PYP - IB - Nature and Intent
Waikerie Lutheran Primary School is an accredited International Baccalaureate (IB) school which implements the Primary Years Programme (PYP).
This internationally recognised framework is used at Waikerie Lutheran Primary School, in conjunction with the Australian Curriculum, to strengthen and enhance the development of the whole child.
The International Baccalaureate Mission Statement:
“The IB aims to develop inquiring, knowledgeable and caring young people who help to create a better and more peaceful world through intercultural understanding and respect.
To this end the organization works with schools, governments and international organizations to develop challenging programmes of international education and rigorous assessment.
These programmes encourage students across the world to become active, compassionate and lifelong learners who understand other people, with their differences can also be right.” (IBO)
Inquiry Approach
Through an inquiry learning approach the PYP aims to develop:
- Intercultural understanding and respect
- Lifelong learning
- Responsibility for their own learning
- Critical, creative and reflective thinking
- Independent and collaborative learning
- Confident communicators
- Informed and active citizens
Learner Profile
International mindedness is encouraged through the following Learner Profile attributes:
- Inquirers
- Knowledgeable
- Thinkers
- Communicators
- Principled
- Open-minded
- Caring
- Risk-takers
- Balanced
- Reflective
Five Essential Elements
Knowledge
To deepen a learner’s understanding the PYP it is guided by 6 Transdisciplinary themes that have global significance:
- Who we are
- Where we are in place and time
- How we express ourselves
- How the world works
- How we organise ourselves
- Sharing the planet
Concepts
These are the main concepts that drive the inquiry to develop an in-depth understanding:
- Form
- Function
- Causation
- Change
- Connection
- Perspective
- Responsibility
- Reflection
Skills
To help the students succeed in a challenging and changing world the following skills are developed:
- Social skills
- Communication skills
- Self-management skills
- Research skills
- Thinking skills
Attitudes
There is a focus on the development of personal attitudes to make a positive difference towards people, the environment and learning:
- Application
- Commitment
- Confidence
- Cooperation
- Creativity
- Curiosity
- Empathy
- Enthusiasm
- Independence
- Integrity
- Respect
- Tolerance
Action
Action is expressed through responsible behaviour in response to what the students have learnt.
