Subject Groups
The International Baccalaureate® (IB) Middle Years Programme (MYP) comprises eight subject groups.
At CGS the eight subject groups are as follows:
- Language and Literature
- Language Acquisition: English, French, German, Italian
- Mathematics
- Arts: Visual Art, Music
- Individuals and Societies; History, Geography, Religion, Home Economics, Social and Political Science, Civics
- Design
- Physical and Health Education
- Sciences: Chemistry, Physics, Biology
Global Contexts
They provide common entry points for inquiry in the IB MYP and enable students to explore the following fields through unit planners designed by the subject groups.
Identities and Relationships
Who am I? Who are we?
Students will explore identity; beliefs and values; personal, physical, mental, social and spiritual health; human relationships including families, friends, communities and cultures; what it means to be human.
EXAMPLE EXPLORATIONS
● Competition and cooperation: teams, affiliation and leadership
● Human nature and human dignity; moral reasoning and ethical judgment; consciousness and mind
Orientation in Space and Time
What is the meaning of when and where?
Students will explore personal histories; homes and journeys; turning points in humankind; discoveries; explorations and migrations of humankind; the relationships between, and the interconnectedness of, individuals and civilizations, from personal, local and global perspectives.
EXAMPLE EXPLORATIONS
● Civilizations and social histories, heritage, pilgrimage, migration, displacement and exchange
● Natural and human landscapes and resources
Personal and Cultural Expression
What is the nature and purpose of creative expression?
Students will explore the ways in which we discover and express ideas, feelings, nature, culture, beliefs and values; the ways in which we reflect on, extend and enjoy our creativity; our appreciation of the aesthetic.
EXAMPLE EXPLORATIONS
● Products, systems and institutions
● Social constructions of reality; philosophies and ways of life; belief systems; ritual and play
Scientific and Technical Innovation
How do we understand the world in which we live?
Students will explore the natural world and its laws; the interaction between people and the natural world; how humans use their understanding of scientific principles; the impact of scientific and technological advances on communities and environments; the impact of environments on human activity; how humans adapt environments to their needs.
EXAMPLE EXPLORATIONS
● Systems, models, methods; products, processes and solutions
● Opportunity, risk, consequences and responsibility
Αpproaches to Learning (ATL) Skills
Through ATL in IB programmes, students develop skills that have relevance across the curriculum that help them “learn how to learn”. They provide a solid foundation for learning independently and with others. ATL skills help students prepare for, and demonstrate learning through, meaningful assessment and they relate to the areas of Communication, Social interaction, Self-management, Research and Thinking.
Service as Action
The Service as Action programme of the MYP is an essential component of the learning process, both as part of the educational philosophy and as a practical outcome of students’ learning. Students develop their personal understanding, their emerging sense of self and their developmentally appropriate responsibility in their community. Through their engagement with the programme, students feel empathy towards others, are encouraged to act on their own, but also to act collaboratively and undertake larger and more significant projects.
For further information on the philosophy of the IB MYP curriculum, click here: https://www.ibo.org/programmes/middle-years-programme/curriculum/
