Primary Years Programme (PYP)
Students are encouraged to work together and share what they know, what they want to know and what they have learnt. They achieve this by formulating questions, based on the key concepts, which will direct the inquiry. The responsibility of the learning is shared between the teacher and the student through the development of attitudes, and the learning of essential skills and knowledge in order for students to find out about and understand ideas of global importance.
Teachers select units of inquiry by considering the relevance, significance and meaning through structured, purposeful inquiry, which enables students to investigate themes of universal importance across all curriculum areas. This allows for exciting, meaningful and challenging programmes.
Why focus on inquiry?
Current education research shows that children learn best when they are encouraged to actively ask questions and participate in finding answers or solutions to problems. The inquiry approach helps students to make connections between different areas of knowledge, not by learning things in isolation. Certain areas of knowledge may have to be taught as a stand-alone unit where appropriate.
How is it changing?
The curriculum is a living and growing document. This is why staff are constantly reviewing and updating the curriculum through ongoing professional development. It enables us to reflect on our programmes, make appropriate changes and also contribute ideas to the further development of the programme worldwide.
Transdisciplinary Themes
The Primary Years Program has identified six areas of knowledge called transdisciplinary themes – these are considered to be of lasting significance for all students and for all cultures. These themes provide a framework for teachers to design units of inquiry that incorporate district/state/national learning standards as well as opportunities for students to develop the skills, attitudes, concepts and knowledge needed to become internationally-minded people and life-long learners.
PYP units of inquiry approach learning as being transdisciplinary in nature. Teachers use structured inquiry to guide students through each unit while incorporating perspectives from a variety of fields of knowledge (scientific, mathematical, technological, artistic, musical, linguistic, historical, cultural, and social, to name a few) to build on their past experiences and reach new understandings.
The six transdisciplinary themes are addressed each year at every grade level, but with a different focus and inquiry. In addition to six yearly transdisciplinary units of inquiry based upon the PYP transdisciplinary themes, students receive daily instruction in Mathematics, Reading and Writing to ensure that they continue to develop their skills in those foundational subject areas.
Who are we
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 the 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 on 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 of 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 relationship within and between them; access to equal opportunities; peace and conflict resolution.
PYP Exhibition
At the end of PYP6 all students participate in the PYP Exhibition. It is a significant event in the life of a PYP school and the students; it is an opportunity for students to exhibit the attributes of the IB Learner Profile that they have been developing throughout their engagement with the PYP and to celebrate their transition from Primary to Middle/Secondary school.
The PYP Exhibition is an 8-10 week in-depth collaborative inquiry. Working in groups, the students investigate a real-life issue that is pertinent to them with the purpose of creating an action plan to make a difference.
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- They can use a variety of source materials: first-hand experience, interviews, surveys, field visits, etc. and use a range of media (e.g., moving and still images, audio, animation) and forms of expression (e.g., written work, oral presentations, performances).
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- Teachers/mentors will guide the students through each phase of the process. The Exhibition is shared with members of the wider school community during the process and at the end – during the day for students and in an evening presentation for parents.
Fijian & Hindi Language
Acquisition of more than one language enriches intellectual and personal growth and helps facilitate international understanding.
English is the language of instruction at ISN, but we also provide the opportunity for all primary students to learn two additional languages – Hindi & Fijian which, in addition to English, make up Fiji’s official languages. Wherever possible, language teaching is linked with Units of Inquiry. For instance, in a unit such as Visual Arts and Villages around our school, students will learn about Fijian Art, the village settings, the history and the rules of the village. The class might then visit a village to look at the different artwork such as pottery.
In a unit such as From Field to Table, students learn about the different kinds of food in the Fijian words and might visit a local market where they can practice dialogues learned in class to purchase food in Fijian or Hindi.
How will you know how your child is doing?
Students and teachers are actively involved in assessing students’ progress.
Assessment involves the gathering and analysis of student performance and is designed to inform teaching and learning. It identifies what students know, understand, can do, and feel at different stages in their learning.
We use a balanced range of assessment tools and strategies, carefully designed to give students, parents and teachers a clear picture of a student’s progress.
Some of these strategies are:
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- Observations
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- Performance assessments such as presentations, debates and role-plays.
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- Teacher-student/student-student conferencing and conversations.
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- Tests with true/false, multiple-choice questions.
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- Open-ended tasks such as written answers and drawing illustrations and diagrams.
Some of the assessment tools are:
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- Rubrics: student and/or teacher-designed criteria
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- Benchmarks
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- Checklists
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- Anecdotal records: brief written notes based on observations of students
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- Continuum: shows a progression of achievement or identifies where a student has reached
Parents and Guardians are encouraged to play an active in supporting your child’s learning by staying in touch with the class teacher throughout the year.
