Principal’s Weekly Update 05 ｜ ATL Skills in Action

Dear PYP Parents,

I hope you have had a wonderful week! Thank you, as always, for your ongoing support and engagement in our learning community. Seeing our students develop as inquisitive, independent thinkers is truly inspiring.

This week, I would like to share more about Key Concepts, one of the foundational elements of the IB Primary Years Programme (PYP). These big ideas help children think deeply, make connections across subjects, and engage meaningfully with the world.

What Are Key Concepts?

Key Concepts are big, transferable ideas that guide student learning in all subject areas. Instead of simply memorizing facts, children learn how to think critically, ask important questions, and apply their understanding in new situations.

In the PYP, students explore eight Key Concepts:

• Form – What is it like?

• Function – How does it work?

• Causation – Why is it like this?

• Change – How does it change?

• Connection – How is it connected to other things? 

• Perspective– What are the different viewpoints?

• Responsibility – What is our responsibility?

• Reflection – How do we know? 

By applying these big questions to their learning, students develop higher-order thinking skills, deeper understanding, and the ability to make connections beyond the classroom.

Key Concepts in Action at CISNK & CISNP

This week, I had the pleasure of seeing how our teachers integrate Key Concepts into student learning across different subjects:

Art (Ocean Artwork) – Form, Change & Connection

• Students explored Form, examining shades of blue and different textures of the ocean in their artwork. 

• Change was discussed as they experimented with layering colors and materials to represent waves and movement. 

• Connection was considered as students explored how pollution impacts marine life and how artists use visual storytelling to promote conservation.

Music (Moon Song) – Form, Function & Perspective

• Students analyzed Form, recognizing how the structure of a song is built with melody, rhythm, and lyrics.

• Function was explored as they discussed how music conveys emotions and tells cultural stories.

• Perspective was evident when students reflected on how different cultures interpret the moon in their music and folklore.

PE – Function, Connection & Responsibility

• Students explored Function, understanding how movement supports physical health.

• Connection was emphasized as students worked on team-based challenges, recognizing how cooperation improves performance.

• Responsibility was explored as students discussed how to take care of their bodies and promote fair play.

Math (Fractions) – Form & Connection

• Students examined Form, identifying numerators, denominators, and how fractions represent parts of a whole.

• Connection was emphasized as students applied fractions to real-world situations, such as sharing food and measuring ingredients.

Unit of Inquiry (Plants) – Causation, Change & Form

• Students explored Causation, asking, “Why did the celery change color?” and discussing how water moves through plants.

• Change was examined as they observed the transformation in plant structure over time.

• Form was emphasized as they described the different parts of a plant and how they function.

Unit of Inquiry (Ocean Layers) – Connection, Form & Function

• Connection was a key theme as students examined how ocean layers are linked to marine life survival.

• Form was explored as students classified sea creatures based on their characteristics.

• Function was discussed when analyzing how different animals adapt to their specific ocean layers.

Unit of Inquiry (Rockets) – Causation, Change & Function

• Causation was a major focus as students asked, “Why do rockets need so much power to leave the Earth?”

• Change was observed as they built and tested their own rocket designs, adjusting their models to improve performance.

• Function was explored when discussing how different parts of a rocket work together to achieve flight.

Seeing our students apply Key Concepts across subjects is a reminder of how powerful inquiry-based learning can be. These big ideas empower children to think critically, ask meaningful questions, and make connections that will serve them for life.

If you have any questions or would like to learn more about how we use Key Concepts in learning, please feel free to reach out.

Wishing you all a joyful and relaxing weekend!

Ian Barnes

Principal

Concordia International School Ningbo