When we think about the seven PYP specified concepts, form, function, connection, perspective, responsibility, causation, and change, each of them offers us a powerful lens to look at the world. But if I had to choose one that resonates most deeply with me, it would be change.
Why? Because change is life.
Everything around us is in a constant state of transformation:
- Nature changes with the seasons, the weather, and the cycles of growth.
- Technology evolves almost daily, reshaping the way we communicate and work.
- Science constantly challenges our understanding of the universe, offering new discoveries.
- Awareness and maturity shift as we learn from experience.
- Even in the smallest details, every minute, every breath, we are changing.
Our mistakes contribute to our growth, our networks and friendships shape who we become, and our families and children transform our perspectives on life. Change is not something we can avoid; it is something we live, daily.
Seeing the Concepts in Daily Life
One of the beauties of the PYP framework is how it gives us lenses that guide our interpretations and understandings. If we pause, we can see each concept in action around us:
- Form: The shape of a flower, the design of a smartphone, the structure of a poem.
- Function: The role of a heart pumping blood, the purpose of a bridge, the way an app helps us connect.
- Connection: how water cycles through nature, how ideas spread on social media, how a child’s smile brightens a classroom.
- Perspective: Two people witnessing the same event but interpreting it differently, or two cultures celebrating the same idea in unique ways.
- Responsibility: Choosing to recycle, caring for a pet, standing up for someone who needs support.
- Causation: The ripple effect of a small act of kindness, the chain reaction of climate change, the outcome of a scientific experiment.
- Change: The child who grows into a confident reader, the teacher who learns from their students, the community that adapts to new challenges.
When we share these concepts as questions with our students, not only in units of inquiry but in our daily reflections, we give them a lens to understand their world more deeply.
Why Concepts Matter
“Creating units of inquiry using concepts supports learners in developing conceptual understandings that go within, across, between, and beyond the transdisciplinary themes. Units of inquiry begin with the central idea”
“Specified concepts are a starting point. They help to frame a unit of inquiry and drive learning experiences. When these concepts are explored through questions, the inquiry is purposeful and manageable.” Learning and Teaching: Conceptual Understanding
Conceptual learning allows us to move beyond facts and into meaning. It helps us build bridges, make connections, and see the world through multiple lenses. It also reminds us that sometimes, less is more: by focusing on a few concepts, we can open endless possibilities for inquiry.
An Invitation
So, I invite you as PYP teachers:
- How do you see concepts in your daily life?
- How do you make them visible to your students in ways that are authentic and meaningful?
- How do you ensure your learners experience concepts not just as academic terms, but as living lenses that help them navigate the world?
If we, as educators, embrace concepts in our own lives, then we can model for our students how to live as lifelong learners.
Check this reel, I explain how I teach perspective.