Curriculum/Approaches to Learning/POI

Curriculum

Kennedy School: Learning through Inquiry

At Kennedy School, we use the International Baccalaureate, Primary Years Programme (IB PYP) framework to shape our learning. The IB PYP framework is centred around helping children inquire and learn about the world around them in a fun and engaging way. We nurture a love of learning whilst engaging your child in rigorous, exciting challenges.

Building a strong foundation: We start with what your child already understands and use this to develop new learning. In order for children to truly flourish, we need a firm foundation.
Asking questions and exploring: We nurture curiosity. Your child will learn by asking questions, investigating, and doing things themselves, guided by our experienced educators.
Working together: Your child will collaborate with other learners, deepening their understanding and developing essential social and communication skills.

What your child will gain:

Strong creative critical and creative thinking skills: Your child will be encouraged to ‘think outside the box’, create solutions to complex problems and explain their reasoning.
A voice in their learning: Your child will make choices about how they learn and feel empowered to take charge of their education.
Resilience and resourcefulness: Your child will be challenged with open-ended questions, encouraged to try new things and be guided towards independence.

Learning without walls:

The best learning happens when we make connections. In our programme, subjects are connected through our "Programme of Inquiry" (POI). We can imagine this as a big puzzle with different pieces that all fit together. Here are the main themes your child will explore throughout their years at Kennedy School:

Who We Are: Learning about themselves, their identity, well-being and belonging
Where We Are in Place and Time: Understanding place, space and time - our history, heritage, culture and environment
How We Express Ourselves: Discovering different ways to communicate and be creative
How the World Works: Uncovering the secrets of the natural world and how we discover, design and innovate
How We Organise Ourselves: Learning about systems and structures in the world
Sharing the Planet: Understanding how the human and natural world co-exist

Each year, your child will explore these themes in engaging Units of Inquiry. You can find more details about what they will learn by clicking here: Kennedy School Programme of Inquiry]

Learning through everything we do:

At Kennedy School, we believe learning opportunities are everywhere. Play, learning in the outdoors and technology all play a big role in helping your child understand the world around them. Students thrive within the broad-based offerings at Kennedy School which go way beyond academics. Students have regular opportunities to:

Be creative and find passions and interests through the expressive arts.
Get active and enjoy the benefits of physical education and health education.
Use technology and hands-on ‘making’ to learn new things and explore the world in exciting ways.
Learn outside the classroom accessing significant and relevant resources and sites in the local environment.
Access knowledge from experts and service providers who come into school to share their expertise.

Global Citizens:

We believe Kennedy students are citizens of the world. Students develop the skills and attributes which empower them to make a difference by choosing to take action. Action may be personal, such as applying understanding about the human body to making healthy choices; it may be local, such as initiating new responsibilities in the school or local community, or it may be global, such as making connections with outside agencies. Every action counts!

The Takeaway:

We want your child's learning experience at Kennedy School to be meaningful, challenging, and engaging. Through the IB PYP, we help them connect what they learn in the classroom to the world around them. Our goal is to raise caring, internationally-minded creators, thinkers, inventors, and life-long learners who help make our world a better place.

Want to learn more?

You can find more information about the IB PYP programme here: http://ibo.org/programmes/primary-years-programme/
For details about the IB PYP at Kennedy School, contact our Vice Principal, Catherine Carter at cwan@kennedy.edu.hk

Integrated Chinese

Learning Chinese at Kennedy School (IB PYP)

At Kennedy School, we have a diverse student body with students who are native or near-native Chinese speakers and students who are learning Chinese as a second, third, or even fourth language.

We tailor our Chinese language programme to meet the needs of all learners. Our approach focuses on:

Catering to different learning styles: We understand that every child learns differently.
Inquiry-based learning (PYP): We encourage students to explore and discover through inquiry.
Learning within cultural contexts: We incorporate Chinese culture into the learning experience.

Catering to Different Learning Styles

We offer different learning pathways to ensure every child is supported and challenged:

Different Pathways: We have created a model using different pathways to cater to the differing needs of each learner.
Support Groups: Children receive additional support from experienced staff to hep them build a strong foundation.
Extension Groups: We provide opportunities for advanced learners to further develop their skills. They can participate in storytelling, drama, writing competitions, and performances, such as the annual National Chinese Speech Festival.

PYP Inquiry Learning

The PYP framework uses six transdisciplinary themes to guide learning. These themes help students connect different subjects and explore big ideas. Language is a key tool for inquiry and communication in all subjects.

Our Chinese programme enhances the PYP in three main ways:

Meaningful Links: We connect Chinese language lessons to the current Unit of Inquiry (UOI) whenever possible. This helps students see how Chinese relates to other areas of learning. For example, if the UOI is about "Sharing the Planet," Chinese lessons might explore environmental issues in Hong Kong or China.
Supporting Units of Inquiry: For one UOI in each year group, we delve deeper into the central idea through the lens of Chinese language and culture. This helps students understand concepts from a different perspective.
Standalone Units of Inquiry: We also have units specifically designed to explore the Chinese language itself. This helps students develop a deeper understanding of how the language works.

Learning in Cultural Contexts

We believe that learning a language is more than just memorising words. It's also about understanding the culture. We incorporate Chinese culture into our lessons in several ways:

Exploring Festivals: We explore popular Chinese festivals and celebrate them as a school community.
Cultural Immersion: By blending in cultural elements, the broadened Chinese curriculum provides students with a good opportunity to learn the target language in an authentic way. An example of this is the Year 6 week long excursion to Beijing.

This approach helps students connect with the language on a deeper level and motivates them to use Chinese in a meaningful way.

Core Disciplines

As an International Baccalaureate Primary Years Programme (PYP) school, we address core disciplines through both integrated units of inquiry and discrete subject instruction. Here’s a little about each one:

Language

We believe that strong communication skills are essential for success in all areas of life. We encourage students to express themselves creatively and confidently and to appreciate the power of language in all its forms. We explore different types of texts for different audiences and encourage a love of reading and writing. In addition to developing English language skills, our students also learn Chinese. This allows them to develop an understanding of another language and culture, broadening their global perspective and enhancing their communication skills. We also celebrate and encourage the languages of our diverse Kennedy community.

The Kennedy School language curriculum is structured around three interconnected strands:

Oral language: This encompasses both listening and speaking. Students develop skills in understanding spoken language, expressing their own ideas verbally, participating in discussions, and presenting information to others.
Written language: This includes both reading and writing. Students learn to decode written text, comprehend different types of texts, and express themselves effectively through writing in various forms.
Visual language: This involves both viewing and presenting. Students develop skills in interpreting and analysing visual information (such as images, symbols, and media) and creating their own visual presentations to communicate ideas.

These strands are integrated to provide a holistic approach to language learning, emphasising the interconnectedness of different modes of communication.

Mathematics

We want our students to see mathematics as more than just numbers and equations. We help them develop a deep understanding of mathematical concepts and how they apply to the real world. Through hands-on activities and problem-solving, students learn to think critically and logically, developing skills they can use in everyday life. The mathematics curriculum is organised into five interconnected strands:

Number: Understanding numbers, number systems, operations (addition, subtraction, multiplication, division), fractions, decimals, percentages, and number patterns.
Pattern and Function: Exploring patterns, relationships between numbers and variables, algebraic thinking, and using symbols.
Measurement: Using units to describe and compare attributes like length, mass, capacity, time, and temperature; estimating and comparing measurements.
Shape and Space: Investigating 2D and 3D shapes, spatial reasoning, location, and transformations.
Data Handling: Collecting, organizing, representing, and interpreting data using tables, charts, and graphs; understanding basic statistical concepts.

Science

We encourage our students to be curious about the world around them. Our science programme fosters a spirit of inquiry, where students explore scientific concepts through experiments, observations, and research. We want them to develop a scientific mindset, asking questions and seeking answers. The Kennedy School science curriculum is organised into four key strands:

Living things: This strand focuses on the study of the characteristics, systems, and behaviors of humans, other animals, and plants. It also explores the interactions and relationships between and among them, and with their environment.
Earth and space: This strand involves the study of Earth's systems, its place in the solar system and the universe, and the dynamic processes that shape it.
Materials and matter: This strand explores the properties, changes, and uses of various materials and matter in different states.
Forces and energy: This strand focuses on the study of forces (pushes and pulls) and different forms of energy (e.g., light, heat, sound, electricity) and their effects on objects and systems.

These strands are often explored through hands-on investigations and inquiry-based learning within transdisciplinary units of inquiry.

Social Studies

We help students understand their place in the world and their connection to others. Through exploring history, geography, and culture, students develop empathy, respect for different perspectives, and a sense of global citizenship. We want them to become informed and responsible members of their communities.

The social studies curriculum has five interconnected strands:

Human Systems and Economic Activities: How people organize themselves and their economies locally and globally, including power and authority.
Social Organization and Culture: Studying people, communities, cultures, and how societies interact and evolve.
Continuity and Change Through Time: How societies and cultures change over time, examining historical influences.
Human and Natural Environments: The relationship between humans and their environment, including human impact and environmental influences.
Resources and the Environment: The use, distribution, and management of resources and their environmental impact, including sustainability.

These strands are often explored through inquiry-based learning within transdisciplinary units of inquiry. They encourage students to develop an understanding of themselves, their communities, and the world around them, fostering a sense of global citizenship and social responsibility.

Expressive Arts

We believe that the arts are an essential part of a well-rounded education. Our arts programme includes visual arts, music, drama, and dance. We encourage students to express themselves creatively, develop their aesthetic appreciation, and explore different forms of artistic expression. Through the arts, students develop confidence, collaboration skills, and a deeper understanding of themselves and the world. The Expressive Arts curriculum focuses on learning through and about four key art forms:

Visual Arts: Creating visual representations using various media and techniques (e.g., drawing, painting, sculpting).
Music: Listening to, performing, and creating music (e.g., singing, playing instruments, composing).
Drama: Expressing ideas and emotions through dramatic forms (e.g., role-play, improvisation, theatre).
Dance: Expressing ideas and emotions through movement and physical expression.

These art forms are often integrated into units of inquiry, emphasising creative exploration, skill development, and responding to and appreciating diverse artistic expressions. Above all, we strive to instill a lifelong love and appreciation for the arts.

Learning at Kennedy