Program of Inquiry

Through its inquiry-led, transdisciplinary framework, the PYP challenges students to think for themselves and take responsibility for their learning as they explore local and global issues and opportunities in real-life contexts.

Our curriculum includes the following themes:

  • Who We Are

  • Where We Are in Place and Time

  • How We Express Ourselves

  • How the World Works

  • How We Organize Ourselves

  • Sharing the Planet

 

Preschool

Who We Are

Who Am I?

Central Concept:

Our personal histories and challenges help us grow into the understanding of ourselves

Lines of Inquiry:

  1. Personal life stories

  2. Ways we grow and change

  3. Understanding our own past, present, and future

 

How We Express Ourselves

Feelings

Central Concept:

Feelings help us express our ideas and emotions and encourage understanding

Lines of Inquiry:

  1. Common feelings we experience

  2. How we can communicate our feelings in appropriate ways

  3. Things that affect our feelings

How We Organize Ourselves

Farm to Table

Central Concept:

Humans have developed systems for food production and distribution

Lines of Inquiry:

  1. Where our food comes from

  2. The steps food goes through before it arrives on our table

  3. How people influence the growth/survival of food crops

  4. Structure and growth requirements of plants

Sharing the Planet

Living Things

Central Concept:

Living things share our planet and have requirements to grow and thrive

Lines of Inquiry:

  1. Characteristics of living and nonliving things

  2. What we and other living things need

  3. Responsibilities and interactions amongst living things

 

Junior Kindergarten

Who We Are

Five Senses

Central Concept:

We use our senses to explore, interact, and enjoy the world around us

Lines of Inquiry:

  1. Our five senses

  2. How our senses help us make choices

  3. How people adapt when a sense is absent

  4. Taking care of our senses

How We Express Ourselves

Stories

Central Concept:

Stories are a way of understanding, sharing, and reflecting

Lines of Inquiry:

  1. Types of storytelling, stories, and books

  2. Stories from different cultures

  3. How stories are created and shared

  4. Feelings and meanings we gain from stories

How the World Works

Measurement

Central Concept:

Measurement is used to describe and compare objects and time

Lines of Inquiry:

  1. Instruments and language used to measure

  2. Reasons to measure and compare

  3. Observing and recording data

  4. Estimation

How We Organize Ourselves

Safety

Central Concept:

Making informed choices keeps us safe in a variety of places

Lines of Inquiry:

  1. Safety in communities

  2. Why it is important to be safe

  3. How we keep ourselves safe

  4. Choices we make affect our safety

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Kindergarten

Who We Are

Communities

Central Concept:

Communities connect people through shared resources and culture

Lines of Inquiry:

  1. Features and functions of communities

  2. Our communities around the world

  3. Ways people form a variety of communities

  4. How communities reflect local/personal values and culture

How We Express Ourselves

Celebrations

Central Concept:

Celebrations allow us to express cultural traditions, beliefs, and values

Lines of Inquiry:

  1. What and why people celebrate

  2. Similarities and differences of celebrations

  3. How we experience celebrations

How the World Works

Weather, the Seasons, and Space

Central Concept:

Seasons and weather shift in predictable patterns impacting humans and animals

Lines of Inquiry:

  1. Different types of weather

  2. Seasonal differences, patterns, and changes

  3. Weather instruments and data

  4. Weather-related choices we make on a daily basis

Sharing the Planet

Habitats

Central Concept:

Together plants and animals occupy habitats that have the resources needed for their survival

Lines of Inquiry:

  1. Interdependence between plants and animals

  2. Animals’ basic needs and how their habitats provide them

  3. Different types of habitats

  4. Our responsibility to protect habitats

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First Grade

Who We Are

Communication

Central Concept:

Communication builds relationships in communities and allows people to express beliefs, values, and feelings

Lines of Inquiry:

  1. Different methods of communication over time

  2. Ways to successfully interact with people from different cultures and backgrounds

  3. Appropriate ways to communicate based on relationships

Where We Are in Place and Time

Heroes

Central Concept:

Heroes influence their community in positive ways

Lines of Inquiry:

  1. The personal qualities of heroes/role models

  2. How and why people make contributions to society

  3. Examples of role models

  4. What can we learn from role models

How We Express Ourselves

Artistic Expression

Central Concept:

Art helps people express culture and enjoy creativity

Lines of Inquiry:

  1. Creativity

  2. Visual, performing, and musical arts

  3. Reflecting on the meaning in art

  4. Traditional art forms

How the World Works

Light, Sound, and Heat

Central Concept:

Energy can be manipulated to create light, sound, and heat.

Lines of Inquiry:

  1. Energy can exist in different forms

  2. How different materials affect energy

  3. Human uses for energy

 

How We Organize Ourselves

Structures and Engineering

Central Concept:

Designing structures to meet human needs requires an understanding of force and motion

Lines of Inquiry:

  1. Innovation and features of engineering

  2. Forces that affect movement and design

  3. How simple machines work

Sharing the World

Parks

Central Concept:

Communities designate shared spaces to allow all members access to natural and historical sites

Lines of Inquiry:

  1. How natural and historic spaces show a community’s value

  2. Parks and heritage sites around the world

  3. Our responsibilities toward shared spaces

Second Grade

Who We Are

Ancient Civilizations

Central Concept:

Understanding ancient civilizations equips us with knowledge we need to grow as a society

Lines of Inquiry:

  1. People’s lives and beliefs in ancient civilizations

  2. Artifacts that help teach us about the past

  3. The roots of important ideas (democracy)

  4. The great philosophers, writers, scientists, and thinkers of ancient cultures

 

Where We Are in Place and Time

The Solar System and Beyond

Central Concept:

Human’s understanding of the solar system has evolved through cultural and scientific exploration

Lines of Inquiry:

  1. Relationships between the Earth, sun, moon, and other planets

  2. Different cultures understanding of space throughout time

  3. Exploration of our solar system and the universe

How We Express Ourselves

Poetry

Central Concept:

Poetry allows creative expression of ideas, emotions, and experiences

Lines of Inquiry:

  1. Defining poetry

  2. The use of pattern and words in poetry

  3. Poets and forms of poetry around the world

  4. Writing poetry

 

 

How the World Works

Cycles in the Natural World

Central Concept:

Cyclical change is evident in both living and nonliving things

Lines of Inquiry:

  1. Living things undergo regular change during their lifetime

  2. Cycles can be identified in our nonliving world

  3. Factors that influence natural cycles

How We Organize Ourselves

Maps and Geography

Central Concept:

Mapping systems record and help us understand the physical spaces around us

Lines of Inquiry:

  1. Types of maps

  2. Vocabulary used on maps to describe location

  3. Creating, reading, and using maps

  4. How geography affects human beings

 

Sharing the Planet

Civics and Citizenship

Central Concept:

Communities organize with structured governance and support systems

Lines of Inquiry:

  1. What defines community

  2. Local civic governance

  3. Responsibilities of a local citizen

  4. How people in communities help each other

  5. Service learning project

Third Grade

Who We Are

Rights and Inequalities

Central Concept:

Inequalities spark community reflection and activism

Lines of Inquiry:

  1. What is a right

  2. Scope of inequalities locally and worldwide

  3. Historical examples of inequalities

  4. Strategies for responding to and addressing inequalities

Where We Are in Space and Time

Migration

Central Concept:

Hardships and opportunities cause human migration

Lines of Inquiry:

  1. Reasons people migrate

  2. Impact of migration on indigenous people

  3. Case studies: US migration

  4. Family migration history

How We Express Ourselves

Scientific Discovery

Central Concept:

Beliefs, values, and curiosity are expressed through scientific inquiry

Lines of Inquiry:

  1. Observations of the natural world lead to inquiry and experimentation

  2. Experimental methodology

  3. The link between STEM discoveries and our daily lives

  4. Landmark scientific discoveries

How the World Works

Earth’s Structures

Central Concept:

Natural and manmade forces bring about changes to Earth’s structure

Lines of Inquiry:

  1. Structure and composition of Earth

  2. Science of geology: How scientist study and interpret rocks

  3. Changes in Earth over time

  4. Earth’s landforms and natural forces

How We Organize Ourselves

Economy

Central Concept:

A marketplace is a system of trading goods and services to meet the needs of a community

Lines of Inquiry:

  1. Basic economic ideas: supply and demand, goods and services, resources and marketplace

  2. The history of development of money and trading

  3. Responsible economic choices

Sharing the Planet

Ecosystems

Central Concept:

Ecosystems facilitate the interdependence of living things in a community

Lines of Inquiry:

  1. Components of an ecosystem/biome

  2. The interdependence of plants, animals, and humans

  3. Balance and imbalance in ecosystems

Fourth Grade

Who We Are

Human Bodies

Central Concept:

Human life depends on the interrelationship of different body systems

Lines of Inquiry:

  1. Organ systems in the body and their interactions

  2. How organ systems work together

  3. Effects of disease on these systems

Where We Are in Space and Time

Exploration

Central Concept:

Exploration impacts the civilization and natural systems of both the explorers and the place and peoples they encounter

Lines of Inquiry:

  1. Reasons people explore

  2. What we learn through exploration

  3. Development and use of exploration technology

  4. Consequences of exploration

How We Express Ourselves

Persuaders

Central Concept:

Media has the power to influence human behaviors and beliefs

Lines of Inquiry:

  1. Influences on beliefs, values, and choices

  2. How language, images, sound, and technology are used to change minds

  3. Responsible and critical media use and consumption

How the World Works

Energy

Central Concept:

Multiple forms of energy may be transformed and used to advance science and technology

Lines of Inquiry:

  1. Forms of energy

  2. Energy storage and transfer

  3. Properties of electricity and magnetic force

  4. Building electrical systems

  5. Engineering solutions for harnessing energy

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How We Organize Ourselves

Revolution

Central Concept:

Revolutions can force change to societal systems and the people within them

Lines of Inquiry:

  1. Driving forces for change

  2. Impact of revolutionary events

  3. Compare and contrast different revolutions

  4. The American Revolution

Sharing the Planet

Animal Adaptations

Central Concept:

Survival depends upon an organism’s evolution and adaptations to its environment.

Lines of Inquiry:

  1. Biodiversity

  2. Adaptations, which allow animals to grow, survive, and reproduce in changing environments

  3. The beneficial and non-beneficial interactions between humans, plants, and animals

Fifth Grade

Who We Are

World Religions

Central Concept:

Religions traditions and practices reflect our culture and beliefs

Lines of Inquiry:

  1. The major world religions

  2. Compare and contrast major world religions

  3. Importance of religion to identity and spiritual/mental health

Where We Are in Space and Time

Exhibition

Central Concept:

Written by students

Lines of Inquiry:

Written by students

How We Express Ourselves

Names and Language

Central Concept:

Language can be used as a tool to oppress or invigorate marginalized groups

Lines of Inquiry:

  1. How the naming of people, places, and things reflects the perspectives, and culture of people

  2. Consequences of oppression on culture 

  3.  Ways groups have reclaimed and revitalized language and culture

How the World Works

Matter

Central Concept:

Understanding physical and chemical changes allows humans to manipulate matter for their own uses

Lines of Inquiry:

  1. States and properties of matter

  2. How matter can change

  3. Atoms, elements, and molecules

How We Organize Ourselves

Government

Central Concept:

Government systems shape societies and allow citizens to participate in decision making

Lines of Inquiry:

  1. Types of government

  2. The purpose of government

  3. How documents establish and support a government

  4. Rules and laws

Sharing the Planet

Earth’s Resources

Central Concept:

Earth’s sustainability depends on responsible resource use

Lines of Inquiry:

  1. Renewable and nonrenewable resources

  2. Consequences of modifying nature

  3. How our personal choices impact the environment

Sixth Grade

Who We Are

Community Investment

Central Concept:

Investments convey the values of a community

Lines of Inquiry:

  1. How communities and regions are established and developed

  2. How do we invest in communities

  3. Impact of markets on communities

Where We Are in Space and Time

Climate Change

Central Concept:

Humanity’s actions impact climate

Lines of Inquiry:

  1. Weather vs. Climate

  2. Causes of climate change

  3. Effects of changes in climate

  4. Our responsibilities to maintain a healthy climate

How We Express Ourselves

Models

Central Concept:

Models can symbolize vast or abstract ideas

Lines of Inquiry:

  1. How do we study systems too big or too small to observe

  2. Analyze models or symbols used to represent vast ideas

  3. Compare and contrast cultural models

How the World Works

Geology

Central Concept:

The past and present of earth can be analyzed by the study of geology

Lines of Inquiry:

  1. What is geology

  2. What can studying the earth teach us about the past

  3. Resources from the earth

How We Organize Ourselves

Citizenship

Central Concept:

Conflict challenges how we define citizenship

Lines of Inquiry:

  1. What defines a citizen

  2. Ways people participate in society

  3. Oppression, discrimination and its impact

  4. Ways people fight for membership in society

Sharing the Planet

Indigenous Peoples

Central Concept:

Differing perspectives fuel conflict between indigenous peoples and colonizers

Lines of Inquiry:

  1. Indigenous life before and after colonization

  2. Ways indigenous peoples interact with colonists

  3. Multiple perspectives and conflicting narratives around colonization