Overview of the Primary Years Programme (PYP)
It is important to keep in mind that Findley Elementary is just beginning this process. It takes several years to be considered an official PYP School. The information in this section is what our school will look like when we are considered to have "arrived" as a Primary Years Programme School.
The Primary Years Programme is part of the International Baccalaureate Organization (IBO). The IB offers programs at the elementary level (Primary Years Programme/ PYP), middle school level (Middle Years Programme/MYP), and the High School Level (Diploma Programme/ DP). All three programmes have the common goal of preparing students to go out into the world to make it a better place as INTERNATIONALLY MINDED people. They will be ready to embody the ATTRIBUTES OF THE LEARNER PROFILE: balanced, communicator, caring, inquirers, principled, open-minded, thinker, risk-taker, and knowledgeable.
Although PYP is a programme, it is also a PHILOSOPHY of education. The philosophy behind PYP holds these essential elements:
All student receive instruction in an additional language. Findley Elementary is excited to offer one hour of Spanish instruction each week to students. Our goal to is celebrate Spanish speaking cultures through learning the language.
Below is a video created by IB that Explains the overview in a little more depth.
The Primary Years Programme is part of the International Baccalaureate Organization (IBO). The IB offers programs at the elementary level (Primary Years Programme/ PYP), middle school level (Middle Years Programme/MYP), and the High School Level (Diploma Programme/ DP). All three programmes have the common goal of preparing students to go out into the world to make it a better place as INTERNATIONALLY MINDED people. They will be ready to embody the ATTRIBUTES OF THE LEARNER PROFILE: balanced, communicator, caring, inquirers, principled, open-minded, thinker, risk-taker, and knowledgeable.
Although PYP is a programme, it is also a PHILOSOPHY of education. The philosophy behind PYP holds these essential elements:
- Students learn best when they are empowered to construct their own KNOWLEDGE about the world around them. The teacher's role is to act as facilitator in this construction of knowledge.
- Learning should be significant, relevant, and global. This is done best through CONCEPTUAL learning since concepts can be applied to any time period and any place in the world.
- Help students reflect on their daily ATTITUDES as part of their development towards becoming internationally minded.
- Explicitly teach SKILLS (approaches to learning) that will enable students to be successful no matter which path they take after high school.
- Inspire students to take ACTION as a result of their learning. Authentic action is a signifier of relevant and significant curriculum.
All student receive instruction in an additional language. Findley Elementary is excited to offer one hour of Spanish instruction each week to students. Our goal to is celebrate Spanish speaking cultures through learning the language.
Below is a video created by IB that Explains the overview in a little more depth.
The Learner Profile
The Attributes of the Learner Profile is the heart of the programme. These attributes are something that people continue to strive towards their entire lives. PYP considers a person that is exhibiting parts of each of the attributes is someone that is ready to be a "global citizen". Because they are "internationally minded", they are ready to go into the world, understand other perspectives, and make it a better place.
A Closer Look at the 5 Essential Elements of the Programme
Knowledge Built Through Transdisciplinary Themes
Each year at a PYP school, students experience six units of inquiry - one for each of the transdisciplinary themes. These themes are conceptual. Each grade level looks at the same theme through a different conceptual lens. For example, under Where We Are in Place and Time, fourth grade learns about migration and third grade learns about community development. You can see the six themes and their descriptions below: