International Baccalaureate World School

Primary Years Program

Southlands Elementary School

The International Baccalaureate aims to develop inquiring, knowledgeable, and caring young

people who help to create a better and more peaceful world through intercultural

understanding and respect.

The IB programmes encourage students across the world to become active, compassionate, and lifelong learners who understand that other

people, with their differences, can also be right.

IB Mission Statement

• educational framework that focuses on inquiry-based learning (asking questions and searching for answers)

• encourages a learning process that emphasizes natural curiosity and making connections

• students are taught to understand that learning is about asking questions and seeking answers, which may lead to new, more complex questions!

• local curriculum is organized into the PYP framework

• transdisciplinary approach to learning (integrating subjects when appropriate)

What is a PYP Education?

•inclusive education – all children in the school are part of the PYP, regardless of their learning needs

•addresses academic, social, and emotional well-being of every child

•encourages students to develop independence and take responsibility for their own learning

Who is the PYP for?

• some direct instruction in reading, writing, and math

• units of inquiry, with a main focus on science, social studies, fine arts, and/or health and careers

• French language instruction twice a week

• on-going assessment and reflection, by teachers and students (no external IB exams)

• group-work and individual work

• daily physical activity

What is a typical PYP day?

• aim of the PYP is to develop internationally minded students who help to create a better and more peaceful world

• traits of the learner profile are:

inquirers open-mindedknowledgeable caringthinkers risk-takerscommunicators balancedprincipled reflective

PYP Learner Profile

knowledge: significant, relevant content

concepts: powerful ideas that have subject significance but also connect to other curricular areas

skills: transdiciplinary capabilities students need to succeed in a changing, challenging world

attitudes: expressions of fundamental values, beliefs, and feelings about learning, the environment and people

action: demonstrations of deeper learning through responsible action

PYP Written Curriculum

• units of inquiry are planned under six transdisciplinary themes, which repeat each year:

Who we are Where we are in place and time How we express ourselves How the world works How we organize ourselves How We Share the planet

Knowledge:(Transdisciplinary Themes)

• concepts shape the units of inquiry and give them direction and purpose: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?responsibility: What is our responsibility?reflection: How do we know?

Key Concepts:

• instructional focus is on concepts rather than themes or topics, and is expressed through a central idea:

Concept-based Learning:

Rather than:Memorize and locate the rivers, bodies of water, and mountains in British Columbia. Inquire into:Geographic features may determine where humans settle.

Rather than:Research bear facts: types of bears, what they eat and where they live.Inquire into: Animal habitats are affected by human behaviour.

• students are given opportunities to develop transdisciplinary skills needed for academic and personal success:

thinking skillssocial skillscommunication skillsself-management skillsresearch skills

Skills:(Approaches to Learning)

• students are encouraged to develop the following attitudes towards people, the environment, and learning:

appreciation empathycommitment enthusiasmconfidence independencecooperation integritycreativity respectcuriosity tolerance

Attitudes:

•something students choose to do as a result of their experiences, because it is important to them

•students, staff, and families are encouraged to use a cyclical process, called the Action Cycle

•by reflecting on learning, social situations, and behavioral issues, students can make a choice and take action

Action:

Southlands School website:http://go.vsb.bc.ca/schools/southlands

IB website:http://www.ibo.org/pyp

For more information: