Copeland Elementary - Programme of Inquiry
IB PYP PROGRAM OF INQUIRY
Copeland Elementary is an IB Candidate School
Copeland Elementary is a Candidate School* for the Primary Years Program. This school is pursuing authorization as an IB World School. These are schools that share a common philosophy—a commitment to high quality, challenging, international education that Copeland Elementary believes is important for our students.
*Only schools authorized by the IB Organization can offer any of its four academic programmes: the Primary Years Programme (PYP), the Middle Years Programme (MYP), the Diploma Programme, or the Career-related Programme (CP). Candidate status gives no guarantee that authorization will be granted. For further information about the IB and its programmes, visit www.ibo.org
The IB Primary Years Program (PYP) is a curriculum framework which centers around a series of transdisciplinary themes that address human commonalities.
All grades 1 – 5 will complete a total of six units of inquiry centered around a transdisciplinary theme. Grades PreK-K will complete four units of study centered around a transdisciplinary theme.
Transdisciplinary Themes:
- Who We Are
- How We Organize Ourselves
- Where We Are in Place and Time
- How We Express Ourselves
- How the World Works
- Sharing the Planet
The Copeland Elementary Programme of Inquiry (POI) is a live curriculum document written by the faculty. Each Unit of Inquiry will be added to the Matrix before the start of the unit. The POI at Copeland Elementary reflects Copeland’s philosophy, our knowledge and experience as educators, and the requirements of the State of Georgia and Richmond County Schools. It is a powerful learning document which we review and revise annually, keeping it relevant, challenging and engaging for our students.
Our POI helps students better understand themselves and their world through the disciplines of ELA, science, history, mathematics and social studies, as well as applications of fine arts, Spanish as a second language and Physical Education. The pedagogy draws on contemporary methods, with a strong emphasis on constructivist learning and inquiry-based approaches.
The IB curriculum framework is designed around concepts such as change, responsibility and perspective which are known as key concepts. The units of inquiry combine these key concepts with content knowledge in powerful central idea that guide student inquiry.
Our goal is for our students to learn to become independent learners as they begin to construct their own meaning on various concepts. Students will learn to build on prior knowledge, to collaborate with peers, to take ownership and responsibility for their own learning. Through a blend of various learning opportunities, learning becomes engaging and relevant.
At Copeland Elementary School the PYP is complemented by our focus on Literacy across all disciplines as well as Sanford Harmony Program which is designed to focus on emotional and social help inside and outside of the classroom. Sanford Harmoney compliments the Learner Profile philosophy.
References:
Making the PYP Happen (2009)
Program Standards and Practices (2014)
ibo.org
