Concept-driven Curriculum

Fundamental to the PYP curriculum is the development of a series of 'open-ended' questions that help students, teachers and family to further their learning experiences through meaningful inquiry.

The concepts were developed and chosen for their universality and their emphasis on meaning and understanding throughout the many areas within a school's curriculum: Form, Function, Causation, Change, Connection, Perspective, Responsibility, Reflection.

These concepts which drive this inquiry approach to learning and teaching are important for two reasons:
1. They ensure consistency in all PYP schools, thus enabling international students to move more comfortably from one school to another, as well as providing a strong basis for continued discussion and growth amongst students, parents and educators;
2. Each concept is relevant throughout traditional learning strands and subjects.

"The concepts help the teacher to make the classroom a stimulating and provocative place," (A Basis for Practice: The PYP, IBO, 2002: p.8).