PYP (Grades 1-5)

An exploration of the nature of the self; of our beliefs and values; of personal, physical, mental, social and spiritual health; of our families, friends, communities, and cultures; of our rights and responsibilities; of what it means to be human.

Theme Focus 
- Rights and responsibilities in communities.

Central Idea 
Individuals in the community are all connected and dependent on each other.

Key Concepts 
Connection, responsibility

Related Concepts 
Community, relationships, interdependence.

Lines of Inquiry 
- Who we are as individuals;
- Our place in the world;
- Being the same and different;
- What are some responsibilities in the community?

Learner Profile 
Caring, Balanced

An exploration of our orientation in place and time; our personal histories; homes and journeys; discoveries, explorations, and migrations of humankind; the relationships between and the interconnectedness of individuals and civilizations, from local and global perspectives.

Central Idea 
Inventions and innovations have changed people’s lives over time.

Key Concepts 
Change, Causation, Responsibility

Related Concepts 
Innovation, invention, progress 

Lines of Inquiry 

- What inventions and innovations are;

- Why people invent and innovate;

- How we can invent or innovate for the future

Learner Profile 
Inquirer, thinker, reflective

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

Theme Focus 
- An inquiry into the ways in which we discover and express our ideas;
- Our appreciation of the aesthetic.

Central Idea 
Storytelling is an art that can be told in many different forms.

Key Concepts 
Form, Connection, Reflection, Perspective

Related Concepts
Imagination, Structure, Language

Lines of Inquiry 
- Communication through stories;
- How reflection of story elements facilitates and enhances comprehension;
- Storytelling through art, music, dance, film, and literature.

Learner Profile 
Communicator, Thinker

An inquiry into the natural world and its laws; the interaction between the natural world and human societies; how humans use their understandings of scientific principles; the impact of scientific and technological advances on societies and on the environment.

Theme Focus 
- An inquiry into the natural world and its laws;
- How humans use their understanding of scientific principles.

Central Idea 
People use the scientific method to understand the natural world around them.

Key Concepts 
Function, Causation

Related Concepts
Animals, Plants, Adaptation, Habitat

Lines of Inquiry 
- Living and non-living things;
- Survival needs of living things;
- Skills that scientists need to use the scientific method.

Learner Profile 
Inquirer, Principled

An inquiry into the interconnectedness 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.

Theme Focus 
- An inquiry into the interconnectedness of human-made systems and communities;
- The structure and function of organizations.

Central Idea
Transportation systems are directly related to the needs of a community.

Key Concepts 
Connection, Change

Related Concepts
Transport, System, Distribution 

Lines of Inquiry 
- Specific purposes of different transportation systems;
- Relationship between transportation systems and the environment;
-Transport through time.

Learner Profile 
Knowledgeable, Communicator

An exploration of our rights and responsibilities as we try and share finite resources with other people, with other living things; of communities, and of the relationships within and between them: access to equal opportunities; peace, and conflict resolution.

Theme Focus
 - An exploration of our rights and responsibilities.

Central Idea 
Humans can find ways to maintain the Earth's resources and materials.

Key Concepts
Responsibility, Perspective, Causation

Related Concepts
Recycling, Biodiversity 

Lines of Inquiry 
- Materials and their properties;
- Recycling to maintain Earth's resources;
- Upcycling.

Learner Profile 
Principled, Open-Minded

An exploration of the nature of the self; of our beliefs and values; of personal, physical, mental, social and spiritual health; of our families, friends, communities and cultures; of our rights and responsibilities; of what it means to be human.

Theme Focus 
- An inquiry into the nature of the self; children’s rights and responsibilities;
- Communities and cultures.

Central Idea 
People are the same and different in many ways.

Key Concepts 
Connection, Perspective

Related Concepts 
Communication,  diversity, family, identity, networks, responsibility, and traditions.

Lines of Inquiry 
- Individuals as essential parts of communities;
- Differences and similarities in people from different places;
- Exploration of different cultures and traditions.

Learner Profile 
Open-minded, Principled, Caring

An exploration of our orientation in place and time; of our personal histories; homes and journeys; discoveries, explorations, and migrations of humankind; the relationships between and the interconnectedness of individuals and civilizations, from local and global perspectives.

Central Idea 
Understanding and sharing historical evidence helps us connect with and learn from the past.

Key Concepts 
Change, Connection, Function

Related Concepts 
Chronology, evidence, history

Lines of Inquiry 

- Ways in which historical sources provide insight into the past;

- Connections and changes over time;

- Ways to teach others about the past.

Learner Profile 
Inquirers, Communicators

An inquiry into the natural world and its laws; the interaction between the natural world and human societies; how humans use their understandings of scientific principles; the impact of scientific and technological advances on societies and on the environment.

Theme Focus 
- An inquiry into the natural world and its laws;
- Changes in the natural world.

Central Idea 
Laws of science shape our world.

Key Concepts 
Form, Function, Connection, Change

Related Concepts 
States of matter, natural forces, gravity, technology

Lines of Inquiry 
-Natural forces drive the world.
-Using forces in creating simple machines.
-There are different states of matter which are in constant change.

Learner Profile 
Knowledgeable, Thinkers, Risk-takers

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

Theme Focus 
An inquiry into the ways in which we discover and express our ideas, feelings, beliefs, and values; 

Central Idea 
Creativity can be found and enjoyed in many different ways and places.

Key Concepts 
Reflection, Perspective, Form 

Related Concepts 
Expression, Imagination, Creativity, Artistic development

Lines of Inquiry 
- Different forms of expression allow us to develop our creativity.
- Poetry helps us express our thoughts and feelings.
- Beliefs and values in different cultures can be expressed through folklore.

Learner Profile
Communicators, Risk-takers, Open-minded

An exploration of our rights and responsibilities as we try and share finite resources with other people, with other living things; of communities, and of the relationships within and between them: access to equal opportunities; peace, and conflict resolution.

Theme Focus 
- Sharing resources with other living things;
- The relationships within and between systems and communities. 

Central Idea 
All living things are connected and depend upon each other to survive.

Key Concepts 
Responsibility, Perspective, Change

Related Concepts 
Environment, Sustainability, Resources, Scarcity, Interdependence, Survival

Lines of Inquiry 
- Our planet has finite and infinite resources.
- People's choices have an impact on the environment.
-  Human interaction with the environment leads to an imbalance in the ecosystems.

Learner Profile
Balanced, Caring, Principled

An inquiry into the interconnectedness 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.

Theme Focus 
- Interconnectedness of human-made systems and communities;
- Economic activities and their impact on humankind and the environment.

Central Idea 
Human-made systems are created to solve problems and help us organize ourselves.

Key Concepts 
Function, Causation, Connection

Related Concepts
Systems, Cooperation, Roles, Economy, Trading, Banking, Government

Lines of Inquiry 
- Systems can be used to meet the needs of people in a community.
- Trading roots lead to modern economy
- Inquiry into ways organizations function and what makes them successful.

Learner Profile 
Reflective, Principled, Knowledgeable

An exploration of the nature of the self; of our beliefs and values; of personal, physical, mental, social, and spiritual health; of our families, friends, communities, and cultures; of our rights and responsibilities; of what it means to be human.

Theme Focus
 - An exploration of physical, mental, and spiritual health;
- Beliefs and values in cultures.

Central Idea 
Food plays a role in communities, individuals, and cultures.

Key Concepts 
Function, Causation, Connection, Diversity, Ethnicity, Beliefs, Values, Wellness, Health, Nutrition, Exercise, Energy, Change

Lines of Inquiry 
- The effects on a balanced diet and healthy lifestyle;
- Connection between food and celebrations;
- Food diversity as cultural heritage.

Learner Profile
Balanced, Thinkers, Inquirers

An exploration of our rights and responsibilities as we try and share finite resources with other people, with other living things; of communities, and of the relationships within and between them: access to equal opportunities; peace, and conflict resolution.

Central Idea 
Protecting children's rights ensures their well-being and creates a more just and caring society.

Key Concepts 
Form, function, responsibility

Related Concepts
Rights, responsibilities, contribution, advocacy

Lines of Inquiry 

- Rights of children;

- How people and organization contribute to the rights of children; 

- How we contribute to the rights of children.

Learner Profile 
Caring, Open-Minded

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

Theme Focus 
- The ways in which we discover and express our ideas and feelings;
- Our appreciation of the aesthetic.

Central Idea 
We use our senses to experience and explain the world around us.

Key Concepts 
Perspective, Function, Form

Related Concepts
Performance, Creation, Purpose, Interpretation, Individuality

Lines of Inquiry 
- Use of Our Senses; 
- World without senses
- Arts for different purposes;

Learner Profile
Communicator, Reflective

An exploration of our orientation in place and time; our personal histories; homes and journeys; discoveries, explorations, and migrations of humankind; the relationships between and the interconnectedness of individuals and civilizations, from local and global perspectives.

Theme Focus 
- The interconnectedness of individuals and civilizations;
- Local and global perspectives.

Central Idea 
People who changed the world and altered perspectives and knowledge.

Key Concepts
Perspective, Change, Connection

Related Concepts
Discovery, Exploring, Progress, Civilization, Economy 

Lines of Inquiry 
- Galileo’s discoveries vs. people’s beliefs and myths;
- Marco Polo’s explorations changed the understanding of trade;
- Isaac Newton’s gravity and white light composition
- Exploring new lands helps us understand individuals and civilizations.

Learner Profile 
Inquirer, Risk-taker, Thinker

An inquiry into the natural world and its laws; the interaction between natural world and human societies; how humans use their understandings of scientific principles; the impact of scientific and technological advances on societies and on the environment.

Theme Focus 
-The natural world and its laws
-Exploring movements in space

Central Idea 
Earth and its relationship to the other planets in the solar system.

Key Concepts 
Connection, Causation, Function

Related Concepts
System, Organization, Discovery, Magnets, Magnetic Field, Gravity

Lines of Inquiry 
-The dynamics of planets, moons, stars, and the movement of planets relative to the sun focusing on the weather and climate;
- Phases of the moon. 
- Magnets in space

Learner Profile 
Knowledgeable, Thinker, Inquirer

An inquiry into the interconnectedness 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.

Theme Focus 
- The interconnectedness of human-made systems and communities;
- The structure and function of organizations

Central Idea 
Communities provide interconnected services designed to meet people’s needs.

Key Concepts 
Responsibility, connection, Function

Related Concepts
Cooperation, Education, Structure, Community, Supply, Demand

Lines of Inquiry 
- Reasons people live in the local community;
- Services needed to support a community;
- Planning services for a community.

Learner Profile 
Principled, Open-minded, Caring

An exploration of the nature of the self; of our beliefs and values; of personal, physical, mental, social, and spiritual health; of our families, friends, communities, and cultures; of our rights and responsibilities; of what it means to be human.

Theme Focus 
- An exploration into the nature of the self;
- Our mental health.

Central Idea
Understanding different ways of learning and presenting what we have learned to help us to plan how we best learn.

Key Concepts 
Form, Function, Perspective

Related Concepts 
Senses, learning, teaching, nerves

Lines of Inquiry 
- The role of the nervous system in the learning process;
- The ways information is received and processed in the brain;
- Changes in the way people learn.

Learner Profile 
Inquirers, Balanced

An exploration of our rights and responsibilities as we try and share finite resources with other people, with other living things; of communities, and of the relationships within and between them: access to equal opportunities; peace, and conflict resolution.

Central Idea 
People can make choices to support sustainable energy use.

Key Concepts 
Form, function, responsibility

Related Concepts 
Energy, sustainability, transformation

Lines of Inquiry 

- Renewable and sustainable energy;

- How energy works;

- How we use our understanding to promote sustainable practices.

Learner Profile
Principled, Reflective

An inquiry into the interconnectedness 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.

Theme Focus 
- An inquiry into the interconnectedness of human-made systems and communities;
- Economic activities.

Central Idea 
Communities have developed ways of organizing themselves to respond to a crisis.

Key Concepts 
Connection, causation

Related Concepts 
Non-government organizations (NGO),  natural disasters

Lines of Inquiry 
- Exchange of global goods and services;
- The impact of trade on culture;
- How and in what ways we depend on people in other places.

Learner Profile 
Caring, reflective, open minded

An inquiry into the natural world and its laws; the interaction between the natural world and human societies; how humans use their understandings of scientific principles; the impact of scientific and technological advances on societies and on the environment.

Theme Focus 
An inquiry into the natural world and its laws;

Central Idea 
The world changes through natural events and human influence.

Key Concepts 
Change, form

Related Concepts 
Hurricanes, tornadoes, landslides, avalanche, blizzard, igneous, sedimentary, metamorphic, acid rain

Lines of Inquiry 
- Changes in the weather can influence our choices and lifestyle;
- Types of Rocks;
- Causes and effects of Erosion.

Learner Profile 
Thinkers, inquirers

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

Theme Focus 
- An inquiry into beliefs and values;
- The ways in which we reflect.

Central Idea 
The choice of role models reflects the characteristics that societies and individuals value.

Key Concepts 
Perspective, reflection

Related Concepts 
Values, identity, creativity, 

Lines of Inquiry 
- Why we should develop our own gifts, talents, and interests;
- Role Models and why we value them;
- Values and viewpoints of society.

Learner Profile 
Communicator, principled, risk-taker

An exploration of our orientation in place and time; our personal histories; homes and journeys; discoveries, explorations, and migrations of humankind; the relationships between and the interconnectedness of individuals and civilizations, from local and global perspectives.

Theme Focus 
An exploration of our orientation in place and time.

Central Idea 
Evidence of past civilizations can be used to make connections to present-day societies.

Key Concepts 
Form, function, change

Related Concepts 
Mythology, maps, Ancient civilizations

Lines of Inquiry 
- Effects of Greek & Roman civilization on today's society;
- Aspects of past civilizations that have survived;
- Reading maps & globes 
- Greek & Roman Mythology.

Learner Profile 
Knowledgeable

An exploration of the nature of the self; of our beliefs and values; of personal, physical, mental, social, and spiritual health; of our families, friends, communities, and cultures; of our rights and responsibilities; of what it means to be human.

Theme Focus 
An exploration of our physical health.

Central Idea 
Effective interactions between human body systems contribute to health and survival.

Key Concepts 
Function, Connection, Causation

Related Concepts 
Well-being, Self-image, Challenges, Opportunities, Response

Lines of Inquiry 
- Body systems and how they work;
- How body systems are interdependent and interconnecting;
- Impact of lifestyle choices on the body and mind.

Learner Profile 
Balanced, Risk-Takers, Open-Minded

An exploration of our orientation in place and time; our personal histories; homes and journeys; discoveries, explorations, and migrations of humankind; the relationships between and the interconnectedness of individuals and civilizations, from local and global perspectives.

Central Idea 
Exploration drives human progress and expands our understanding of the world and beyond.

Key Concepts 
Form, causation, change

Related Concepts 
Discovery, exploration, impact

Lines of Inquiry 

- Human exploration over time;

- Human circumstances that lead to exploration;

- Space explorers and their discoveries.

Learner Profile 
Communicators, risk-takers, knowledgeable

An inquiry into the ways in which we discover and express our natural ideas, feelings, beliefs, and values; the ways in which we reflect on, extend, and enjoy our creativity; our appreciation of the aesthetic.

Theme Focus 
An inquiry into the ways in which we discover and express our natural ideas, feelings, beliefs, and values.

Central Idea 
An author’s background, experience, and cultural perspectives influence their writing. 

Key Concepts 
Reflection, Perspective, Connection

Related Concepts 
Interpretation, Expression, Culture, Influence, Opinion

Lines of Inquiry 
- How authors' ethnicities, upbringing, and culture affect their writing.
- Knowing the author's background can help understand their work. 
- How experiences from our own lives can influence our writing.

Learner Profile 
Open-Minded, Reflective, Caring

An inquiry into the natural world and its laws; the interaction between the natural world and human societies; how humans use their understandings of scientific principles; the impact of scientific and technological advances on societies and on the environment.

Theme Focus 
- An inquiry into the natural world and its laws.
- The interaction between the natural world and human societies.

Central Idea 
Energy may be converted, transformed, and used to support human progress.

Key Concepts 
Function, Change, Causation

Related Concepts 
Energy, Transformation, Conservation

Lines of Inquiry 
-Different forms of energy sources (renewable and non-renewable) forms 
-How energy is used (transformation) causation
-Sustainable energy practice, responsibility

Learner Profile 
Caring, Reflective, Balanced

An inquiry into the interconnectedness 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.

Theme Focus 
An exploration of the interconnectedness of human-made systems and communities.

Central Idea 
The media plays a central role in our perception of the world.

Key Concepts 
Causation, Responsibility

Related Concepts 
Cooperation, Poverty, Wealth, Supply, Demand, Marketing 

Lines of Inquiry 
- The purpose of different forms of media;
- How different forms of media reach their intended audiences;
- How different perspectives in media shape and influence how we perceive the world.

Learner Profile 
Reflective, Principled, Knowledgeable

(Exhibition Unit) An exploration of our rights and responsibilities as we try and share finite resources with other people, with other living things; of communities, and of the relationships within and between them: access to equal opportunities; peace, and conflict resolution.

Theme Focus 
An exploration of human interactions with other living things.

Central Idea 
Living things depend on each other and the environment in which they live.
          
Key Concepts 
Responsibility, Change, Perspective

Related Concepts 
Ecosystems, Cooperation, Consequences

Lines of Inquiry 
- The role of biodiversity in the environment;
- Adaptations that help living things survive;
- How human interaction with the environment can affect the balance of systems.

Learner Profile
Reflective, Thinkers. Inquirers