Primary Years Programme

Primary Years Programme at LIS: Early Years through Year 6

Luanda International School (LIS) has been authorized to teach the Primary Years Programme (PYP) of the International Baccalaureate (IB) since June 2001. The PYP is designed for students aged 3 to 12. It provides a curriculum framework for an international education where students are engaged in learning that is authentic and connected to real-world context. The PYP is a concept-based, transdisciplinary programme where learning transcends the boundaries between traditional subject areas. PYP students learn about and use knowledge, concepts and skills from a variety of subjects to explore six transdisciplinary themes of global significance. These themes unify the curriculum in all PYP schools around the world.

The students in the Early Years Centre (EYC) also learn through the IB Primary Years Programme. Teachers in the EYC subscribe to the Reggio Emilia approach which complements the IB Philosophy. At its core, the Reggio Emilia approach views children as competent, rich in potential, strong and as active participants in their own learning. This learning is hands-on, interactive, play-based, inquiry-driven, and children are encouraged to explore, wonder, challenge and question their world.

Inquiry Approach to Teaching and Learning

Inquiry is the pedagogical approach to learning and teaching in all PYP schools. The PYP frames units of inquiry around concepts that engage the students in real-world questions and problems through authentic contexts, at both local and global levels. Through inquiry, students are able to develop and strengthen transferable approaches to learning such as thinking, research, communication, social and self-management skills. An inquiry approach to teaching and learning also helps to develop students’ agency. Our students are actively involved in the learning process where independence and responsibility are nurtured by giving students choice and voice in our learning environments.  As active agents in their learning, students are able to construct meaning about themselves and the world around them, using effective questioning strategies, critical thinking and problem-solving skills.

International-mindedness

As an IB World School, we encourage students to become compassionate, life-long learners. This is developed throughout their learning with a focus on the attributes of the IB Learner Profile where learners strive to be inquirers, knowledgeable, thinkers, communicators, principled, open-minded, caring, risk-takers, balanced and reflective. International-mindedness is further developed through the learning of an additional language. As part of our school’s core values, we respect the language of our host country, Portuguese, and aim for all students to be able to function linguistically in the environment in which they live.