Curriculum

"A PYP classroom is a lively place, characterized by collaborative and purposeful activity. It is also a reflective place, where thoughtful consideration of issues, problems and successes is valued highly.

Above all, and in summary, a PYP classroom is an intelligent place. It is a place in which the easy option is seldom sought and where the expectations are high. It is an environment in which learning knows no limits."

Making The PYP Happen 2010

The above quote and the learning activities featured on these pages sum up perfectly the programme in action in the Junior School. Staff are highly skilled at structuring new experiences fundamental to students' knowledge, understanding, and conceptual development. The starting point is students' current understanding, and the goal is the active construction of meaning by building connections between that understanding and new information and experience. Within the Primary Years' Programme (PYP) it is believed student learning is best done when it is authentic - relevant to the "real" world; and transdisciplinary - where the learning is not confined within the boundaries of traditional subject areas but is supported and enriched by them.

Below are examples of how this is integrated within the curriculum:

Year 1 - Tick Tock!
There's no fear of a QMC Prep or Year 1 girl being late for an important date. Through their inquiry ‘How We Organise Ourselves,' they are now masters of getting around the city on public transport. With the help of timetables the girls discovered the best route to take and scheduled with clocks what the time would look like once they had arrived at their destination.

Year 2 - Sea to the Table!
It's a Kiwi classic but how does Fish become Fish and Chips? The Year 2 girls set off to investigate the journey of the fish, tracking it from sea to table. They began on the docks, with the fishing trawler checking out the catch of the morning. Moving on they discovered how a freshly caught fish moves from the docks to the restaurants. Martin Bosley's restaurant then opened its doors to the girls where they watched as the fish were prepared for the lunch service. Risk takers among them tasted the raw fish, sashimi, and nibbles. After a long day the girls were rewarded with a serving of delicious freshly battered fish and chips.

Year 3 - From the Class who Squeezed Lemons for Christchurch!
Following on from their successful Christchurch fundraiser, Year 3 mini moguls turned their minds to Japanese Tsunami victims as part of their inquiry ‘How We Organise Ourselves' in a work place. Their joint goal was to create a craft stall to raise funds for a charity and a brainstorm saw a unanimous vote to support Japan. Venturing into work places like Mojo and Chapman Tripp gave the girls an insight into how people connected towards a common goal. From there it was all business with the class quickly overrun with designers, marketers, accountants and workers. The result was funky lunches, QMC and House badges and animals to dangle from their bags and key rings. Some other groups developed services, which had playground patrol ensuring all had fun at lunch, and a book club that could well give the College library a run for its money!

Year 4 - The Next Generation of Artists
Investigations into artists like Chris Booth and emulating Andy Goldsworthy's style with nature sculptures, was a great start to a unit of inquiry on ‘How We Express Ourselves' with the idea ‘Nature can inspire Art'. The girls explored Wellington's art galleries in search of artists who use nature in their art. This inspired them to design their dream garden, create stick structures, and use koru shapes to portray family members and important places in their lives. Our budding artists then took all they had learned to Island Bay where they created nature sculptures about Friendship, Love, Death and Family.

Year 5 - Water Quality Scientists for a Day!
Korokoro Stream in Belmont Regional Park was recently overrun with budding Year 5 scientists determining the health of the stream. Armed with thermometers and clarity tubes the girls ran a series of tests and observations. Following this, scientists turned into environmentalists who critically discussed the human impact on the stream water and how we could help improve the environment. By the end of the day they were writing letters to the Hutt City Council and developing social marketing plans to build public awareness.

Year 6 - Walking on Shaky Ground
Not many are brave enough to walk fault lines these days but Year 6 girls did just this during their discovery into ‘How The World Works' with the central idea being ‘powerful natural forces shape the earth'. Trips to Te Papa, Science experiments and a Mathematics inquiry had the girls not only discovering answers but intrigued about ‘how you measure the temperature of the Earth's core?' and ‘are all volcanoes the same shape?' They then turned to their minds to the question of ‘how humans prepare, cope and respond to a crisis and disaster'. Urban Search and Rescue spoke to the girls about the Christchurch earthquake response, business owners explained how their systems changed due to the earthquake and Mr McGill talked about how the government is structured to respond to nationwide disaster. The girls took time to reflect on what happened, putting on their problem solving hats they then looked at ways to improve systems and make the response better next time.