• Puente logo        Blue and white IB Logo with Yellow banner that reads Primary Years Programme

    The International Baccalaureate Primary Year Programme

    To complement PdH's dual-language programming, PdH is also an International Baccalureate (IB) School. The IB is recognized globally with over 5000 International Schools. The IB Primary Year Programme (PYP) is designed for elementary age students.  This program provides the knowledge, concepts, skills, personal attributes and the capacity to take reflective and responsible action.

    Students at PdH investigate across subject areas in order to gain knowledge and understanding as they explore global, topical and relevant ‘big picture’ questions, or transdisciplinary themes.

    Student-centered learning

    The PYP provides an ideal foundation for children to become successful, lifelong learners by developing the following:

    • social and emotional well-being
    • independence, as they take responsibility for their own learning
    • international mindedness and learning to cross lines of difference
    • understanding of the world and their ability to function effectively within it
    • attitudes and dispositions for learning
    • ability to take mindful, appropriate and responsible student-initiated action
    • language skills in more than one language

    Learning in the PYP is underpinned by six transdisciplinary themes: 

    • Who we are

    Inquiry into the nature of the self; beliefs and values; person, physical, mental, social and spiritual health; and human relationships.

    • Where we are in place and time

    Inquiry into our orientation in place and time; personal histories; the discoveries and explorations of humankind; and the interconnectedness of individuals and civilizations.

    • How we express ourselves

    Inquiry into the ways in which we discover and express ideas, feelings, nature, culture, beliefs and values.

    • How the world works

    Inquiry into the natural world and its laws, the interaction between the natural world and human societies; the impact of scientific and technological advances on society and on the environment.

    • How we organize ourselves

    Inquiry into the interconnectedness of human-made systems and communities; the structure and function of organizations; and their impact on humankind and the environment.

    • Sharing the planet

    Inquiry into rights and responsibilities in the struggle to share finite resources with other people and other living things; access to equal opportunities; and peace and conflict resolution.

     Programme of Inquiry

    The Programme of Inquiry (POI) is a plan that articulates what, when, and how learners explore the transdisciplinary themes.  Click HERE to view PdH's Programme of Inquiry.  

    Learning Cycle  

    The Exhibition

    The Exhibition is an extended, in-depth project celebrating the culmination of a child’s learning experience in the PYP before they move on to the next stage in their educational journey. In PYP schools as well as PdH, the Exhibition occurs in fifth-grade.Young learners conduct an in-depth inquiry into real life issues or challenges, and present their research, investigation and resulting action to the whole school community. The Exhibition is a archetype of what learning should be in general, and hopefully continues to guide students though the middle and high school years of learning. 

    Recent research into the impact of the PYP exhibition found it to be a valuable and pivotal experience in the life of the schools, families and students who were involved.”

    Reflect Cycle

    Success with the PYP

    recent study asked parents and educators how they defined success with the PYP. Educators cited enhanced student learning outcomes, a shared vision of learning within their school, focused decision making, and increased international mindedness in the school community.

    In another recent study, PYP educators showed a commitment to using inquiry methods as a key pedagogical approach, and understood how to promote transdisciplinary themes and their exploration. To do this, these PYP schools adopted a variety of thinking tools in their classroom to engage students.

    How does the PYP in the early years compare to other early childhood learning approaches?

    The PYP framework is compatible with many other early childhood learning approaches including Montessori, Reggio and Waldorf.

    Relationships, play, symbolic expression, learning environment and learning experiences are important components for learning in the PYP and many early childhood programmes. The PYP also provides the added dimension of international mindedness within a quality-assured and research-informed framework for early learners.

    Will teaching the PYP differ at International schools and State schools?

    A child’s learning experience may differ depending on the mission and aims of each school and their unique identity and context. However, a school’s ethos will reflect the IB mission to create a better and more peaceful world through intercultural understanding and respect and their approaches to learning and approaches to teaching will meet the high expectations of IB standards and practices. PdH's vision and mission remain the same, but adding IB mission alongside our own strengthens our program overall. 

    As a global framework, goals from other curricula can be aligned within the programme although key concepts will remain the same. PdH will implement state, national, and international standards in our curricula.

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