Grover Beach School is proud to be a candiate school for the International Baccalaureate (IB) Primary Years Program (PYP). This program works to develop the whole child and builds within students the passion for learning. In the Primary Years Program, teachers and students generate questions with which to conduct inquiry into significant content. Through this inquiry process, students gain essential knowledge and skills and are encouraged to engage in responsible action. They do all of this in a climate which fosters positive attitudes and develops a concept of internationalism.
Through the PYP at Grover Beach School, children:
develop an understanding of important concepts
conduct research that has local and global significance
acquire and practice a range of essential skills
develop positive attitudes towards learning, the environment and other people
have the opportunity for involvement in responsible action
UNITS OF INQUIRY
The Primary Years Program at Grover Beach School allows students to participate in large, transdisciplinary units each year, called Units of Inquiry (UOI). Each of these Units:
- Is a significant, relevant and challenging learning experience
- Builds on the prior knowledge of the students
- Involves students in a range of learning activities
- Requires students to engage in positive action
- Integrates diverse subject areas whenever meaningful and appropriate
Through these Units of Inquiry, the classroom becomes a centre of structured inquiry through which students acquire and practise skills and build new knowledge.
These units are outlined in our school-wide Program of Inquiry (POI) and are carefully designed to build from one year to the next as a student progresses through the school.
5 ESSENTIAL ELEMENTS
To meet the program goals, the PYP emphasizes five essential elements: Concepts, Knowledge, Skills, Attitudes and Action.
Concepts
What do we want students to understand?
Seven broad concepts act as the powerful ideas to drive the Units of Inquiry:
Function - How does it work?
Causation - Why is it like it is?
Change - How is it changing?
Connection - How is it connected to other things?
Perspective - What are the points of view?
Responsibility - What is our responsibility?
Reflection - How do we know?
Knowledge
What do we want students to know about?
Knowledge is an important aspect of the Primary Years Program. At each grade level, students explore knowledge which is of genuine importance in understanding the human condition and has significance for all students of all cultures. The topics studied are engaging and have the potential to actively engage students in their own learning. In addition the units are challenging and extend the prior knowledge and experience of the students.
Skills
What do we want students to be able to do?
There are five sets of skills that are acquired throughout all disciplines in the PYP program:
* Thinking Skills * Communication Skills * Social Skills * Research Skills * Self-Management Skills
Attitudes
What do we want students to value?
The Primary Years Program encourages a set of attitudes within its students including:
* Tolerance * Respect * Integrity * Independence * Enthusiasm * Empathy * Curiosity
* Creativity * Co-operation * Confidence * Commitment * Appreciation
Action
How do we want students to act?
Encouraging students to take action is an imperative part of the PYP.
Grover Beach Elementary School students are taught to reflect, choose and act responsibly, with their friends and in the community.
