The International Primary Curriculum (IPC) is an especially designed curriculum for (international)
primary schools. Teachers use this program to develop the knowledge, skills and understanding of
students across a variety of topics.
Personal development and international understanding (global citizenship) are central to the curriculum. The IPC program offers an impressive support system for its schools, and enables teachers to create the best possible learning environment for students.
In the school year 2020- 2021, we pay extra attention to the following personal learning goals for each unit.
Unit 1: Respect
Unit 2: Cooperation
Unit 3: Communication
Unit 4: Enquiry
Unit 5: Thoughtfulness
IPC-Units
The IPC curriculum is a digital curriculum that works with clearly defined learning objectives and themes that we call units. From Mission to Mars to Circus and from Rainforest to Pioneers of Change. They are all subjects to make children enthusiastic and involved.
Each unit connects to the emotional and mental development of the child and is constructed in such a way that the focus lies on the learning process. The IPC curriculum is regularly updated with an eye for actual events and the latest scientific developments.
IPC-curriculum in practice
How does an IPC unit work in practice? We take the unit 'Chocolate' as an example. In the field of art, pupils design packaging for the chocolate. In history, we look at chocolate in a historical perspective and make connections with the present. In nature, food as fuel is central and in geography, children are invited to investigate where on earth cocoa trees grow.
An IPC unit is an overarching theme in which all business and creative subjects are addressed. The subjects at IPC do not stand alone but are connected to each other. Pupils learn to see connections between the subjects, take a more active part in education and learn to think from different perspectives.
Fixed structure
The units have a fixed structure. Learning is central to the IPC curriculum. Each unit is opened in an inspiring way. The opening is intended to make children involved and enthusiastic about the subject. This is followed by the 'knowledge harvest'. What do the children already know? Among other things, we work with mind maps (visual diagrams) that help children to see what they already know about a subject.
Then follows an explanation by the teacher with attention for 'the big picture'. Once ready, the children are sufficiently equipped to go out on an investigation and process their findings. The teacher is the coach and is there to help where necessary. We end the topic and celebrate what we have learned.
For the youngest: IEYC
For children aged 2.5 to 6 years we have developed the International Early Years Curriculum
(IEYC). Like the IPC, IEYC has been developed with an eye for the latest scientific developments. Think for example of research into the learning toddler brain.
IEYC helps the young child's brain learn in a playful way. In this way we optimally stimulate the personal, emotional and social development of the young child. An additional advantage of the IEYC is that children become familiar with the IPC way of working before they go to group 3.
Assessment for Learning
To learn effectively and to improve learning you need relevant feedback. The Assessment for Learning programme helps with this. This digital programme has a simple philosophy: allowing children to learn well is inextricably linked to good evaluation. Thanks to good evaluation, you know what further steps in the learning process are needed.
The IPC units give the learner the opportunity to continuously practice, evaluate and improve knowledge, skills and understanding. This is done by means of IPC learning tasks and effective feedback that suits the different growing stages of the child. The Assessment for Learning programme supports teachers in their evaluation and helps the children with their own learning evaluation.
De Ontmoeting offers IPC both in Dutch and in English.
See the website of IPC-Netherlands: www.ipc-nederland.nl