6 to 11 years old
Primary Years Programme
Children’s Education
The Base of the Programme
The Primary Years Programme (PYP) is one of the stages of the International Baccalaureate (IB) Programme. It is for students aged 6 to 12 and focuses on the development of the whole child, not only in the classroom but also in the world outside through various environments where children learn. It offers a framework that meets children’s needs: academic, social, physical, emotional, and cultural.
ISS aims to offer a balanced programme that focuses on acquiring knowledge, developing essential skills, understanding meaningful concepts, and developing positive attitudes, leading to thoughtful action. We do all of this within a school community that values care, hospitality and multiculturalism as key elements of our work.
Why is it better?
Essential Elements of the Primary Years
In their studies, students develop an understanding of general concepts, skills (thinking, communication, social, research and self-management), attitudes, actions, and knowledge.
Form, Function, Causation, Change, Connection, Perspective and Responsibility.
Social skills, Research skills, Thinking skills, Communication skills, Self-Management skills.
Who we are, Where we are in place and time, How do we express ourselves, How the world works, Sharing the planet.
Integrity, Tolerance, Confidence, Appreciation, Cooperation, Empathy, Commitment, Independence, Respect, Creativity, Enthusiasm, Curiosity.
Participation (as individuals or in a group), Advocacy (action to support), Social justice, Social entrepreneurship, Lifestyle choice (consumption and impact).
“Children that feel safe can take risks, ask questions, make mistakes, learn to trust, share their feelings, and grow.”
Our Primary Years Programme provides a holistic educational experience, empowering students to become active, compassionate, and lifelong learners. We achieve this through a transdisciplinary framework that encourages exploration and connection-making across subjects, enabling students to see the relevance of their learning in the real world and develop a strong sense of international-mindedness.
Within our safe and inclusive environment, students are encouraged to question, explore, and take ownership of their learning journey, becoming considerate members of our school community.
Through differentiated teaching practices, we ensure that each student at International Sharing School Taguspark receives the support and guidance needed to thrive academically and personally.
– Eduardo Cary, Coordinator of Primary Years Programme
The IB Methodology
Learning with the Transdisciplinary Themes
The transdisciplinary themes in the Primary Years mark the starting point of student inquiries. Within each theme’s context, students explore related central ideas and assimilate knowledge. These themes engage the learning community in rich dialogues and ongoing collaboration to build an understanding of themselves, their wider community, and the world.
Who we are
The nature of the self, Beliefs and values, Personal, physical, mental, social and spiritual health, Human relationships, Rights and responsibilities, What it means to be human.
Where we are
Orientation in place and time, Personal histories, The discoveries, explorations and migrations of humankind, The relationships between individuals and civilizations from local and global perspectives.
How we express
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 our creativity, Our appreciation of the aesthetic.
How the world works
The natural world and its laws, The interaction between the natural world and human society, How humans understand scientific principles, The impact of technological advances on society.
How we organise
The interconnectedness of human-made systems and communities, The structure and function of organizations, Economic activities and their impact on humanity and the environment.
Sharing the planet
Rights and responsibilities in the struggle to share finite resources with other people and living beings, Access to equal opportunities, Peace and conflict resolution.
Our Teaching Method
Learning System at ISS
Inquiry-Based
We believe children learn best through purposeful inquiry. They are encouraged to ask questions and investigate.
Collaborative
Learning is a social endeavour, and there is great emphasis on sharing, group work and collaboration at our school.
Differentiated
The learner is at the heart of our curriculum. Teachers in the PYP aim to design learning to suit children at all different levels.
Concept-Driven
Students spend their time at school exploring and learning about important concepts that have relevance in their own lives.
How we teach the child(ren)
The Approaches to Learning Skills
Approaches to learning (ATL) are integral to the IB Framework and complement the learner profile, knowledge, conceptual understanding, and inquiry. These skills are grounded in the belief that learning how to learn is fundamental to a student’s education.
Five categories of interrelated skills aim to support students of all ages to become self-regulated learners who know how to ask good questions, set effective goals, and pursue their aspirations with the determination to achieve them. These skills also help to support students’ sense of agency, encouraging them to see their learning as an active and dynamic process (IBO 2017). Although the ATL are relevant from 3 to 19 years of age, Primary Years Programme teachers interpret these skills in ways that are appropriate for early and primary years learners.
School Values
Enhanced Learning Categories
International Sharing School students learn at their own pace, and sometimes the traditional classroom makes it difficult to do so. Our enhanced learning categories enable students to adjust their learning pace while developing different skills throughout their learning journey.
Multiculture
Communication & Expression
Language acquisition, tools to communicate, cultural interaction, dialogue and desbate.
Inspiration & Exhibition
Language acquisition, tools to communicate, cultural interaction, dialogue, debate and presentation.
Creation & Experimentation
Hands-on experiences, imagination, tools to create, construct and build.
Care
Body & Mind
Developing self-care, self-understanding, sense of perception, balance and reflection.
Empathy
Ability to understand others, be open-minded, demonstrate emotional awareness and ethical responsibility.
Bio
Caring about the environment, food and farming and have a sustainable mindset.
Hospitality
Resources
Reason, research and knowledge, library and collections.
Sports & Play
Physical activity, memory, team spirit and empowerment.
Togetherness
Social skills, reason and faith, horizontal and personalised structure, family and community for our students.
Primary Years Programme
The Classrooms
The character of the Primary Years Programme is reflected in the classroom activities and arrangements. The Primary Years Programme is a framework that promotes collaboration and connections between subjects. Our goal was to develop our classroom based on our curriculum rather than having it adapted to a compact structure of a traditional classroom. This is how our unique design was born: an open IB classroom space where teachers assume the role of facilitators and students act as agents of the learning process. A collaborative open space where students will be involved in group discussions while the teachers support this creative and inquiry flow.
The classroom looks active; students take the initiative, assist each other, get their own resources, and may work in different areas in the classroom. Different groups of students may be working on various projects simultaneously. Plentiful resources are available to stimulate and assist learning, and the learning outcomes are displayed in the classroom, corridors, and school.
