International Baccalaureate

The Primary Years Programme (PYP) is designed for students age 3-12. The PYP prepares students to become active, caring, lifelong learners who demonstrate respect for themselves and others and who have the capacity to participate in the world around them. It focuses on the development of the whole child as an inquirer, both within and beyond the classroom.

You will hear a lot about Inquiry as part of the IB approach at GIS. The Programme of Inquiry estabished by our teachers is a "road map" of student learning from preschool to fifth grade.The units, illustrated below, are based on the flexible curriculum from Thuringia, Germany; elements of the U.S. Common Core standards in English, Math and Science and IB expectations. These units integrate subject areas, and provide meaningful learning experiences for students, connecting their learning to the real world, both locally and globally, as they develop a deeper understanding of the concepts and topics being studied.