Who Do We Want To Be?

Inquirers

Communicators

Open-minded

Risk-takers

Balanced

ReflectiveCaring

Principled

Thinkers

Knowledgeable

What should we do after we learn?

I can learn new things.I can understand what I learn and tell others about it.I can use what I’ve learned in a new way.I can break down the things I learn and take a closer look.I can put together the things I learn together and look at the big picture.I can decide if something is good or bad.I can think about different points of view at the same time in order to debate with others.I can think about the way I learn.

I can take on a job and finish it.I can listen to others and act fairly.I can work well with others.I can work out problems with others by listening and compromising.I can work well in groups to make decisions.I can lead sometimes and follow other times.

I can listen to directions and to others.I can speak clearly when working with others or presenting information.I can read different things for different reasons.I can write different things for different reasons.I can look at things carefully to learn as much as I can.I can share the things I’ve learned to others.I can communicate with others without using words.

I can use my bigger muscles to show my strength.I can use my smaller muscles to show how precise I can be.I can maintain a bubble around my body and not invade others’ personal space.I can plan and carry out those plans well.I can use my time well.I can keep myself out of danger.I can make good decisions about what I eat, how I relax, how I stay fit, and how I stay clean.I can understand and follow the unwritten “rules” of being in a group.I can make a decision based on what I know or what I think.

I can think of relevant questions.I can use all five senses to notice different features of an object.I can plan how I’m going to learn something.I can gather information from different places.I can write down the information I learn from different places.I can sort and organize the information I’ve learned from different places.I can understand what the information means that I’ve gathered from different places.I can share the things I’ve learned to others.

Acquisition of knowledgeComprehensionApplicationAnalysisSynthesisEvaluationDialectical thought

Metacognition

Accepting ResponsibilityRespecting othersCooperatingResolving conflictGroup decision-makingAdopting a variety of group roles

ListeningSpeakingReadingWritingViewingPresentingNon-verbal communication

Gross motor skillsFine motor skillsSpatial awareness

OrganizationTime managementSafetyHealthy lifestyle

Codes of behaviorInformed choices

Formulating questionsObservingPlanningCollecting dataRecording dataOrganizing dataInterpreting data

Presenting research findings

What skills do we want to be able to do?

Thinking Skills

Social Skills

Communication Skills

Self-management Skills

Research Skills

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PRIMARY YEARS PROGRAMME (PYP)PRE-SCHOOL TO GRADE 5

SCIS’s Mission:To develop inquiring, knowledgeable and caring learners who contribute positively to their communities.

SCIS’s Mission:To develop inquiring, knowledgeable and caring learners who contribute positively to their communities.

ME, MY FAMILY AND MY FRIENDSCentral Idea:We are alike and different in many ways.

An inquiry into:• Myself and My Family• My likes and dislikes• Friendships

IMAGINATIVE STORYTELLING Central Idea:We use our imagination to express stories and ideas in different ways.

An inquiry into:• Stories and storytelling• How stories and ideas can

be expressed in different ways• Imagination and

pretend play

TRANSPORTATIONCentral Idea:Transportation helps connect people.

An inquiry into:• Different forms of

transportation• Transportation safety• How transportation

connects people

WHAT LIVING THINGS NEED TO GROWCentral Idea:Living things have certain needs in order to grow and stay healthy.

An inquiry into:• Characteristics of

living things• The needs of living things • How living things change

through their life

ALL ABOUT MECentral Idea:As I grow and change I discover new things about who I am and what I can do.

An inquiry into:• What am I like• The ways that I change• How I grow as a learner

ART AND ARTISTSCentral Idea:Artists use many ways to express ideas and feelings.

An inquiry into:• The different forms of Art• The way Art makes us feel• Artists and how they work

BUILD IT AND CREATE IT!Central Idea:People use materials to build things for enjoyment or problem solving.

An inquiry into:• Different materials and

their properties• The structure of buildings,

towers and bridges• Shapes used to make stable,

weight bearing structures

CARING FOR OUR EARTHCentral Idea:People’s actions can help or hurt living things.

An inquiry into:• Animals, plants and

other living things• Classification of living

things• Caring for living things

SURPRISING SENSESCentral Idea:People use their senses to connect to the world.

An inquiry into:• The five senses and how they

work• How senses help us

connect to the world• How we care for our senses

PLAY AROUND THE WORLDCentral Idea:People play in different ways.around the world.

An inquiry into:• Play in different places• How games work• The similarities and

differences between play

CULTURAL CELEBRATIONSCentral Idea:People celebrate in many ways for many reasons.

An inquiry into:• Characteristics of

celebrations• The reasons for celebrations• The similarities among

celebrations

SCIENTIFIC METHODCentral Idea:Scientists follow a method to learn new things.

An inquiry into:• How scientists conduct

experiments• How scientists make observations

and record findings• How scientists make conclusions

and share their results

MY COMMUNITYCentral Idea:Everyone has a role to play in the community to help it function.

An inquiry into:• What makes a community• How communities work• The responsibilities of

community members

OUR RELATIONSHIPS WITH ANIMALSCentral Idea:Relationships between humans and animals are affected by our actions.

An inquiry into:• Animals and what they

need to live• How humans impact

animals’ lives• Humans responsibility

to keep animals safe

HEALTHY LIVINGCentral Idea:Choices we make affect our health.

An inquiry into:• Healthy living (nutrition

and fitness)• How my food choices affect

my health, well-being and the environment

PERSONAL HISTORIESCentral Idea:Historical evidence and stories provides insight into our past, present and future.

An inquiry into:• Personal Histories• Artifacts and stories• Connections among our

stories and experiences

SIGNS AND SYMBOLSCentral Idea:Signs and symbols can communicate information and meaning.

An inquiry into:• Signs and symbols• The reasons for signs and

symbols and how they work• Communication through

signs and symbols

NATURAL CYCLESCentral Idea:Natural cycles of the earth affect the way we live.

An inquiry into:• Natural Cycles• The connection between the

natural world and humans• The impact of natural and

human advances on cycles

I’M IN CHARGE!Central Idea:Understanding our rights and responsibilities in society helps us make educated decisions.

An inquiry into:• The impact of our choices

on learning• The rules and routines that

shape our school day• Our responsibilities as a learner

WATER, A PRECIOUS RESOURCECentral Idea:The distribution of limited resources (water) creates challenges for life on earth.

An inquiry into:• The dependence of living

things on water• Why fresh water is limited

for some• Our responsibilities and

challenges with water

ACTIVE LEARNINGCentral Idea:People’s awareness of their characteristics, abilities and interests shapes who they are as learners.

An inquiry into:• Active Learning• Our responsivity as active

learners• The impact of choice on learning

SIMPLE MACHINESCentral Idea:People innovate ways to improve their daily lives by using simple, compound and complex machines.

An inquiry into:• The function simple and

compound machines• The impact of simple machines

on our lives over time• How innovations have improved lives

STORYTELLINGCentral Idea:Stories can be constructed, retold and interpreted in different ways.

An inquiry into:• Storytelling• Commonalities among

folktales, fairytales and fables across cultures

• Stories as a means to express beliefs and values

SOLAR SYSTEMCentral Idea:Earth is part of a complex universe that humans continue to explore.

An inquiry into:• The components of the solar

system• How gravity makes the solar

system work• The connection between the

earth, the sun and the moon

MATTER AND MATERIALSCentral Idea:Materials can be manipulated to suit a purpose.

An inquiry into:• Properties of materials• Changes in materials

(reused and recycled)• Responsible use of materials

INTERDEPENDENCE OF LIVING THINGS Central Idea:The interdependence of animals affects survival.

An inquiry into:• Animals, their habitats and

humans’ responsibility to protect them

• The interdependence of animals (the food chain)

• Human impact on animal lives

CULTURE AND PERSPECTIVECentral Idea:Our culture shapes our perspective.

An inquiry into:• Understanding culture• The similarities and

differences in cultures• Individual perceptions and how

they influence our actions

PAST CIVILIZATIONS Central Idea:Exploring past civilizations helps us gain a better understanding of our future.

An inquiry into:• Characteristics of civilizations• Inventions and artifacts of

past civilizations and their impact on societies

• Connections to our present world

THE INFLUENCE OF MEDIACentral Idea:Media is a powerful tool that can influence thinking and behavior.

An inquiry into:• How purpose affects the way

media is used to communicate• How media can influence

thinking and behavior• Our responsibility to make

informed choices

THE CHANGING EARTHCentral Idea:Processes cause the Earth to continually change with varying impact.

An inquiry into:• The components of the Earth • The changing earth over time• The impact of processes

(natural/human) on the changing earth

STRUCTURESCentral Idea:Strength and stability of structures is dependent on the design, materials available and the location.

An inquiry into:• Structural designs• Materials used for various

structures• The impact of geography

on structures

PLANTSCentral Idea:Plants have distinct characteristics that make them vital to humans and the planet.

An inquiry into:• The needs of plants• How plants are essential to

other living things• Our responsibility to plants

MINDSETCentral Idea:One’s mindset affects physical and mental growth.

An inquiry into:• How the brain functions• How to grow a mindset• The effects of different mind-

sets on physical, mental and social-emotional development

EXPLORATIONSCentral Idea:Exploration leads to discovery and develops new under-standings

An inquiry into:• The forms of exploration• Reasons for exploration• What we learn through

exploration and the impact of explorations

HEROESCentral Idea:Characteristics of heroes provide a window into the beliefs and values of cultures.

An inquiry into:• The qualities that make a hero• Similarities of hero stories

across cultures• How heroes and myths

symbolize beliefs and values

ENERGYCentral Idea:Energy can be converted from one form to another and stored in various ways.

An inquiry into:• Energy and its different forms• The changing role of energy and

it’s impact on the environment• Responsible management

of energy

PRODUCTION AND CONSUMPTIONCentral Idea:Marketplaces depend on the ability to produce goods and supply services that can be exchanged.

An inquiry into:• Medium of exchanges in various

marketplaces (trading systems)• Ethics of the marketplace• Interconnectedness of economies

ECOSYSTEMSCentral Idea:Living things share, compete and impact upon the environment they are a part of.An inquiry into:• The components of different

ecosystems• The ways in which living

things within an ecosystem are interdependent

• The consequences of imbalance within ecosystems.

• Human impact on ecosystems

HUMAN BODYCentral Idea:The human body has many different systems working together to help us function.

An inquiry into:• Body systems• The function of each body system• The interdependence of

body systems

HUMAN MIGRATIONCentral Idea:Human migration is a response to challenges, risks and opportunities.

An inquiry into:• Migration throughout history• The reasons for migration

and the effects on individuals, communities, and cultures.

• Migration as a human right

THE GRADE 5 PYP EXHIBITIONCentral Idea:New ways of communicating ideas provide opportunities, challenges, and risks.An inquiry into:• The ways in which we can

collaborate and communicate on global issues

• How information we share impacts others

• Our responsibility as global citizens to express our ideas and feelings

UNDERSTANDING MATTERCentral Idea:Understanding the nature of matter allows us to transform it and use it.

An inquiry into:• The states of matter

(Chemical vs. Physical)• Scientific investigation

and understanding• How elements interact

with each other

GOVERNMENTCentral Idea:Government systems influence the lives of citizens.

An inquiry into:• The types of organizational systems• The function of organizational

systems• What constitutes a good

organizational system (government vs. individual perspective)

WORLDWIDE ACCESS TO HEALTH AND RESOURCESCentral Idea:Children worldwide face a variety of challenges and risks.An inquiry into:• Challenges and risks that

children face around the world• Children’s’ response to

challenges and risks• The ways in which Individuals,

organizations and countries work to protect children from risk

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YPRE-SCHOOLTransdisciplinary Themes PRE-KINDERGARTEN KINDERGARTEN GRADE 1 GRADE 2 GRADE 3 GRADE 4 GRADE 5

WHO WE ARE?An inquiry into the nature of the self; beliefs and values; personal; physical, mental, social and spiritual health; human relationships including families, friends, communities, and cultures; rights and responsibilities; what it means to be human.

WHERE WE ARE IN PLACE AND TIME?An inquiry into orientation in place and time; personal Histories; homes and journeys; the discoveries, explorations and migrations of humankind; the relationships between and the interconnectedness of individuals and civilizations, from local and global perspectives.

HOW WE EXPRESS OURSELVES?An inquiry into the ways in which we discover and express ideas, feelings, nature, culture, beliefs and values; the ways in which we reflect on, extend and enjoy creativity; our appreciation of the aesthetic.

HOW THE WORLD WORKS?An inquiry into the natural world and its laws; interaction between the natural world (physical and biological) and human societies; how humans use their understanding of scientific principles; the impact of scientific and technological advances on society and on the environment.

HOW WE ORGANIZE OURSELVES?An inquiry into the interconnected -ness of human-made systems and communities; the structure and function of organizations; societal decision-making; economic activities and their impact on humankind and the environment.

SHARING THE PLANET An inquiry into rights and responsibilities in the struggle to share finite resources with other people and with other living things; and the relationship within and between them; access to equal opportunities; peace and conflict resolution.