Maths is so much more than “finding the answer.” When we connect it to everyday experiences, it becomes about seeing patterns, asking questions, and making sense of the world.

One simple but powerful guiding question is:

Where’s the maths here?

This question opens the door to authentic inquiry, giving students the chance to explore mathematics through curiosity, context, and connection. Below are five strategies you can use with any age group to nurture student agency and highlight maths through a conceptual lens.

I'm bringing you 5 ideas that can be applied with ANY age and really support student agency, identifying those threads for inquiry and all through a conceptual lens. 

 When we connect maths to everyday experiences, it becomes less about “finding the answer” and more about seeing patterns, asking questions, and making sense of the world.

Find the threads for inquiry.

Consider the big question: Where's the maths here?

Here are 5 simple, hands-on ways to bring that spiri...

Slow Looking to Spark Inquiry: Using Look & Wonder Story Mats to Build ATL Skills in the PYP

One of my favourite parts of an inquiry is that moment when my students’ eyes widen and they lean forward, eager to share a question or idea that just popped into their minds. That’s when I know I’ve sparked genuine curiosity. Over the years, I’ve experimented with different provocations to tune into new units of inquiry, but one tool has really transformed the way my learners engage in those early stages: Look & Wonder Discussion Mats. What I didn’t anticipate at first was how powerfully they would support the IB PYP Approaches to Learning (ATL) skills - not just in the early years, but all the way through to upper primary.

Observations were superficial and questions were shallow. 

How to Use Look & Wonder Story Mats to Develop Observation, Thinking, and Communication Skills

I created these mats to help my students slow down, notice details, and wonder out loud. At first, their observati...

Fall into Conceptual Learning with the PYP

The leaves are turning already in Scotland and the air becoming crisp. It's actually my favourite time of year. Autumn provides a rich backdrop for inquiry in the IB PYP classroom. Seasonal changes are not just fun and exciting for children; they are also filled with opportunities to develop conceptual awareness. By connecting those additional concepts of harvest, change, natural cycles and patterns together with  autumn traditions to the PYP specified concepts and the Learner Profile, teachers can design learning experiences that are hands-on, inquiry-driven, and deeply meaningful. 

To help bring these ideas to life, I'm delighted to introduce our guest writer and fellow PYP educator,  Amber Reynolds, originally from the United States, now living and teaching in Albania. Amber has created a brand-new Fall Collection of resources that align with the IB PYP specified concepts. These activities combine the excitement of the season with the dep...

 7 Classroom Activities to Boost Critical Thinking in the IB PYP Classroom

Developing critical thinking skills is crucial in an IB PYP setting, as it helps students become thoughtful inquirers. Here are seven practical classroom activities that align with the Approaches to Learning skills and encourage critical and creative thinking.

 1. Inquiry Jar Exploration - Thinking & Research Skills

Present students with an Inquiry Jar or bag filled with objects related to the concepts within your unit of inquiry. Working in pairs, students predict each item’s purpose and justify their thinking. This activity sparks curiosity, supports questioning techniques, and builds evidence-based reasoning. I have blogged about the inquiry jar previously. 

This inquiry jar strategy is a great way to tune into the additional concepts within your theme using tangible materials.

2. A Questionable Conversation - Communication & Thinking Skills

Invite students to participate in a dialogue where they can on...

There isn't much as scary as Halloween in the elementary classroom! You either love it or hate it! 🎃 Whatever your feelings about Halloween, brace yourself and keep the inquiry flowing with these skills-based learning tools I have for you. And all perfectly aligned for your upper elementary IB PYP classroom.

Thinking & Communication Skills through Literacy

Halloween is the perfect time to bring a little magic to your classroom and engage students with creative, spooky literacy activities. By integrating Halloween-themed tasks into your learning environment, you can provide meaningful experiences that foster critical Approaches to Learning (ATL) skills, such as thinking, communication and social skills; key elements of our IB PYP framework. Below, we explore some eerie-sistible 🎃Halloween literacy activities that will make your planning easier.

1.Spooky Story Starters for Creative Writing _Thinking & Communication Skills

Get your students’ imaginations howling with a Halloween-the...

 If you're new to inquiry based learning or the IB PYP, you may very well be asking yourself what exactly is an inquiry cycle? Well, basically it is a marvellous journey that you take alongside your students, allowing a common language into exploration.😊 Let's dive in and unpack it together.

Concept-based inquiry is at the heart of the IB PYP pedagogy and the process of inquiry is often modelled as a linear cycle. There are many correct inquiry cycles out there and it doesn't matter which one you prefer to follow or adapt since the process of learning is what's most important for your students. It provides a powerful framework for cultivating curiosity in our classrooms. When we talk about inquiry, we’re talking about active learning; empowering our students to BE thinkers, questioners, explorers, communicators. However, PYP schools are probably most familiar with Kath Murdoch’s inquiry cycle. 

In today's post, we’ll explore the fundamental stages of the process of inquiry and I'll o...

You know that way when your students' reflections are just regurgitated and not really giving us insight as to their conceptual understanding? When it comes to reflection and assessment in the IB PYP, fostering student voice and agency is at the forefront of creating engaged and lifelong learners. At the heart of this endeavour we want our students to truly understand what it means to BE reflective. Not only an attribute of the Learner Profile but being reflective is also a key Thinking Skill. The importance of this skill comes into play when we are assessing the concepts around which we plan and implement our inquiries. Concepts serve as the backbone of the IB PYP curriculum. Concepts not only deepen understanding but also empower students to take ownership of their learning experiences. 

Easy Strategies to Develop Reflective Thinkers

I'm excited to introduce a powerful approach to enhance reflection and inclusive assessment in the IB PYP through the lens of conceptual awareness. ...

Regardless of the age you are teaching, integrating Visible Thinking Routines into any IB PYP classroom can significantly enhance student engagement and learning outcomes. Today, Im bringing you five effective ways to introduce Visible Thinking Routines (VTRs) into your classroom that I have found to be most effective:

1. Begin with a Foundation:

• Before diving into Visible Thinking Routines, establish a positive and open classroom culture where students feel comfortable sharing their thoughts and ideas. This sense of community enables a feeling of security and that there is a partnership to the learning.
• Ensure that your students have a fundamental awareness of their metacognition and what it means to BE an inquirer and a thinker, underlining this is a practical way to bring these attributes to life; what it looks-sounds-feels and acts like. I ALWAYS begin the school year with a focus on Thinking Skills, specifically the sub-skill of Reflection, which includes metacognitive awa
...

As we continue to navigate the dynamic landscape of student led inquiry in the IB PYP and beyond, one thing remains constant: the importance of fostering effective communication skills and nurturing inquiry-driven minds.  I'm delighted to share another innovative strategy, albeit not that new, that empowers facilitation of a transdisciplinary inquiry through collaboration and communication skills.  Today, I have some strategies for tuning in and developing communicators. And I'm excited to introduce you to a powerful tuning in and provocation tool: Concept Discussion Mats. 

Why Communication Matters

Effective communication lies at the heart of the IB Primary Years Programme.  It's not just about conveying information but also about collaboration: actively listening, exchanging ideas, and constructing meaning collaboratively. In an increasingly interconnected world, the ability to communicate effectively is a fundamental skill that empowers students to navigate diverse perspectives an...