Primary Years Programme (PYP)

In the Primary Years Programme (PYP) at Hanoi International School, we believe every child has the right to learn in ways that suit their individual needs. Students work collaboratively with teachers to explore multiple pathways to access the curriculum — such as rich learning engagements, experiential tasks, books, videos, games, models, and field trips — all chosen to make learning engaging, meaningful, and relevant to each learner. Teachers thoughtfully design diverse learning experiences that explicitly incorporate these methods and intentionally empower students to select the approaches that best support their understanding and progress. This personalised and inclusive approach ensures every learner can confidently access the curriculum, develop essential skills, and benefit academically, socially, and emotionally.

In the Primary Years Programme (PYP), safety means creating a learning environment where every child feels a strong sense of belonging, empathy, trust, and respect. This feeling enables them to take risks, embrace mistakes, and collaborate confidently with peers. Learning engagements are intentionally designed to offer exploration, choice, voice, and multiple ways for students to participate, ensuring that all learners can engage meaningfully and express their thinking in varied and accessible ways. By honouring each child’s identity and providing supportive, flexible learning spaces, the PYP strives to foster a community where students feel secure, valued, and ready to explore ideas with curiosity and courage.

Within Elementary, we foster a strong sense of cultural identity by creating safe, respectful classrooms where every student’s cultural background, language, traditions, and stories are celebrated, incorporated into learning, and honoured as essential to each child’s growth. In the Primary Years Programme (PYP), most units of inquiry are collaboratively designed to respect and reflect the identities of teachers, students, and our broader learning community, ensuring curriculum is relevant and responsive. Additionally, our school warmly celebrates cultural diversity through meaningful local and global events and gatherings that reflect the backgrounds of our students and families. These occasions—festivals, heritage days, shared meals, and community projects—invite students, staff, and families to share traditions, stories, and customs, strengthening connections and mutual respect. Celebrating together is another tangible way we honour and value the rich cultural tapestry that makes our school community unique.

The aim of transdisciplinary units of inquiry in the Primary Years Programme (PYP) is to present students with authentic, real‑world problems that encourage them to apply learning in meaningful and relevant ways. Through inquiry, students are inspired to take purposeful action and reflect on their thinking and behaviour, engaging in participation, advocacy, social justice, social entrepreneurship, and informed lifestyle choices. These diverse forms of action enable learners to connect classroom learning with community needs, practise leadership and empathy, and develop a sense of responsibility. Ultimately, the units cultivate active, informed, and empowered citizens who are ready to contribute positively to their communities and the wider world.

All transdisciplinary units of inquiry are grounded in concepts that shape what students explore and why it matters. These concepts act as thinking tools—lenses students use to notice big ideas and make sense of facts, skills, and experiences across subjects and over time. Teachers use specified concepts to guide meaningful classroom questions and learning activities, then intentionally weave in related concepts to connect curriculum skills to real‑life situations, problems, and community contexts. This conceptual approach encourages students to transfer understanding across different subjects and everyday settings, deepen their critical and creative thinking, and apply learning with purpose. As a result, learners develop flexible, meaningful knowledge they can use at school, at home, and in their wider communities.

In the Primary Years Programme (PYP) learning is based on exploration, curiosity, and hands-on experiences that help children make sense of the world. Teachers guide students through inquiry-based activities, where they ask questions, investigate ideas, and reflect on what they discover. Learning often happens through play and interactive experiences that allow students to explore their interests in meaningful and age-appropriate ways. At Hanoi International School, students are encouraged to make choices in their learning, which helps them develop confidence and take ownership of their progress. Teachers also support personalized learning by connecting new ideas to each child’s prior knowledge and providing different pathways so every student can be challenged and supported at the right level. These approaches ensure that learning is engaging, relevant, and tailored to each child’s needs.

At Hanoi International School (HIS), innovation thrives through purposeful collaboration. When teachers and students co-design meaningful learning experiences, and learners apply knowledge to real-world challenges, outcomes become transformative. Encouraging student voice, choice, and ownership cultivates resilience, curiosity, and responsibility. HIS strives to empower young people to embrace challenges, seize opportunities, and create sustainable solutions that benefit their communities and the wider world. Through partnership, reflection, and hands-on problem solving, learners develop the skills and mindset needed for lasting impact. Together, educators and students build an inclusive culture where learning drives positive change and prepares young people to shape a better future..