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ELEMENTARY SCHOOL PROGRAM OF INQUIRY

Exploring Through the PYP Program of Inquiry

At CAC, our Primary Years Program (PYP) nurtures curiosity through a rich Program of Inquiry that connects learning across subjects. Students explore big ideas through hands-on experiences, developing critical thinking, creativity, and a global mindset. Literacy and numeracy are foundational, while specialists in Art, Music, PE, Swimming, Arabic, and Egyptian Culture support a well-rounded education. Our Student Services team partners with teachers and families to ensure every child is supported and challenged.

  • PreK 3

    WHO WE ARE

    Central Idea
    Through understanding feelings people manage themselves and build relationships.

    Lines of Inquiry
    Understanding feelings

    Responding to feelings

    The choices we make affect ourselves and others

    HOW WE ORGANIZE OUR SELVES

    Central Idea
    Our school community is supported by many roles.

    Lines of Inquiry
    What is a school community

    How the roles support us

    What makes a respectful learning community

    HOW THE WORLD WORKS

    Central Idea
    Materials can be effected by various conditions.

    Lines of Inquiry
    Properties of material

    Transformation of materials

    What impacts materials

    HOW WE EXPRESS OURSELVES

    Central Idea
    There are many ways to communicate and express ideas

    Lines of Inquiry
    Exploring the arts

    Exploring culture through art

    The ways in which others express ideas

  • PREK 4

    WHO WE ARE

    Central Idea
    Challenges help us grow and develop our self-awareness.

    Lines of Inquiry
    The choices I make

    Trying different experiences

    Self-reflection

    HOW WE ORGANIZE OUR SELVES

    Central Idea
    Our outdoor space is organized to support learning.

    Lines of Inquiry

    Outdoor learning systems

    Outdoor learning

    Enhancing outdoor spaces

     

    HOW THE WORLD WORKS

    Central Idea
    The properties of materials determine their purpose.

    Lines of Inquiry

    Properties of materials

    Various purposes of materials

    Repurposing objects

     

    HOW WE EXPRESS OURSELVES

    Central Idea
    Culture is expressed in many ways.

    Lines of Inquiry

    Discovering culture

    Similarities and differences

    Appreciating cultures

     

  • Kindergarten

    WHO WE ARE

    Central Idea
    Learning about ourselves helps us understand and connect to others.

    Lines of Inquiry
    What makes me who I am

    Ways in which we are similar and different

    How we are connected to others

    HOW WE EXPRESS OURSELVES

    Central Idea
    Appreciation of the aesthetic promotes a sense of well-being.

    Lines of Inquiry
    Identifying what is aesthetically pleasing

    Communication through design

    How the choices we make affect our well-being

    WHERE WE ARE IN PLACE AND TIME

    Central Idea
    People use stories as a way of connecting to the past.

    Lines of Inquiry
    My relationship with the past

    How details enhance stories

    Ways of telling stories

    SHARING THE PLANET

    Central Idea
    Living things rely on their environment to survive.

    Lines of Inquiry
    What is a living thing

    What living things need to survive

    How living things are connected to their environment

    HOW WE ORGANIZE OUR SELVES

    Central Idea
    Groups function when members participate cooperatively.

    Lines of Inquiry
    Where groups are found

    How individuals in a group work together to accomplish goals

    Rights and responsibilities of group members

  • Grade 1

    WHO WE ARE

    Central Idea
    Balanced choices for Wellbeing.

    Lines of Inquiry
    What is wellbeing

    Choices impact our own wellbeing

    Wellbeing is different for everybody

    WHERE WE ARE IN PLACE AND TIME

    Central Idea
    People interact with natural cycles.

    Lines of Inquiry
    Natural cycles

    My relationship with natural cycles

    The celebrations linked to the natural world

    Sharing the Planet

    Central Idea
    Offspring inherit and adapt traits and behavior that support their survival and interactions within ecosystems.

    Lines of Inquiry

    Traits passed from parents to offspring and how they vary

    Traits and parents role helps offspring survivie

     

    HOW WE EXPRESS OURSELVES

    Central Idea
    People communicate to cooperate.

    Lines of Inquiry
    What is communication

    How people communicate

    Effective communication is a shared responsibility

    How we Organize Ourselves

    Central Idea
    Citizens contribute to communities.

     Lines of Inquiry

    Qualities of citizens

    Communities we are a part of

    Ways citizens contribute to the community

     

    HOW THE WORLD WORKS

    Central Idea
    People understand light and sound to interact with the world.

    Lines of Inquiry

    Properties of light and sound

    How light and sound can be used

    Design and build with light and sound

     

  • Grade 2

    WHO WE ARE

    Central Idea
    Accepting diversity builds relationships

    Lines of Inquiry

    What is culture

    The commonalities across cultures

    The ways global citizens embrace diversity

     

    WHERE WE ARE IN PLACE AND TIME

    Central Idea
    Experiences change people over time

    Lines of Inquiry
    Our personal histories

    New ideas and inventions can make lives different

    What we value influences action

    HOW WE EXPRESS OURSELVES

    Central Idea
    Engaging with the arts develops thinking and behavior.

    Lines of Inquiry

    What the arts are

    How people interpret the arts

    Ways to respond to the arts

     

    HOW THE WORLD WORKS

    Central Idea
    Matter can be changed to meet people's needs.

     Lines of Inquiry

    Materials have different properties

    Processes that change matter

    People consider different materials when they design

    HOW WE ORGANIZE OUR SELVES

    Central Idea
    People develop systems of trade for goods and services based on needs and wants.

    Lines of Inquiry

    The role of trade

    Reasons why people trade

    The way trade systems function

     

    SHARING THE PLANET

    Central Idea
    Living things exist in many different places.

    Lines of Inquiry

    What living things depend on

    Diversity of life in different habitats

    Living things share and generate resources in their habitat

  • Grade 3

    WHO WE ARE

    Central Idea
    Relationships are strengthened by understanding each other's perspectives.

    Lines of Inquiry
    How we build relationships

    Understanding others’ perspectives

    Strategies for resolution

    HOW WE EXPRESS OURSELVES

    Central Idea
    Authors use stories to communicate beliefs and values

     Lines of Inquiry

    Elements of story

    Discovering meaning and messages

     

    WHERE WE ARE IN PLACE AND TIME

    Central Idea
    Homes are influenced by location and resources.

    Lines of Inquiry
    Regional geographical features

    Impact of geographical factors and natural resources on houses

    Houses around the world

    SHARING THE PLANET

    Central Idea
    Survival of organisms relies on their interdependence within their environmental conditions.

    Lines of Inquiry
    Balanced environments

    How environmental changes affect living organisms

    Humans affect habitats and organisms

    HOW THE WORLD WORKS

    Central Idea
    People apply their understanding of forces and motion to everyday situations.

    Lines of Inquiry
    Forces and motion

    The effects of forces

    HOW WE ORGANIZE OUR SELVES

    Central Idea
    People take action to support their community.

    Lines of Inquiry
    Community needs

    Understanding the components of action

    The roles and structure when taking action

  • Grade 4

    SHARING THE PLANET

    Central Idea
    Living things have structures that function to support behavior, growth, and survival.

    Lines of Inquiry
    Internal and external structures that support behavior, growth, and survival

    How animal sense receptors work to support behavior and survival

    Innovations inspired by nature

    HOW THE WORLD WORKS

    Central Idea
    Earth's surface is shaped by natural processes that impact living things.

    Lines of Inquiry
    Earth’s natural processes

    The effects of the natural processes on the earth’s surface

    The response of societies to the changing earth’s surface


    Where we are in Place and Time

    Central Idea
    Challenges, risks and opportunities may cause human migration.

    Lines of Inquiry

    Reasons people migrate

    Migration throughout time

    People’s responses to migration

     

    WHO WE ARE

    Central Idea
    Safeguarding children’s rights promotes social justice.

    Lines of Inquiry
    Children’s rights and responsibilities

    Children’s rights around the world

    Promoting and protecting children’s rights

    HOW WE EXPRESS OURSELVES

    Central Idea
    Food sustains life

     Lines of Inquiry
    Nutrition

    The emotions food provokes

    The way food nurtures relationships

    How we Organize Ourselves

    Central Idea
    Social entrepreneurship contributes to the local community.

    Lines of Inquiry

    How a small business works

    How small business supports the community

    Analyzing the product or service

  • Grade 5

    SHARING THE PLANET

    Central Idea
    Ecosystems rely on the interdependent balance of living things.

    Lines of Inquiry

    Ways in which ecosystems are interdependent

    Human interactions with the environment

    The consequence of imbalance within ecosystems

    HOW WE EXPRESS OUR SELVES

    Central Idea
    Imagination inspires us to express our ideas.

    Lines of Inquiry
    How people express their ideas

    The creative process

    Expressing meaning through creativity

    Where we are in Place and Time

    Central Idea
    Exploration leads to discoveries, conflicts and interactions.

    Lines of Inquiry
    Reasons for exploration

    What is learned through exploration

    Impact of interactions

    How the World Works

    Central Idea
    Humans impact Earth’s major systems.

    Lines of Inquiry
    How the major systems interact and affect Earth's surface and processes

    Human impact on major systems

    Novel problems require innovative solutions

    Who we Are - Exhibition

    Central Idea
    Humans develop their interests and passions to make meaningful contributions as responsible global citizens.

    Lines of Inquiry
    The interests and passions that further human development

    Understanding global citizenship

    Global citizens make a difference

    How we Organize Ourselves

    Central Idea
    Government systems and media influence societal decision making.

     Lines of Inquiry
    Political systems of the world

    The interaction of politics and media

    How citizens monitor, evaluate and influence actions of their government


CAC CORE VALUES AND LEARER PROFILE