IB PYP and the Content Areas

The basis of the curriculum at Midland International is derived from the Colorado State Standards. The state standards identify the knowledge, concepts and skills that Colorado has deemed essential for all students to acquire. At Midland International, we ensure that all instruction, including our Programme of Inquiry, is designed around the Colorado State Standards.

While the IB PYP usually requires approximately sixty percent of instruction time, the content areas that are addressed within that time, vary according to the focus of each unit of inquiry. For example, the organising theme, "How We Express Ourselves" greatly lends itself to incorporating the language arts content area, while the organising theme, "How the World Works" has a much stronger scientific focus. Although it is our goal at Midland to integrate the appropriate content areas with each unit of inquiry, we ultimately endeavor to focus on using the IB PYP inquiry based method for instruction in all of the content areas.

Language Arts

Language learning is a lifelong process and students must develop the skills they need to participate confidently in the wider community. While recognizing that reading, writing, speaking and listening are four separate strands, at Midland International, we seek to integrate these strands, so that our students recognize the connection between them. Above all, we aim to educate our students to become proficient and advanced language learners who have an appreciation for the richness of language, as well as a love for quality literature.

Mathematics

Our mathematics program encourages students to look upon mathematics as a way of thinking rather than a fixed body of knowledge. To ensure that mathematics is taught in a meaningful way, the state standards are set in contexts with which the students can identify. Inquiry based methodology is used in both our Math Lab and in regular classroom instruction.

Science

A strong foundation of scientific skills, concepts and knowledge enable our students to learn and think critically and logically throughout their lifetimes. Through hands-on experiences, our students discover that inquiry is a necessary step in the scientific process.

Social Studies

The main purpose of social studies is to encourage our students to make informed decisions for the good of society. Our students are a part of a rapidly changing, increasingly interdependent society. In order to function successfully, our students must be provided with the opportunity to gain understanding about history, geography, civics and economics. Our social studies program is designed for students and teachers to explore, investigate and search for answers to their questions, that are crucial to the understanding of, and functioning in, today’s social world.

Technology

Information technology is an integrated part of the classroom curriculum. All classrooms are equipped with at least four computers. Midland also has a computer lab that is available for all classes to use. Technology is used as a vehicle to discover, practice and present essential knowledge, concepts and skills. Understanding the relationship between technology and its impact on today’s society is critical in the success of our students as citizens of tomorrow’s world.