Curriculum

McKinley is proud to be an International Baccalaureate World School. The International Baccalaureate (IB) Primary Years Programme (PYP) aims to develop students who are internationally minded. through rigorous academic curriculum, students gain the skills necessary to become outstanding citizens of a global community. The guided inquiry-based curriculum, which is also California content standards-based, helps children develop their understanding of the world around them by learning about big ideas that have global significance. Students exit the Primary Years Programme with an introduction to a second language, a set of skills and knowledge to continue in their learning of the world around them, and the attitudes necessary to be internationally-minded.

The PYP for students aged 3-12, focuses on the development of the whole child, addressing social, physical, emotional and cultural needs. At the same time, it gives children a strong foundation in all of the major areas of knowledge: mathematics, social studies, drama, language, music, visual arts, science, personal and social education, and physical education. The PYP strives to help children develop an international perspective - to become aware of and sensitive to the points of view of people in other parts of the world.

The curriculum in the PYP is organized around six themes:

  1. Who we are
  2. Where we are
  3. How we express ourselves
  4. How the world works
  5. How we organize ourselves
  6. Sharing the planet

A very important element of the PYP is the development of a Programme of Inquiry (POI) with 36 units of inquiry. Six units are taught each year in all grades. The units are created for each grade level. Here is the IB Planner Timeline. The POI serves as a thematic framework for our teachers to address the California Content and Performance Standards in all subject areas using the SDUSD curriculum.

IB logo

Website by SchoolMessenger Presence. © 2024 SchoolMessenger Corporation. All rights reserved.