International Primary Curriculum (IPC) is updated with new and exciting learning content

International Primary Curriculum (IPC) is updated with new and exciting learning content Prior to the students returning to school, the teachers worked in year group teams to review and update the unit themes, ensuring they are relevant and exciting for our students at BIS Hanoi.

Prior to the students returning to school, the teachers worked in year group teams to review and update the unit themes, ensuring they are relevant and exciting for our students at BIS Hanoi.

Primary students at BIS Hanoi follow the International Primary Curriculum (IPC) for their History, Geography and Art topics.  The IPC was first established in 2000 and became one of the fastest-growing programmes in the world. It was developed as a curriculum that supports learning, irrespective of the nationality and cultural background of the learner. Each unit theme is specifically designed to provide age-appropriate learning.

As part of the IPC’s 20^th birthday celebration, several different unit themes have been introduced and existing themes updated with new and exciting learning content. Prior to the students returning to school, the teachers worked in year group teams to review and update the unit themes, ensuring they are relevant and exciting for our students at BIS Hanoi.

Each IPC thematic unit follows a cycle, starting with an ‘Entry Point’ – which is an exciting introduction to the learning which will follow. So far we have seen some fantastic entry points.

• In Phase 1, Year 1 went on a walk in the local area to study different styles of buildings whilst Year 2 had a pirate themed day.

• In Phase 2, Year 3 went on a virtual tour of the rainforest and Year 4 dressed up as cave dwellers and did some cave paintings.

• In Phase 3, Year 5 had a virtual tour of Vinhomes to start their “Building a Village” topic, whilst Year 6 had a Roman themed day as the entry point for their ‘The Great, The Bold and The Brave’ topic.

Following the exciting Entry Point to ‘hook’ students into learning, the teacher will carry out a ‘Knowledge Harvest’ to find out what the class knows already – this will form the starting point for all the learning which will follow. After this, students will then enter the ‘Research, Record and Reflect’ phase of the IPC thematic unit cycle, designed to improve learning and develop metacognitive thinking. This is where the students have key learning objectives and skills they are working on achieving.

Finally, an exit point is planned – this provides an opportunity for students to share and reflect on all the learning which has taken place. We are hopeful we will be able to invite our families in to celebrate these exit points with us.

Kate Fitzpatrick

Primary Deputy Head