The Canadian International School of Hefei is authorized as an IB World School and offers the International Baccalaureate (IB) Primary Years Programme (PYP). The International Baccalaureate Primary Years Programme (IB PYP) has been developed for students ages 3-12 years old and uses a transdisciplinary, inquiry-based approach that focuses on developing the whole child.


At CISH, our primary teachers and support staff collaborate to produce a curriculum that develops knowledge and skills from a variety of disciplines within a unit of inquiry. In each unit of inquiry, PYP students explore a central idea using inquiry-based learning to develop their conceptual understanding of the topic. CISH uses Toddle, an online learning journal in the PYP. Teachers use Toddle to showcase and communicate student work throughout their learning journey.

PYP Subjects

PYP Subjects

The PYP is transdisciplinary in nature where each subject discipline is explored in-depth at the conceptual level through the language of the concepts. The subjects include:


• Language Arts

• Second Language: German or Mandarin

• Math

• Inquiry: Including Science and Social Studies

• ICT and Robotics

• Visual Arts 

• Music

• Physical, Social and Personal Education


At CISH, our primary teachers and support staff collaborate to produce a curriculum that develops knowledge and skills from a variety of disciplines within a unit of inquiry. In each unit of inquiry, PYP students aged 6-11 explore a central idea using inquiry-based learning to develop their conceptual understanding of the topic. We have developed our curriculum to create our school’s Programme of Inquiry (POI), which includes the New Brunswick Curriculum from Canada.

The Six Transdisciplinary Themes

The Six Transdisciplinary Themes

At CISH, we have redeveloped our curriculum to create our school's Programme of Inquiry (POI). The Programme of Inquiry is the foundation of the Primary Years Programme, but also includes the New Brunswick Curriculum from Canada.


From CISH’s POI, you will see the six transdisciplinary themes from which each unit of inquiry has been developed. The six transdisciplinary themes are: 

Programme of Inquiry

The Five Essential Elements

The five essential elements of the Primary Years Programme:
The five essential elements of the Primary Years Programme:
These five essential elements are the heart of the Primary Years Programme and are used to guide our planning, teaching, and assessment practices. 
Knowledge
Knowledge
Concepts
Concepts
Attitudes
Attitudes
Skills
Skills
Action
Action

Sample Schedule

Sample Schedule

Home learning: Students are encouraged to read on a regular basis in addition to the activities the homeroom teacher provides.


As an IB school, subjects in the PYP are transdisciplinary. Students will have stand alone math and language arts times, but they will have the opportunity to learn literacy and math through their Units of Inquiry and vice versa.


A snack is provided by the school (fruit or yoghurt), but students can bring in their own snack if they choose to. Suggested snack items include cut and peeled fruit, raw vegetables, crackers and cheese, dried fruits, or a granola bar. 


Specialty and homeroom teachers collaborate on aligning Units of Inquiry.