The International Baccalaureate Primary Years Programme (IB PYP) is designed to meet the educational needs of students aged 3 to 11. The IB PYP prescribes a curriculum framework that is based on the belief that learning is best done when it is authentic, relevant; and transdisciplinary - where learning is not confined within the boundaries of traditional subject areas but is supported and enriched by them.  These beliefs have implications for the organization of the education process.

 

Due to the intensity of language learning in the IB Primary Years Programme, the school day may need to be increased to accommodate additional language lessons.  Lessons are typically extended beyond the 30 minute period to 45 or even 90 minutes. That is why at VIS, the school day is until 14.30.  Besides, all of the subject areas taught in a traditional primary school are worked into the PYP programme.  

 

Extended class periods and double lessons allow for the integration of subjects around units of inquiry in the PYP. For example, a Lithuanian language and social studies or history lessons are routinely combined.  Within a topic such as Ancient Civilizations, teachers may coordinate non-fiction reading, descriptive writing tasks, and research activities with content area material typically taught in a stand-alone history class.