Sharing the Planet: IB PYP Transdisciplinary Theme on Sustainability

The International Baccalaureate (IB) PYP curriculum promotes holistic thinking about our world's shared resources. The transdisciplinary theme Sharing the Planet challenges students to examine human-nature relationships, environmental impacts, and sustainable living key for fostering responsible global citizens.

See dynamic classroom activities from Susan Acosta on YouTube for inspiration.

Exploring Sharing the Planet Across IB Subject Areas

This theme integrates seamlessly into all six PYP subjects, making learning relevant and interdisciplinary:

• Language and Literature: Analyze stories on pollution, conservation, and human choices (e.g., books like The Lorax).

• Sciences: Investigate ecosystems, biodiversity loss, and sustainable development

• Mathematics: Model real issues like population growth, resource allocation, or climate data trends.

• Arts: Create eco-art reflecting harmony (or conflict) between people and nature.

• Individuals and Societies/Physical Education: Study rights, sharing resources, and healthy planet habits.

See dynamic classroom activities from Susan Acosta on YouTube for inspiration.

Susan Acosta - Youtube

Taking Action: From Awareness to Impact

IB PYP emphasizes real-world application through student-led initiatives:

• Join environmental campaigns or school recycling drives.

• Volunteer with local groups for clean-ups or tree-planting.

• Conduct inquiries into issues like water conservation or plastic waste.

Taking Action: From Awareness to Impact

IB PYP emphasizes real-world application through student-led initiatives:

• Join environmental campaigns or school recycling drives.

• Volunteer with local groups for clean-ups or tree-planting.

• Conduct inquiries into issues like water conservation or plastic waste.

These experiences build agency, showing how small actions drive planetary change. Explore 

IB action cycle resources for guidance. Download the Sharing the Planet unit planner or 

IB PYP sustainability tools to implement in grades 1-5.

This theme equips young learners with the knowledge and drive to protect our shared planet.

Where We Are in Place and Time: IB PYP Transdisciplinary Theme Explained

The International Baccalaureate (IB) PYP transdisciplinary theme Where We Are in Place and Time invites students to explore their personal identity within the vast tapestry of history, culture, and global connections. This theme bridges personal stories to the bigger picture, helping young learners understand how past events shape the present and influence the future.

Unpacking Personal and Collective Identity

Students dive into their own perspectives, linking individual identities to community and global narratives:

• Personal Reflection: How "I" fit into family, school, and cultural stories.

• Historical Connections: Examining how the past like migrations or inventions impacts today.

• Future Thinking: Predicting how today's choices ripple into tomorrow.

Watch engaging classroom examples from IB With Eagan on YouTube to see this theme in action.

IB With Eagan- Youtube

Interactions Between Cultures, People, and Environments

This theme highlights interconnectedness, fostering global awareness:

• Cultural Exchanges: How traditions, migrations, and trade link diverse places.

• Environmental Impact: Exploring human effects on ecosystems and sustainability.

• Diversity Appreciation: Celebrating varied viewpoints that enrich our world.

It builds empathy and respect for the global community through real-world inquiries.

Critical Thinking: Actions and Positive Change

Students reflect on their role in the world, weighing how decisions affect society, environment, and culture:

• Analyze positive actions, like community clean-ups or cultural sharing.

• Consider negative impacts, such as pollution or stereotypes.

• Empower change-making with critical thinking and responsible choices.

Explore IB PYP resources for customizable unit plans.

This theme equips PYP students (grades 1-5) with lifelong skills for navigating an interconnected planet.