The GENERATIONS´ Primary curriculum follows the IB Primary Years Programme (PYP) framework, inspired by Finnish educational philosophy, and is designed for students in P1 to P6, ages 6-12.
The PYP provides essential learning grounded in Finnish-inspired Educational Philosophy, the IB Learner Profile, Approaches to Learning, six essential Subject Areas, and six broad Transdisciplinary Themes.
Finnish-inspired Educational Philosophy
We underpin our PYP with Finnish-inspired teaching, prioritising emotional well-being, resilience, and a passion for learning alongside academic growth. This blend promotes balance between high achievement and life skills, providing optimal preparation for Secondary school.
IB Learner Profile
The IB Learner Profile features ten characteristics that our whole community embraces inside and outside the classroom. We support all members of our learning community to be:
- Inquirers
- Knowledgeable
- Thinkers
- Communicators
- Principled
- Open-minded
- Caring
- Risk-takers
- Balanced
- Reflective
Embodying these characteristics makes us all better students and better people.
Approaches to Learning (ATL) Skills
Approaches to Learning in the PYP are essential and help students become self-regulated, lifelong learners. These skills are explicitly taught, practiced, and assessed across transdisciplinary units of inquiry and subjects.
The PYP framework identifies five key ATL skill categories, each with sub-skills tailored to young learners.
- Thinking skills – Critical thinking (analysing issues), creative thinking (novel ideas), transfer, reflection/metacognition
- Communication skills – Literacy (reading, writing), expression (speaking, listening, non-verbal)
- Research skills – Information literacy, media literacy, ethical use of information
- Self-management skills – Organization, time management, emotional regulation, perseverance
- Social skills – Collaboration, empathy, conflict resolution
The Primary curriculum empowers young learners to explore every aspect of the world around them through an inquiry-based approach that prizes critical thinking and problem-solving aligned with the PYP framework. It fosters holistic development of social, emotional, and cognitive skills in a transdisciplinary environment where students grapple with vital concepts and engage in hands-on learning.
Subject Areas
- Language – English, Chinese, and Portuguese
- Mathematics
- Science
- Social Studies
- Arts – Music and Visual Arts
- PSPE – Personal, social, and physical education
Language – English, Chinese, and Portuguese
Language development in PYP emphasises communication skills across listening, speaking, reading, and writing. Students explore their mother tongue, a second language, and a third language in authentic contexts such as stories, discussions, and debates. This builds literacy while connecting to transdisciplinary themes and encouraging the expression of ideas and cultural understanding.
Mathematics
Mathematics equips students to solve problems across five strands:
- number,
- shape & space,
- pattern & relations,
- data handling
- measurement
Inquiry drives learning through real-world applications like sorting objects or graphing weather data. Students develop reasoning and confidence in applying math across units of inquiry. The PYP makes mathematics interesting, and its hands-on approach makes it practical for young people to use beyond the classroom.
Science
Science investigates living things, Earth and space, materials & matter, and forces & energy through hands-on exploration. Students observe, experiment, and reflect on natural phenomena, fostering curiosity about the world. Inquiry links science to human impact, building skills in prediction, testing, and ethical application.
Social Studies
Social studies cover human systems, communities, cultures, and environments through local and global lenses. Students examine histories, economies, governance, and resources, developing awareness of rights and responsibilities. Inquiry promotes empathy and informed citizenship across interconnected civilizations.
Arts
Our PYP Arts Programme, covering music and visual arts, nurtures creativity, self-expression, and confidence. Students explore techniques, elements, and cultural contexts while reflecting on emotions and ideas. The arts help students master concepts of expression, aesthetic appreciation, and collaborative performance.
PSPE
Personal, social, and physical education (PSPE) promotes holistic wellbeing through health, relationships, and movement. Strands include identity, interactions, and active living, taught via play and challenges. It builds self-regulation, resilience, and cooperation for lifelong physical and emotional health.
Transdisciplinary Themes
Six global themes weave subjects together, sparking integrated inquiries that connect concepts across subjects. The transdisciplinary themes are:
- Who We Are: This theme explores identity, beliefs, relationships, and human nature. Inquiries address personal histories, health, rights, and cultural identities, helping students understand themselves as global citizens.
- Where We Are in Place and Time: Focuses on orientation, journeys, discoveries, and civilizations. Students investigate homes, migrations, and historical connections, revealing how past events shape present communities.
- How We Express Ourselves: Examines discovery, creativity, and communication of ideas, feelings, and cultures. Through the arts and media, students reflect on aesthetic experiences and diverse forms of expression.
- How the World Works: Investigates natural laws, science, technology, and human interactions with the environment. Students explore the societal impacts of forces, systems, and innovations.
- How We Organize Ourselves: Delves into human-made systems, organizations, economics, and decision-making. Inquiries reveal structures affecting communities and environments globally.
- Sharing the Planet: Addresses rights, responsibilities, resources, and conflicts. Students explore peace, equity, and sustainability in shared communities and ecosystems.
The PYP Exhibition (PYPX)
The PYP Exhibition is the culminating event of the Primary Years Programme. At the end of P6, students collaboratively explore a real-world issue of their choice, demonstrating agency through inquiry, research, and action. They apply transdisciplinary skills, the IB Learner Profile, and concepts across themes to develop self-management, communication, and critical thinking. The PYPX involves sharing student research within and beyond our school community and is a major milestone in their learning journey. It is an experience young people never forget.
