PYP Transdisciplinary Themes
The six units of inquiry (four units for R3 and R4) are developed around six organizing themes that provide the Reception 3 to Year 6 scope and sequence of the international program. The themes:
- have global significance – for all cultures
- offer students the opportunity to explore the commonalities of human experience
- are supported by knowledge, concepts and skills from traditional subject areas but utilize them in ways that transcend the confines of these subjects, thereby contributing to a transdisciplinary model of teaching and learning
- will be revisited throughout the students’ years of schooling, so that the end result is immersion in broad-ranging, in depth, articulated curriculum content
- contribute to the common ground that unifies the curriculums in all PYP schools.
Who We Are: An inquiry into the nature of the self; beliefs and values; personal, physical, mental, social and spiritual health; human relationships including families, friends, communities, and cultures; rights and responsibilities; what it means to be human
Where We Are in Place and Time: An inquiry into orientation in place and time; personal histories; homes and journeys; the discoveries, explorations and migrations of humankind; the relationships between and the interconnectedness of individuals and civilizations, from local and global perspectives
How We Express Ourselves: An inquiry into ways in which we discover and express ideas, feelings, nature, culture, beliefs and values; the ways in which we reflect on, extend and enjoy our creativity; our appreciation of the aesthetic.
How The World Works: An inquiry into the natural world and its laws; the interaction between the natural world (physical and biological) and human societies; how humans use their understanding of scientific principles; the impact of scientific and technological advances on society and the environment.
How We Organize Ourselves: An inquiry into the interconnectedness of human-made systems and communities; the structure and function of organizations; societal decision-making; economic activities and their impact on humankind and the environment
Sharing the Planet: An inquiry into rights and responsibilities in the struggle to share finite resources with other people and with other living things; communities and the relationships within and between them; access to equal opportunities; peace and conflict resolution.
Adopted from International Baccalaureate Organization January 2007. “Making the PYP Happen”.
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