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The IB Primary Years Programme (PYP)

International Baccalaureate Primary Years Programme (IB PYP)

The International Baccalaureate Primary Years Programme (IB PYP) is an educational framework designed for children aged 3 to 12. It focuses on developing the whole child as an inquirer, both in the classroom and in the world outside.

The IB PYP aims to cultivate a nurturing and stimulating environment where students, embodying the IB Learner Profile, develop the skills, knowledge, and attitudes necessary to thrive as inquiring, knowledgeable, and caring global citizens in a rapidly changing world

 

 

The Learner Profile

The IB learner profile represents 10 attributes valued by IB World Schools. These attributes, and others like them, can help individuals and groups become responsible members of local, national and global communities.

Six Transdisciplinary Themes

In the IB Primary Years Program (PYP) there are 6 transdisciplinary themes that provide an overarching structure through which students explore different aspects of the world, helping them to see beyond differences and realize the commonality that unites humanity. The themes, which make up an IB PYP’s school Programme of Inquiry, ensure learning is meaningful, engaging and connected to the real world. The themes focus on the following contexts: 

What are the 6 Transdisciplinary themes?

Programme of Inquiry

Students explore the six transdisciplinary themes through Units of Inquiry (UOI) as they progress through each year level in the IB PYP.

Units may last anywhere from 4-8 weeks, run in parallel with other units or even be year-long. As students move through a series of lines of inquiry to help them understand the big idea, referred to as the central idea, they acquire specific subject knowledge, build conceptual understanding and build core subject skills.

Various subject areas may be integrated into a Unit of Inquiry including Literacy, Math, Science, Social Studies, PSPE (personal, social and physical education and the arts (music, visual arts, drama & dance). 

Picture of the POI 2025 2026

 

Six Core Subject Areas

The International Baccalaureate Primary Years Programme (IB PYP) focuses on six core subject areas to provide a well-rounded education including Language, Mathematics, Science, Social Studies, Personal, Social & Physical Education (PSPE) and the Arts. The Programme of Inquiry is structured and balanced to ensure students are exposed to a breadth and depth of subject areas.  

When possible, these subject areas are integrated into the Units of Inquiry to create a cohesive and engaging learning experience for students where they can apply subject skills in an authentic context.  Core math and literacy skills may likewise be taught outside the programme of inquiry, ensuring students acquire specific subject knowledge, develop understandings and build core skills that they can transfer to various areas of learning. 

These subjects are:

What Are the Six Core Subject Areas?

Approaches To Learning

In all the IB Programs, students do not just acquire subject knowledge, build conceptual understandings and develop subject skills, they also ‘learn how to learn’.  Approaches to Learning, commonly referred to as the ATLs, are a set of important skills that students actively use throughout the learning process and in everyday life.  

The ATL’s are organized into 5 categories: Thinking, Research, Communication, Social and Self-Management skills. They involve sub-skills which are critical in a student’s learning journey, including but not limited to critical thinking, interpreting information, synthesizing and analysing data, working through setbacks, managing emotions, making connections between different areas of learning, negotiating roles etc... The IB Primary Years Programme (PYP) emphasizes the development of these essential skills. Students further develop their understanding of these approaches when they move into the IB MYP. 

Action

Action is a fundamental component of the IB Primary Years Programme (PYP), providing students with an opportunity to make a difference. Taking action supports young learners in seeing themselves as capable and competent individuals who have the potential to make a positive change that may not only impact their own lives, but the lives of others. Action in the IBPYP likewise lays an important foundation for community service in the IB Middle Years Program (IB MYP). 

Action may be done individually or collectively with others. It may be short or long term, revisited or ongoing. It may be done on a smaller scale or larger scale and can take place anywhere, both within and outside of the four walls of the school. In the IB PYP there are different types of action.