Primary Years Programme
Curriculum framework

At the heart of the programme’s philosophy is a commitment to structured, purposeful inquiry as the leading vehicle for learning.

Six transdisciplinary themes of global significance provide the framework for exploration and study:

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.

Teachers are guided by these six transdisciplinary themes as they design units of inquiry that both transcend and articulate conventional subject boundaries.

The programme can be illustrated by a hexagon with the six transdisciplinary themes surrounding six subject areas:

language
social studies
mathematics
arts
science and technology
personal, social and physical education.
The themes and subject areas outlined above form the knowledge element of the programme. Five essential elements—concepts, knowledge, skills, attitudes, action—appear at the centre of the hexagon.

Five essential elements
The five essential elements listed above are incorporated into this framework, so that students are given the opportunity to:

gain knowledge that is relevant and of global significance
develop an understanding of concepts, which allows them to make connections throughout their learning
acquire transdisciplinary and disciplinary skills
develop attitudes that will lead to international-mindedness
take action as a consequence of their learning.
Curriculum model
The curriculum is expressed in three interrelated ways:

the written curriculum—what do we want to learn?
the taught curriculum—how best will we learn?
the learned curriculum—how will we know what we have learned?

Under certain conditions, schools may deliver the programme in any language, although the IB0 provides services in: English & Spanish.