Curriculum
John H. Kinzie Elementary School
International Baccalaureate Middle Years Programme
The MYP Curriculum is comprised of eight subjects which provides a balanced, thought provoking, inquiry based education. The approaches to learning (ATL) provide a foundation for independent learning and developing these skills over time will help the students apply knowledge and skills to any challenge.
Arts (Visual & Performing)
The Arts curriculum is in the visual form as well as performance at Kinzie. Art allows opportunities to express a creative process that leads to a deeper understanding of the arts. The Arts builds an awareness of personal identity and encourages reflection. The concepts studied in the arts are aesthetics, change, communication and identity.
Design:
The design curriculum is one that challenges all students to develop their creative and innovative skills. It encourages students to think critically and apply problem solving skills. The “doing” and the product is important in design, however, the process is what the curriculum revolves around. The design cycle includes; Inquiring and analyzing, developing ideas, creating a solution and evaluating.
Individuals and Societies
The Individuals and Societies (I & S) curriculum incorporates topics covered in Social Studies with more of an emphasis on local and global issues with topics that may be debatable. The approach in this curriculum is for the students to inquire and analyze data from multiple sources to determine outcomes. It is essential that the students develop international-mindedness, including empathy and practicing tolerance.
Language Acquisition
The Language Acquisition provides a progression of learning that enables students to acquire a second world language. At Kinzie, that language is Spanish. In addition to acquiring a second language, students also learn and develop a respect for cultures and traditions of Spanish speaking countries.
Language and Literature
Language is the basic building block of learning. The skills developed within Language and Literature are listening, speaking, reading, writing, viewing, and presenting. These skills are practiced across other subject groups.
Mathematics
Mathematics is presented to the students to understand with the goal of constructing their own meaning. Students should be constructing an understanding about Mathematical concepts and transfer that meaning to understand local and global situations.
Physical Health Education
Physical and Health education focuses on learning about and learning through physical activity. Students explore different concepts in sports, exercise and health that show perspectives on making changes to maintain a healthy lifestyle.
Science
Science is set up for the students to investigate, inquire, research, analyze and reflect. Students are given opportunities to work individually or with peers to learn about Science in their classroom as well as globally.