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Conceptual Learning in the PYP: Exploring the Shift from Skills to Understanding

The Big Shift: From Scope & Sequence to Subject Continuum

The International Baccalaureate has announced a major update in the 2025 PYP Subject Documents, marking a philosophical and practical evolution in how we view learning.

The familiar Scope and Sequence documents,  once our go-to reference for what students should know and be able to do,  are now being replaced with Subject Continuums.

But this isn’t just a terminology update. It represents a fundamental shift from skills-based planning to concept-based understanding.

Where the Scope and Sequence outlined a linear progression of skills, the Subject Continuum invites teachers to view learning as an ongoing, interconnected journey of conceptual growth across disciplines.

Why the Shift Matters

The move to Subject Continuums recognises that skills do not exist in isolation but that they are vehicles for understanding bigger ideas. By embedding conceptual understanding within skills, we move from “What can they do?” to “What do t...

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Developing Inquiry and Research Skills in the IB PYP: Project Based Learning for Grades 1 -3

With hands on and meaningful investigations through project based inquiry, we can engage our young inquirers and IB PYP learners in research focusing on concepts through implicit research skills. Take a look at the examples below, including the chart that demonstrates the flow through the inquiry and see how project based learning ties in beautifully with concept-based inquiry. The examples I'm sharing were designed as age-appropriate tools to support our youngest learners whilst diving into transdisciplinary projects that help to build thinking skills, research skills and all leading to deeper conceptual understanding. 

 A Fantastic Entry Point to Inquiry for Young Learners

Project based learning instantly grabs children’s attention because there is an exciting purpose. But behind the fascination lies a rich opportunity to deeply explore disciplinary concepts and develop all important thinking & research skills. The example Im sharing for the purpose of illustrating

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The Global Christmas Village: A Project-Based Math Inquiry for Upper Elementary Students

Challenge your upper elementary students with this inquiry-based math project! The Global Christmas Village engages Grades 4–5 learners in real-world problem solving with number sense, measure and design thinking using festive, global themes.

Transform Math into a Real-World Inquiry

In my Grade 4/5 classroom, the Global Christmas Village Math Inquiry became a highlight of our pre-holiday weeks. What began as a set of differentiated problem-solving sheets evolved into a bustling global village of characters, traditions, and beautifully measured designs all imagined, calculated, and constructed by the students themselves.

This project turned abstract math concepts into something tangible. My students weren’t just solving word problems; they were earning their way into creating a global Christmas village filled with characters and celebrations from around the world.

What the Project Involves

The goal of the activity is to collaboratively create a global village of Christmas tradi...

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5 Ways to Bring Inquiry Into Your IB PYP Math

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...

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Developing ATL Skills in the IB PYP Early Years Slow Looking See Think Wonder

 

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...

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Making Sense of IB PYP Learning Progressions: A Teacher's Guide to Supporting Student Growth

Making Sense of IB PYP Learning Progressions: A Teacher's Guide to Supporting Student Growth

Let’s be honest: when you first come across the term learning progressions in the IB PYP, it can feel a bit abstract. I know it did for me and, quite honestly, my first question was, "Well, aren't we already monitoring learning progression? What's the point of this new thing?". If you're anything like most of the amazing PYP teachers I work with, you're already balancing a lot—unit planning, inquiry scaffolding, ATL integration, and of course, the day-to-day magic of keeping your classroom buzzing with curiosity. Let me give you a simplified opinion, share how it can look in the classroom and hopefully clarify things. Read on. 😊

So where do learning progressions fit in? Are they another “thing” to do? And is this something "new" to have to learn? 

Here’s the good news: they’re not a burden. They are NOT mandated.

They are a tool to support you and your students.

 In fact, once you underst...

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Differentiation in the IB PYP Classroom

 

Helping Every Inquirer Grow

If you've been teaching within the IB PYP framework for a while, you’ll know that differentiation is more than a concept—it’s a mindset. It's an approach to teaching.  It’s about meeting every learner where they are, guiding them forward with intention, and designing experiences that are as inclusive as they are rigorous.

In an inquiry-based classroom, differentiation doesn’t mean multiple lesson plans for 25 learners (phew!)—it means providing the right level of support and challenge so that each student can think deeply, inquire independently, and feel successful.

Let’s break it down into three essential aspects: form, function, and assessment. The video is a snippet from Essentials for Inquiry members' community. Each month, I share professional learning along with classroom ready tools to support your application of this learning within your planning and teaching.  Find out more about the membership here. 😎

1. Form of Differentiation: What Does It Lo...

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Brilliant Books for Teaching the IB PYP Learner Profile

Books for Teaching the IB PYP Learner Profile

There are so many wonderful books for helping to teach children about the character traits of the IB Learner Profile. Books bring the Learner Profile to life as children learn what these attributes LOOK-SOUND-FEEL-ACT like. Over the years however, I keep returning to a few that I feel reinforce those profile traits really well. I’ve used these books with 3rd grade up to 6th grade equally successfully, even though they may seem to be a wee bit young for those age groups. They work well as quick read alouds and can be utilised to reinforce many reading skills and strategies too: inferring, questioning, synthesising, figurative language and more.

This page is a list of my favourite books for pulling together the Learner Profile traits. I like to use some of them within our units of inquiry or simply as a stand alone exploration when the opportunity presents itself to look more thoroughly at a particular profile trait.

I have grouped them...

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New to the IB PYP? Find Support Here with Essentials for Inquiry

The Best Ways to Learn with Essentials for Inquiry

I know that being new to the world of concept-based inquiry can be over-whelming. And I know that we are coming from all over the world. 🌍I know our community.🌏 And that's why I wanted to make professional development as accessible and as affordable as possible for you, no matter your learning style. This article is sharing the many forms of support that I have designed to support you as a valuable member of our community. I've been in your shoes and I have worked with many, many others who have come through Essentials for Inquiry before you. Let me support you, too. 

Whether you’re looking for bite-sized professional learning, an all-access membership with money-back perks, or an in-depth, comprehensive course you can own for life, I made sure that Essentials for Inquiry has an option that fits your needs. Plus, with an exclusive community of like-minded educators, you’ll never have to navigate the inquiry journey alone.😊

1. M...

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Essentials for Inquiry: Monthly Tools, Strategies, and Professional Learning to Enhance Your IB PYP Classroom

 

Something BIG is Here  for Inquiry Teachers! 🚀

At PYPTeachingTools.com, I know how much you pour into creating meaningful, engaging, and wonder-filled learning experiences for your students. I also know how hard it is to juggle planning, professional development, and everything else on your plate.

How do I know? Because you told me.

I receive many, many questions from our community, every month. And I hear you.😊That’s why I'm thrilled to announce something game-changing for inquiry-based educators everywhere!

Introducing: PYP Teaching Tools Inquiry Membership🌟


Your one-stop monthly membership designed to empower inquiry teachers with done-for-you resources, practical tools, and professional learning—all focused on concept-based inquiry and student-led learning.

This is more than a subscription. It’s a time-saving lifeline packed with everything you need to develop thinkers and inquirers, provoke wonder in your students, and enhance your teaching practice—all delivered straight...

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