿𝘆

As per the 2025 Subject Continuum, the IB PYP organizes Social Science learning around the following four strands. These strands guide students through essential ideas related to systems, culture, historical thinking, and environmental relationships. Each strand supports conceptual learning and global citizenship.

𝗖𝗼𝗺𝗽𝗮𝗿𝗶𝘀𝗼𝗻 𝗧𝗮𝗯𝗹𝗲: 𝗢𝗹𝗱 (𝗣𝗿𝗲-𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟱) 𝘃𝘀. 𝗡𝗲𝘄 (𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟱) 𝗦𝘁𝗿𝗮𝗻𝗱𝘀

This table illustrates how the previous five strands have been merged and reconceptualized into four deeper, more globally responsive strands.

𝗣𝗹𝗮𝗻𝗻𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗚𝘂𝗶𝗱𝗮𝗻𝗰𝗲

This planning guide helps educators align PoI elements and social studies expectations across year levels with conceptual coherence and progression.

𝟯. 𝗞𝗲𝘆 𝗜𝗺𝗽𝗿𝗼𝘃𝗲𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁𝘀 𝗶𝗻 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟱 𝗙𝗿𝗮𝗺𝗲𝘄𝗼𝗿𝗸

The revised 2025 framework reflects a pedagogical shift toward ethical, global, and systems-based learning. The following table highlights the most notable changes and improvements made under each of the four updated Social Science strands. These enhancements are intended to increase relevance, promote learner agency, and deepen students’ understanding of the world through a transdisciplinary lens.

𝟰. 𝗘𝗺𝗯𝗲𝗱𝗱𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗦𝗼𝗰𝗶𝗮𝗹 𝗦𝗰𝗶𝗲𝗻𝗰𝗲 𝗶𝗻 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗣𝗿𝗼𝗴𝗿𝗮𝗺𝗺𝗲 𝗼𝗳 𝗜𝗻𝗾𝘂𝗶𝗿𝘆 (𝗣𝗼𝗜)

This section presents examples of how social science strands are embedded across grade-level units through transdisciplinary themes. The table below shows alignment between central ideas, strands, and IB themes to ensure vertical articulation and real-world inquiry.

𝟱. 𝗗𝗲𝗹𝗶𝘃𝗲𝗿𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗦𝗼𝗰𝗶𝗮𝗹 𝗦𝗰𝗶𝗲𝗻𝗰𝗲 𝗟𝗲𝗮𝗿𝗻𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗢𝘂𝘁𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗲𝘀 𝗘𝗳𝗳𝗲𝗰𝘁𝗶𝘃𝗲𝗹𝘆

Effective delivery of Social Science learning outcomes requires the integration of ATL skills, the learner profile, and authentic assessments. This table provides best practices with sample implementation methods to enhance meaningful learning.

𝟲. 𝗦𝗼𝗰𝗶𝗮𝗹 𝗦𝗰𝗶𝗲𝗻𝗰𝗲 𝗶𝗻 𝗔𝗰𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻: 𝗚𝗿𝗮𝗱𝗲-𝗟𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗹 𝗘𝘅𝗮𝗺𝗽𝗹𝗲𝘀

This section demonstrates how real-world social science concepts are translated into age-appropriate learning engagements. It helps educators visualize how key ideas apply across year levels.

𝟳. 𝗞𝗲𝘆 𝗖𝗼𝗻𝗰𝗲𝗽𝘁𝘀 𝗗𝗿𝗶𝘃𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗦𝗼𝗰𝗶𝗮𝗹 𝗦𝗰𝗶𝗲𝗻𝗰𝗲 𝗜𝗻𝗾𝘂𝗶𝗿𝘆

Social Science is deeply rooted in conceptual learning. The table below showcases essential concepts and questions that help educators build inquiry-based units across all grades.

𝟴. 𝗔𝗽𝗽𝗿𝗼𝗮𝗰𝗵𝗲𝘀 𝘁𝗼 𝗟𝗲𝗮𝗿𝗻𝗶𝗻𝗴 (𝗔𝗧𝗟) 𝗦𝗸𝗶𝗹𝗹𝘀 𝗶𝗻 𝗦𝗼𝗰𝗶𝗮𝗹 𝗦𝗰𝗶𝗲𝗻𝗰𝗲

Social Science fosters the development of ATL skills in authentic contexts. This table outlines how specific ATL skills can be addressed through inquiry-based engagements.

𝟵. 𝗟𝗲𝗮𝗿𝗻𝗲𝗿 𝗣𝗿𝗼𝗳𝗶𝗹𝗲 𝗔𝘁𝘁𝗿𝗶𝗯𝘂𝘁𝗲𝘀 𝗶𝗻 𝗦𝗼𝗰𝗶𝗮𝗹 𝗦𝗰𝗶𝗲𝗻𝗰𝗲

The IB learner profile attributes align naturally with social science learning. This table offers real-world classroom applications for each attribute, encouraging students to become principled global citizens.

𝟭𝟬. 𝗔𝗱𝗱𝗶𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝗮𝗹 𝗖𝗼𝗻𝗰𝗲𝗽𝘁𝘀 𝗶𝗻 𝗦𝗼𝗰𝗶𝗮𝗹 𝗦𝗰𝗶𝗲𝗻𝗰𝗲

To deepen understanding, teachers can use additional content-specific concepts under each strand. These terms can support vocabulary building, provoke inquiry, and enrich assessment design.

𝟭𝟭. 𝗧𝗿𝗮𝗻𝘀𝗱𝗶𝘀𝗰𝗶𝗽𝗹𝗶𝗻𝗮𝗿𝘆 𝗧𝗵𝗲𝗺𝗲𝘀 𝗘𝗻𝗿𝗶𝗰𝗵𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗦𝗼𝗰𝗶𝗮𝗹 𝗦𝗰𝗶𝗲𝗻𝗰𝗲

Social Science concepts integrate seamlessly with the IB's transdisciplinary themes. This table shows how strands connect to central ideas across the six themes, reinforcing conceptual transfer.

𝟭𝟮. 𝗔𝘀𝘀𝗲𝘀𝘀𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗧𝗼𝗼𝗹𝘀 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗦𝗼𝗰𝗶𝗮𝗹 𝗦𝗰𝗶𝗲𝗻𝗰𝗲

Authentic assessment tools in Social Science allow learners to explore, reflect, and act on their understandings. The following examples support diverse ways of demonstrating learning.

𝗙𝗶𝗻𝗮𝗹 𝗥𝗲𝗳𝗹𝗲𝗰𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻: 𝗘𝗺𝗽𝗼𝘄𝗲𝗿𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗬𝗼𝘂𝗻𝗴 𝗖𝗵𝗮𝗻𝗴𝗲𝗺𝗮𝗸𝗲𝗿𝘀

The 2025 IB PYP Social Science framework ensures that learning is inquiry-driven, conceptually rich, and developmentally appropriate. By focusing on the four updated strands, educators can foster thoughtful, responsible, and compassionate global citizens who are ready to understand and shape their world.

𝗥𝗲𝗳𝗲𝗿𝗲𝗻𝗰𝗲𝘀:

• IB PYP Subject Continuum: Social Studies (April 2025)

• IB Educator’s Guide, 2025 Edition

𝗠𝗶𝘀𝘀𝗲𝗱 𝗢𝘂𝗿 𝗥𝗲𝗰𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗣𝗬𝗣 𝗪𝗲𝗯𝗶𝗻𝗮𝗿𝘀? 𝗛𝗲𝗿𝗲’𝘀 𝗬𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗖𝗵𝗮𝗻𝗰𝗲 𝘁𝗼 𝗖𝗮𝘁𝗰𝗵 𝗨𝗽!

If you have missed any of our recent or earlier webinars, don't worry - we’ve got you covered! 🎥 Recorded sessions are now available, each accompanied by a comprehensive Resource Kit, thoughtfully curated to support immediate implementation in your classroom. These kits include strategies, sample plans, and ready-to-use templates aligned with the IB PYP framework. Here’s what’s available:

1. Assessment in the PYP (2 hrs)

2. Designing Unit of Inquiry Planners (2 hrs)

3. Language in the PYP (90 min)

4. The PYP Exhibition (90 min)

📲 To access the recordings and resource kits, feel free to contact us on WhatsApp at +91 88948 78830. Let’s continue to learn, share, and grow together as a community of lifelong PYP learners and educators. 🌍✨

𝗪𝗮𝗻𝘁 𝘁𝗼 𝗹𝗲𝗮𝗿𝗻 𝗺𝗼𝗿𝗲 𝗮𝗯𝗼𝘂𝘁 𝗺𝗲 𝗼𝗿 𝗺𝘆 𝗣𝗹𝗮𝘁𝗳𝗼𝗿𝗺 𝗜𝗻𝗾𝘂𝗶𝗿𝘆 𝗖𝗹𝗮𝘀𝘀𝗿𝗼𝗼𝗺? 𝗩𝗶𝘀𝗶𝘁: https://lnkd.in/g2ijMEsW