5 Essential Elements:

The PYP framework incorporates five essential elements: Concepts, Knowledge, Skills, Attitudes and Action.

Concepts – "What do we want students to understand?"

Eight broad concepts act as the powerful ideas to drive the Units of Inquiry.

FORM | What is it like?
FUNCTION | How does it work?
CAUSATION | Why is it like it is?
CONNECTION | How is it connected to other things?
PERSPECTIVE | What are the points of view?
RESPONSIBILITY | What are our responsibilities?
REFLECTION | How do we know?

KNOWLEDGE: “What do we want the students to know about?”

At each grade level, students explore knowledge which is of genuine importance in understanding the human condition and has significance for all students of all cultures. The topics studied are engaging and challenging.

Who We Are
Where We Are in Time & Place
How We Express Ourselves
How the World Works
How We Organize Ourselves
How We Share the Planet

SKILLS: “What do we want students to be able to do?”

There are five sets of skills which are the focus across the disciplines in the PYP:

Thinking Skills
Communication Skills
Social Skills
Research Skills
Self-Management Skills

ATTITUDES: “What do we want students to value?”

The Primary Years Programme encourages a set of attitudes in students including:

Tolerance
Respect
Integrity
Independence
Enthusiasm
Empathy

Curiosity
Creativity
Co-operation
Confidence
Commitment
Appreciation

ACTION: “How do we want students to act?”

Enabling students to take action is an important aspect of the PYP. Canadian International School students are taught to reflect, choose and act responsibly at CIS, with their friends and in the community.

For more general information about the PYP or the IBO, visit their website at www.ibo.org

Modified from: Making the PYP Happen, IBO 2000