Experienced educational leader John Black: Head of School, served as the headmaster and principal of international primary schools in Dubai and the Philippines before taking the helm at Valley Preparatory School in Redlands, California. During his tenure at Valley Preparatory, John Black successfully established an International Baccalaureate Primary Years Program (IB-PYP).
Educators trained in IB PYP develop curriculum modules known as Units of Inquiry, where classroom discussions and activities are guided by eight key concepts. Each of the concepts is described as a noun and a question. For example, the concept Reflection in question form is “How do we know”? These concepts enable students to approach any topic from a logical and contextual perspective.
When students are presented with a new Unit of Inquiry, their teacher will include up to three key concepts to help them deepen their investigation into the topic. While all concepts can be applied to most topics, educators try to select the most tangible.
In a unit focused on personal health, relevant concepts may include Connection, Causation, and Responsibility. From there, students can investigate how health is connected to the environment, actions that lead to health or illness, and how people can make choices regarding their health.
Educators trained in IB PYP develop curriculum modules known as Units of Inquiry, where classroom discussions and activities are guided by eight key concepts. Each of the concepts is described as a noun and a question. For example, the concept Reflection in question form is “How do we know”? These concepts enable students to approach any topic from a logical and contextual perspective.
When students are presented with a new Unit of Inquiry, their teacher will include up to three key concepts to help them deepen their investigation into the topic. While all concepts can be applied to most topics, educators try to select the most tangible.
In a unit focused on personal health, relevant concepts may include Connection, Causation, and Responsibility. From there, students can investigate how health is connected to the environment, actions that lead to health or illness, and how people can make choices regarding their health.
