The curriculum built on IB PYP framework at ISSP

International Primary School Saigon Pearl (ISSP) has an international curriculum with quality recognized worldwide. Its primary curriculum is designed according to the International Baccalaureate Primary Years Program (IB PYP) framework. For more information about the curriculum of International Primary School Saigon Pearl, the high quality international school Ho Chi Minh City, please read the article below.

Visit International School Saigon Pearl (ISSP), one of high quality American international schools in Vietnam, to experience the international curriculum and facilities for primary school students

Introduction of International Primary School Saigon Pearl

International Primary School Saigon Pearl (ISSP) is an American international school in Ho Chi Minh City for students from 18 months to 11 years old, belonging to the Cognita group with more than 85 school members worldwide. ISSP is the only international preschool and primary school in Ho Chi Minh City that is comprehensively accredited by two prestigious international accreditation organizations, CIS (Council of International School) and NEASC (New England Association of Schools and Colleges). Since 2023, ISSP has been officially authorized by the International Baccalaureate Organization (IBO) to offer the IB PYP curriculum, known for its high academic standards.

Readmore: Instructions to submit an application for grade 1 online at International School Saigon Pearl

At ISSP, the curriculum is designed according to the IB PYP framework with 6 transdisciplinary themes, specifically as follows:

• Who we are: It refers to an inquiry into what it means to be human including the nature of the self, beliefs and values and the concepts of personal, physical, mental, social and spiritual health. This theme is also associated with the various human relationships including families, communities and cultures as well as the rights and responsibilities.
• Where we are in place and time: This theme is about an inquiry into the personal histories; the discoveries, explorations and migrations of humans in history; and the relationships as well as the interconnectedness of individuals and of civilizations in both local and global perspectives.
• How we express ourselves: It relates to an inquiry into the ways how people express their ideas and feelings; how they discover and communicate their nature, culture, beliefs and values; and how they reflect on, extend and enjoy their creativity and appreciation of aesthetics.
• How the world works: This theme is about the natural world and its laws; the interaction between human societies and the natural world in both physical and biological aspects; how humans use their knowledge of scientific principles; and the impact of scientific and technological advances on both the natural environment and society.
• How we organize ourselves: It is regarded as an inquiry into the interconnectedness of human-made systems and communities; the structure and function of organizations; societal decision-making; economic activities and their impact on the environment and humankind.
• Sharing the planet: The last transdisciplinary theme is an inquiry into the rights and responsibilities in the struggle to share the limited resources with other people and species; the relationships within and between communities; access to equal opportunities; peace and conflict resolution.

>> The Kindergarten and Elementary Curriculum of ISSP

Grade 1 curriculum of International Primary School Saigon Pearl

• Who we are:
• • Rights and responsibilities
  • The function of a community and the roles of people in community
  • Our role in our community and how can we have an impact (positive or negative)
• Where we are in place and time:
• • The past is different to today
  • Evidence tells us about the past
  • Personal history
• How we express ourselves:
• • Things we celebrate
  • Different celebrations around the world
  • Creating celebrations for others
• How the world works:
• • Origin and the functions of sound
  • Origin and the functions of light
  • Light and sound as a means of communication or expression
• How we organize ourselves:
• • Earth’s cycles
  • Patterns in Earth’s cycles
  • Observing Earth’s cycles
• Characteristics and behaviors of living things
• Characteristics and behaviors help the survival of living things
• Connection between parents and offspring
• AdaptationSharing the planet:

Grade 2 curriculum of International Primary School Saigon Pearl

• Who we are:
• • The functions of learning communities
  • The roles, rights and responsibilities of a learning community
  • Contributing positively to a learning community
• Where we are in place and time:
• • Characteristics of Ancient Vietnam
  • Ways that our locality (Ho Chi Minh) has changed or remained the same
  • Why some ideas endure and others change
• How we express ourselves:
• • Features and expressions of celebrations
  • Celebrations are different around the world
  • We can create a celebration for others
• Properties of matter and materials
• Changes in matter and materials
• Innovating and creating with our understanding of matter and materialHow the world works:
• Needs vs wants and how that affects spending and money
• Developing goods and services
• Making decisions as a consumer (sustainability goals)How we organize ourselves:
• Earth’s natural processes (including day/night)
• Earth’s processes impact on humans and animals
• Connection between Earth’s features and where people and animals liveSharing the planet:

Grade 3 curriculum of International Primary School Saigon Pearl

• Who we are:
• • The importance of well being among families
  • Factors and actions impacting well being
  • Well being within our community
• Where we are in place and time:
• • Fossils can tell us about once living things
  • Environmental factors, adaptation and humans contribute to the survival of living things
  • Humans can impact the habitat of living things both positively and negatively
• How we express ourselves:
• • Expressions of culture
  • Beliefs and value systems within different cultures
  • The importance of International mindedness and how it relates to diversity
• How the world works:
• • Force and motion enable people to invent and create
  • Relationships between forces and motion
  • Using force to create things
• The impact of conflict
• Roles in conflict
• Peaceful conflict resolutionHow we organize ourselves:
• The importance of life cycles and how the environment can impact those cycles
• The connection between traits and inheritanceSharing the planet:

Grade 4 curriculum of International Primary School Saigon Pearl

• Individuals can influence and impact others positively or negatively
• Characteristics and Attributes of effective role models in the context of our community
• Role models are positive influences in their community who can support impactful changeWho we are:
• Significant events and/or people in time
• Evidence tells us about past events and people
• We can tell the story of a significant event or person from the past using effective curationWhere we are in place and time:
• The function and importance(if any) of governance systems
• The impact of different governance systems in our community, country and world
• Governance decisions and directives impact people and their lives
• People can provoke and advocate for changes to governance systemsHow we express ourselves:
• Inventions in our Energy usage of humans and the effect on the environment
• Energy is converted and transferred
• Transmission, generation and reception of information, and light and sound wavesHow the world works:
• The functions of climate and weather
• Weather and climate are recorded
• The impact of Earth’s processes and how we can prepare and reactSharing the planet:

Grade 5 curriculum of International Primary School Saigon Pearl

• Why and how people go through changes
• The development of strategies to understand and move through changes
• The impact of peer pressure on change and how we can support othersWho we are:
• The effect of technology on our ideas about Earth and the Universe
• The importance of Earth as a Goldilocks planet
• Earth’s place in the Universe and its impact
• Continued space explorationWhere we are in place and time:
• Culture and how do people express their culture
• Cultural and independent beliefs and values
• The importance of international mindedness and diversityHow we express ourselves:
• Properties and changes in materials and matter and their uses
• Materials and matter that promote sustainability
• Applications of commonly used materialsHow the world works:
• Properties and Globalization and how people trade globally
• People and events can impact economic activities
• Creating a successful business plan and making use of different resources in the marketplaceHow we organize ourselves:
• Earth’s systems and their interactions
• Behaviors and characteristics living things have that help them survive
• The role of energy transfer in ecosystems
• Balance and diversity importance to an ecosystemSharing the planet:

Read more: Skill development pathway of preschool students at International School Saigon Pearl

At International Primary School Saigon Pearl, the curriculum with 6 transdisciplinary themes helps students not only develop intelligence but also practice what they have learned, explore more related topics and promote a spirit of curiosity. This will facilitate comprehensive development of students in the future.

Read more: Preschool and primary school students participate in after school activities at ISSP

For more information about International Primary School Saigon Pearl, parents can contact the ISSP Admissions Office via:

• • Phone number: +84 (028) 2222 7788.
  • Email: admissions@issp.edu.vn.

The above article gives a summary on the curriculum of International Primary School Saigon Pearl – the credible American international school. Hopefully, after reading the article, parents will gather more useful information about the learning pathway of their children at ISSP.