As an International Baccalaureate (IB) World School, North Ainslie has a focus on transdisciplinary learning, aligning curriculum to units of inquiry and transdisciplinary themes, as prescribed by IB World Schools program. The school's program of inquiry (POI) guides planning and links to curriculum areas, such as English, maths, and science. The school uses the Gradual Release of Responsibility Model alongside structured inquiries through to open inquiries.
Our programme of Inquiry follows the six transdisciplinary themes from the IB. These are:
Who we are
“Inquiry into the nature of the self; beliefs and values; person, physical, mental, social and spiritual health; human relationships including families, friends, communities and cultures; rights and responsibilities; what it means to be human.” (IBO, 2021)
How we express ourselves
“Inquiry into 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.” (IBO, 2021)
Where we are in place and time
“Inquiry into orientation in place and time; personal histories; homes and journeys; the discoveries, explorations and migrations of humankind; the relationship between and the interconnectedness of individuals and civilizations, from local and global perspectives.” (IBO, 2021)
Sharing the planet
“Inquiry into rights and responsibilities in the struggle to share finite resources with other people and other living things; communities and the relationship within and between them; access to equal opportunities; peace and conflict resolution.” (IBO, 2021)
How the world works
“Inquiry into the natural world and its laws, the interaction between the natural world (physical and biological) and human societies; how humans use their understanding of scientific principles; the impact of scientific and technological advances on society and on the environment.” (IBO, 2021)
How we organise ourselves
“Inquiry into the interconnectedness of human-made systems and communities; the structure and function of organizations; societal decision-making; economic activities and their impact on humankind and the environment.” (IBO, 2021)
Each theme is taught each year, with the knowledge and understanding growing as each child grows. Preschool and kindergarten complete four of the six transdisciplinary themes each year and children from years one to six cover all six each year. Children in our IEC and small group program complete three a year.