IPC examples and Extracts literature review updating

IPC (International Primary Curriculum) is a project based curriculum that brings together many of the foundation subjects, it provides cross-curricular learning and applies core subjects. Many schools teach it, including my current school.

Introduction This is a unit of the International Primary Curriculum  The IPC has been developed to provide support to teachers so that four main aims can be achieved. They are: • To help children learn the subject knowledge, skills and understandings they need to become aware of the world around them • To help children develop the personal skills they need to take an active part in the world throughout their lives • To help children develop an international mindset alongside their awareness of their own nationality  • To do each of these in ways which take into account up-to-date research into how children learn and how they can be encouraged to be life-long learners  The IPC has a simple but comprehensive structure  Everything is based on clearly defined learning goals which lay out the subject, personal and international knowledge, skills and understandings children need at different stages of their primary school life:  ✓Learning Goal A specific statement of what children should ‘know’, ‘be able to do’ or develop an ‘understanding’ of at different mileposts. The IPC contains learning goals for each subject of the curriculum, for personal development and for ‘international mindedness’.  See Section 6 of the teaching and implementation file for a full list of all the learning goals.  ✓Learning Target An IPC learning target is a refined learning goal specifically related, where appropriate, to the content of each unit of work.  ✓A Process of Learning The units of work provide practical activities which teachers can use in the classroom plus a wealth of other supportive information. Each unit is structured to make sure that children’s learning experiences are as stimulating as possible.  All the units follow the same process of learning as described below ✓Entry Point The entry point is an activity for children that begins each unit of work and provides an exciting introduction to the work that is to follow. Entry points can last from one hour to a week, depending on the age of the children and the appropriateness of the activity.  ✓Knowledge Harvest The knowledge harvest takes place in the early stages of each unit and provides an opportunity for children to reveal what they already know about the themes they are studying. This bank of knowledge can then be added to, developed and even challenged by the teacher, throughout the course of the unit.  ✓Explain The Theme This activity involves the teacher helping the children to see the ‘big idea’ of the unit of work before embarking on the subject learning.  ✓Big Picture The big picture provides teachers with subject-based background information to the issues contained within the unit.  ✓Research Activity Each IPC unit has a research activity and a recording activity. Research activities always precede the recording activities. During research activities, children use a variety of methods and work in different group sizes to find out a range of information.  ✓Recording Activity During the recording activities, children interpret the learning they have researched and have the opportunity to explain it in ways which feature their multiple intelligences.  ✓Exit Point The exit point has two main purposes. First, to help children pull together their learning from the unit and second, to celebrate the learning that has taken place All timings are flexible depending on your circumstances. Links to other IPC subject ICT and Music learning goals are included in the different subjects Language Arts and Mathematics links Suggestions of possible links to Language Arts and Mathematics are provided where appropriate.

Below are extracts of a project topic 'Young Entrepreneurs' (Money and Trade) aimed at ages 7 to 9, (lower KS2.) The topic was taught last term in year 4 at my current school. Timings This unit of work is intended to last about 6-7 weeks.  The following suggested timings are approximate guides and are dependent on each school’s individual context.     Approx no. of hours   Approx no. of weeks   Entry Point, Knowledge Harvest, Explain the Theme   4   ½ Geography 8 1 History 8 1 Society 8 1 Technology 12 1½ International 4 ½ Exit Point 4 ½

Another project extract for ages 7 to 9 Paintings, Pictures and photographs Timings This unit of work is intended to last about 8 weeks. The following suggested timings are approximate guides and are dependent on each school’s individual context       Approx no. of hours   Approx no. of weeks   Entry Point, Knowledge Harvest, Explain the Theme   4   ½ Art 12 1½ Geography 8 1 History 8 1 ICT 4 ½ Music 8 1 Science 12 1½ Society and International 4 ½ Exit Point 4 ½

Another project extract for ages 9 to 11 What price progress (invention and development) Timings This unit of work is intended to last about 8-9 weeks. The following suggested timings are approximate guides and are dependent on each school’s individual context.     Approx no. of hours   Approx no. of weeks   Entry Point, Knowledge Harvest, Explain the Theme   4   ½ Technology 16 2 History 10 1¼ Science 8 1 Music 8 1 Society 6 ¾ Art 4 ½ International 4 ½ Exit Point 4 ½

International Primary Curriculum, further information is available at  tp://www.greatlearning.com/ipc/  However extracts above have been taken from the projects, which can only accessed if your school is a member. However there maybe other examples, plus there is video footage from a Head Teacher, if you want to find out more.

IPC often has a depth knowledge base in terms of the history, at times this can be dragged out to long and can become repetitive at times. In addition it doesn’t always develop the practical learning as I have seen when Design & Technology or Art & Design has been taught as an individual subject in previous schools. This could come down to individual teaching and planning though.

The structure of IPC does give a teacher a guide to which to plan from. It also focuses on lifelong learning, cross-curricular learning and applying literacy and maths.   I think the new curriculum will develop the teaching of IPC further, allowing for flexibility and creativity within the program of study