IB Primary Years Programme
SWA offers the International Baccalaureate Primary Years Programme (PYP) in the Elementary School for students from PK - Grade 5.
At the heart of the International Baccalaureate Primary Years Programme (IBPYP) philosophy, is a commitment to structured inquiry as the leading vehicle for learning. Six transdisciplinary themes provide the framework for the exploration of concepts and knowledge. Teachers and students are guided by these themes as they design curricular units for exploration and study. See Figure 1.
The Curriculum Framework consists of five essential elements:
• Concepts
• Knowledge
• Skills
• Attitude
• Action
The knowledge component is developed through inquiries into six transdisciplinary themes of global significance, supported and balanced by six subject areas.
The PYP is a transdisciplinary curriculum, which means that the connections that learners naturally make between and within subjects is emphasized. In this way much learning happens through integrated units of inquiry as well as single subject units known as Stand Alone Units.
A Unit of Inquiry can be an inquiry into an important piece of learning from one subject area or content from a number of subjects that are connected under a common big idea or understanding. At any time during the year students will study one Unit of Inquiry based on a PYP organizing theme and a number of Stand Alone Units.
Summary of Subjects
Elementary School students at SWA study the following subjects:
Language, Mathematics, Social Studies, Science and Technology, Social Studies, Physical Education, Personal and Social Education, The Arts (Visual Arts, Music, Drama) and Religion (optional).
Language, Mathematics, Social Studies, Science and Technology, Social Studies, Physical Education, Personal and Social Education, The Arts (Visual Arts, Music, Drama) and Religion (optional).
