An inquiry‑based K‑5 learning journey
In the Junior School, we deliver the International Baccalaureate (IB) Primary Years Programme (PYP), a framework that brings the British Columbia (BC) Ministry of Education curriculum to life through inquiry-based, transdisciplinary learning.
Students from Kindergarten to Grade 5 are active learners. Each year, they explore six units of inquiry (five in Kindergarten), built around big ideas.
- Who we are
- Where we are in place and time
- How we express ourselves
- How the world works
- How we organize ourselves
- Sharing the planet
It is through these big ideas, called concepts, that the units connect subjects like science, social studies, math, literacy, and the arts.
At Stratford Hall, inquiry and concept-based learning are more than educational approaches - they shape how students explore ideas, build understanding, and grow with confidence.
Smita Karam
Junior School Principal
The inquiry cycle
Teachers guide the learning process using an inquiry cycle, helping students build skills and understanding over time while nurturing a lifelong curiosity. In the classroom, this means students are not just learning facts and figures.
For example, a unit on How the world works might see students designing simple experiments, collecting data, and presenting their findings to their classmates.
exploring, wondering, questioning
experimenting with possibilities and hypotheses
making connections and applying concepts
creating and testing theories
researching and seeking information
solving problems in different ways and explaining their reasoning
A holistic approach
Students learn with specialist teachers in languages, design, music, art, and physical education. French is introduced in the early years, with both French and Spanish offered in Grade 5 in preparation for the Middle Years Programme.
In Grades 4 and 5, Outdoor Experiential Education extends learning beyond the classroom to the outdoors. Students put their learning into practice and work together, building confidence and resilience through shared experiences in the natural environment.
