In the season when all things grow, another group of G5 students is about to bid farewell to the PYP and move up to the MYP.

Wahaha International School is an official member school of IB PYP and MYP. The MYP, or the Middle Years Programme, provides students in Grade 6 to 9 with a diverse and interdisciplinary international educational experience. The IB MYP consists of eight subject groups: Language and Literature, Language Acquisition, Individuals and Societies, Sciences, Mathematics, Arts, Physical and Health Education, and Design.

In addition to the regular MYP framework, we have developed various special courses and student support initiatives to enrich the educational experience, complementing the MYP’s eight core subject groups. We have developed a diverse range of WIS Special Curriculum, such as English Public Speaking, English Writing, Programming, Maker, Library, and Child Protection, along with enriching Extensions like Math Club, Science Club, Service as Action/CP, and Student Band.

At the same time, to ensure a seamless transition for students from PYP to MYP, we have established multiple Support Plans such as: Math, Science and English Curriculum Bridging, End-of-Term Exams, and Individual Family Support. The teaching team will conduct a comprehensive evaluation of each student and engage in face-to-face discussions with parents to share the student’s progress and collaboratively plan their academic path from PYP to MYP.

These plans focus on developing critical thinking, problem-solving, and cross-cultural communication skills to prepare students for future high school and university studies.

Among them,  the Move-up Day is the first step for PYP students towards the MYP.

Centered around academic transition, emotional adjustment, and skill advancement, this immersive event allowed students to gain firsthand insight into the MYP environment, curriculum, and social dynamics. By engaging in real classroom experiences, they were able to ease anxieties about the unknown, develop familiarity with MYP learning, and ensure a smooth academic progression. Beyond academics, the event fostered a sense of connection among students, helping them approach this important transition with confidence and enthusiasm.

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Immersive MYP Classrooms: Building Bridges for Academic Transition

Tim McCauley

MYP Coordinator

Today is the Move-Up Day at WIS. It’s a great day where we bring the G5 kids together with the G6 kids to integrate them into our classrooms, introduce them to our dynamic classes and engaging teachers, and allow them to really get a good feel of what it will be like next year as MYP students.

During Move-Up Day, Mr. Tim first invited G5 students to pair up with their counterparts from the MYP and participate in fun ice-breaking games. Then, the G5 students followed the MYP timetable of the G6 students, participated in various challenging classroom activities throughout the day, and experienced firsthand the rich content of the WIS MYP curriculum.

Science

Cultivating Critical Thinking and Adapting to Academic Challenges

In their first MYP science class, G5 students learned about the topic How to Use A Microscope. The teacher began by introducing the basic structure of the microscope to the students and patiently explained what can be observed with it. 

Through this amazing tool, the students started their journey into the wonderful world of science.

For G5 students, Science class is a brand-new subject, covering the knowledge areas of biology, chemistry, and physics.

The Science teacher is guiding students to actively engage in research, observation, and experiments, exploring questions independently and collaboratively, helping them better appreciate the wonders of science.

Mathematics

Enhancing Analytical Skills and Laying the Foundation for MYP Learning

The MYP Mathematics curriculum builds upon the basic calculations and logical operations learned in PYP, introducing more abstract mathematical concepts. It encourages students to flexibly apply mathematics in imaginative environments while mastering the core content of the discipline.

Strong mathematical skills serve as an indispensable foundation for a range of other subjects, and the design of MYP emphasizes these connections to other areas of knowledge.

Language and Literature

Enhancing Communication Skills and Adapting to Academic Needs

MYP Language and Literature includes English and Chinese, build upon the foundation established in PYP with further differentiated instruction. During the Move-up Day, we encouraged G5 students to boldly express their ideas and adapt to the creative learning environment of MYP. 

The MYP English course offers differentiated instruction based on the language foundation laid in PYP, divided into four levels according to students’ English proficiency. This ensures that each student follows a learning path best suited to their needs: lower-level students receive more foundational reinforcement and skill training, while advanced students further expand their reading depth and writing techniques, achieving personalized growth.

Similarly, the MYP Chinese course provides differentiated instruction tailored to students’ Chinese proficiency. Chinese teachers encourage students to explore diverse literary forms, including drama, poetry, four types of novels, and practical writing. 

Through studying literary works, students master methods and techniques of literary expression, become familiar with literary theory, understand the connection between literature and society, and cultivate aesthetic and cultural literacy.

I&S

From Broad Knowledge to In-Depth Inquiry

The MYP I&S course refines and elevates the rich sociocultural knowledge students acquired during the PYP phase, deepening their understanding of an increasingly interconnected world.

Exploring the history, geography, economics, technology, and culture of the world, and establishing connections between the past and personal experiences, is a key aspect of the Individuals and Societies course.

Physical and Health Education

Enhancing Teamwork and Adaptability

The MYP Physical and Health Education course builds upon the basic sports learned in PYP, further enhancing teamwork and adaptability. We are committed to ensuring every student enjoys sports and encouraging them to maintain physical activity throughout their lives.

Art

Encouraging Emotional Expression through Art

The MYP Arts courses, including Visual Arts and Music, build upon the creative expression learned in PYP, further developing aesthetic appreciation and emotional expression to adapt to MYP’s creative learning environment.

In Visual Arts courses, students appreciate aesthetic elements and learn various technical skills and tools. In Music courses, they play a range of instruments, including percussion, strings, woodwinds, and brass.

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Embrace New Journeys and Challenges

MYP students led their younger schoolmates to experience the depth and breadth of MYP courses, answering their questions about studying, learning and life in the higher grades to help alleviate their concerns about the unknown. In addition to build connections and cultivating relationships and friendships, G5 students are looking forward to graduating from the Primary Years Programme and entering the world of MYP.The G5 students are eagerly preparing to graduate from the PYP stage and step into the learning world of the MYP.

“I expect G6 to be more challenging, with projects that push me to think creatively. I hope to improve my time management skills, as I know I need to balance various responsibilities. I also look forward to making new friends and working with different people on group projects. I know that G6 will be a big step up, but through the school’s various transition projects, we are fully prepared, and I am confident to embrace this new adventure!”——Joanna, G5

We believe that through collective effort and support, every child can smoothly transition to the secondary stage, laying a solid foundation for their future academic success.