Physics, chemistry, biology, math, social sciences, even art – all of them help us learn a little bit more about the way the world works. 

Our world is a complex network of interconnected organisms co-existing and experiencing the effects of physical forces, chemical reactions, and various natural phenomena that can have a profound impact on everyone.

Learning how the world works is a vast topic. It’s also the third PYP unit of inquiry that our primary school students went through. In January 2025, they presented the acquired knowledge during the latest PYP Summative Assessment.

How the World Works is an inquiry into the natural world and its laws, the interaction between the natural world and human societies, how humans use their understanding of scientific principles, the impact of scientific and technological advances on society and the environment.

Each grade tackled the theme in a distinctive way, addressing the concepts mentioned above through the lenses of various subjects. 

Our kindergarten explorers took us on a journey around the world. We learned about the habitats of various animals. We also focused on the important topic of nature preservation – everything that man can do to maintain the planet’s incredible biodiversity.

Grade 1 delivered an outstanding presentation about the physical properties of materials, the power of storytelling, the incredible forces that attract magnets to each other, the best ways to position and locate an object in space, and how to do basic calculations.

Discoveries change our perception of the world or at least that’s the point Grade 2 students convincingly made during their Summative Assessment.

The presentation obviously highlighted some of the most important discoveries and scientific advances – the ones that contributed to the modernization and evolution of human society.

When and how did we land on the moon? How did airplanes change travel? What did we discover when we reached the South Pole? All important, all valid questions that second graders looked into.

The Grade 3 Summative Assessment adopted a more science-based approach toward presenting the theme and the lessons learned within this unit of inquiry.

Forces have had a significant impact on humankind. Starting with Bronze and Iron Age discoveries, Grade 3 students also looked at the power of magnets, the spatial characteristics of three-dimensional shapes, and the way informational texts are used to expand our knowledge and pass on important information.

The British School of Sofia fourth graders got acquainted with the Indus Valley Civilisation and the lifestyle people adopted back in time. Their unit of inquiry also focused on the impact electricity has had on societies, and the different types of energy readily available to us.

Moving on, we went in a completely different direction with Grade 5 and their take on How the World Works. Students focused on political systems, governance, and democracy. Their exhibition traced these concepts to their very origin in Ancient Greece, as well as to governance principles that still influence modern state and legal systems.

Finally, sixth graders made us wonder about transformation and the ever-changing nature of the universe.

Their Summative Assessment looked into the processes that cause change, as well as the effects transformation has on both the environment and society. 

IB PYP Summative Assessments play an important role in the educational process. They give students an opportunity to reflect on everything they have learned within the particular unit of inquiry. Additionally, preparing for the Summative Assessment allows students to develop skills like teamwork, critical thinking, and effective time management.

Assessments are also an excellent opportunity for parents and guardians to feel more involved. The school-home connection is strengthened significantly, and needless to say, the assessment is an emotional and proud moment for everyone involved.

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British School of Sofia is a candidate school* for the PYP. This school is pursuing authorization as an IB World School. IB World Schools share a common philosophy- a commitment to high-quality, challenging, international education- that we believe is important for our students.

* Only schools authorized by the IB Organization can offer any of its four academic programmes: the Primary Years Programme (PYP), the Middle Years Programme (MYP), the Diploma Programme (DP), or the Career-related Programme (CP). Candidate status gives no guarantee that authorization will be granted.

For further information about the IB and its programmes visit http://www.ibo.org.