Primary Years Programme
Pre K-Grade 5
In PreK through Grade 5, the Lakes International Language Academy curriculum is modeled on the International Baccalaureate Primary Years Programme (PYP) framework which focuses on the development of the whole student as an inquirer in the classroom, and in the world community. It sets high standards for our instructors and high expectations for our students.
Early learning for preschoolers and kindergartners is holistic, integrating social-emotional, physical, and cognitive opportunities for development. Guided learning takes place in a dynamic environment that promotes play, discovery, exploration, inquiry, and reflection. As students progress, the PYP uses powerful strategies of inquiry to build students’ knowledge and deeply study particular topics. Students and teachers work toward answering a few broad questions using many resources across subject areas while practicing reading, writing, math, science, social studies, and other skills, in the process. This adds relevance to the learning experience and a sense of product, rather than a seemingly unrelated collection of facts and skills.
Units of Inquiry
The Units of Inquiry – who we are; where we are in place and time; how we express ourselves; how the world works; how we organize ourselves; sharing the planet – form the foundation of the PYP curriculum. Teachers and students pursue learning together using these fundamental overarching concepts.
LILA's Programme of Inquiry illustrates how the primary concepts are applied by grade level, building on the students’ knowledge of themselves, their communities, and the world each year. As a culmination of their PYP years, 5th grade students research, document, and share their understanding of a topic of personal significance. These presentations and discussions are called Exhibition - an annual spring highlight for our community.