Role of Planner and Criteria for Planning

How are our lessons planned?

In the PYP, all teachers (classroom teachers, single-subject teachers, part-time or full-time teachers) are to develop units of inquiry using the planner template (IBO, 2012, p.11). Teachers collaborate and discuss when planning each unit of inquiry for each level and across levels. The same unit of inquiry template is used by teachers of all subjects. This is to ensure that the teaching and learning is planned under transdisciplinary themes that focus on central ideas instead of compartmentalized knowledge and skills. The central idea will be relevant to particular transdisciplinary theme of the unit of inquiry, and will usually involve globally-significant issues.

How do we ensure that the essential knowledge and skills required for each developmental level are included in the units of inquiry?

As the school begins the process of developing a programme of inquiry, the scope and sequence from each specific PYP subjects will be used in planning and integration into the various units of inquiry (IBO, 2012, p.7). The scope and sequence will be integrated in a systematic way. Two or three PYP subject areas focuses will also be recorded in each unit. For each level, the teachers will ensure that all PYP subjects are represented within the programme of inquiry.

How do we ensure that the programme of inquiry for each year and each level is balanced?

In each academic year, students from 6 to 12-years-old will explore six central ideas, while 3 to 5-year-olds will examine four central ideas including compulsory transdisciplinary themes of “What we are” and “How we express ourselves”. In each unit of inquiry, there will be about 2-3 key concepts and 3-4 lines of inquiry to guide the development of the central idea (IBO, 2012, p. 4). The key concepts and lines of inquiries are limited to a certain number so that enough depth and focus will be possible in each unit of inquiry. Within a programme of inquiry, the school will ensure that there is a balance of units of inquiry at each year (horizontal alignment) as well as a clear developmental progression under each theme (vertical alignment). That also includes having all eight PYP key concepts² represented at each grade/level.