Rather than individual, traditional subjects, children’s learning is organised by theme. The transdisciplinary themes together provide children with authentic learning experiences that are not confined to the boundaries of traditional subjects. Although subjects play an important role in learning, PYP learners explore real-world problems by going beyond subject boundaries. Students have opportunities to reflect on the significance of their learning to take meaningful action in their community and the wider world.
The transdisciplinary themes are:
- 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
The transdisciplinary approach to curriculum organisation promotes learning that:
- extends the international dimension of the PYP: the themes have global significance—for all students in all cultures and all places.
- is authentic and engaging: the themes address contemporary challenges surrounding environment, development, peace and conflicts, rights and responsibilities, and governance.
- is deep: the themes are revisited throughout the students’ primary years so that the end result is immersion in broad-ranging, in-depth, articulated curriculum content.
- is cohesive: the themes contribute to the common ground that unifies the curriculum in all IB World Schools offering the PYP.
- is connected: the model is supported by knowledge, conceptual understandings and skills from the traditional subject areas, but it uses them in ways that transcend the confines of these subjects.
- is relevant and current: the model allows for resources to be drawn from current global events and technology development to prepare for the future.
