IB PYP Planning Guide: How to Create Inquiry-Based Units with TeachAI

Introduction: The PYP Planning Challenge

Planning for the IB Primary Years Programme is uniquely demanding. You're not just teaching content—you're designing inquiry-driven, play-based learning experiences that integrate:

• Transdisciplinary themes (Who we are, Where we are in place and time, etc.)
• Learner Profile attributes (Inquirers, Thinkers, Communicators, etc.)
• Key and Related Concepts (Form, Function, Causation, Change, etc.)
• Approaches to Learning (Thinking, Research, Communication, Social, Self-management)
• Student agency and action

And you need to do this while ensuring developmentally appropriate practice for ages 3–12, documenting learning, and differentiating for diverse learners.

TeachAI's Teacher Workspace is designed to help PYP teachers create complete, IB-aligned units and lessons in a fraction of the time—without sacrificing quality or authenticity.

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What TeachAI Generates for PYP

When you select IB PYP in the Teacher Workspace and request a unit plan, TeachAI produces a comprehensive document that follows the official PYP planner structure:

A. Unit Snapshot (At a Glance)

• Central Idea (student-facing)
• Lines of Inquiry (3, tagged with Key Concepts)
• Key & Related Concepts
• Learner Profile attributes with observable behaviors
• ATL focus with specific student actions

B. Learner Agency Plan

• Routines for voice, choice, and ownership
• Goal-setting and success criteria (age-appropriate)
• Adult roles: facilitator, documenter, provocateur

C. Play-Based Inquiry Architecture

• Initial provocations (indoor/outdoor; story/art/music prompts)
• Evolving investigations via learning centres
• Teacher moves: noticing, naming, extending

D. Learning Goals Mapping

• Developmental lenses: cognitive, social-emotional, physical, language
• Subject connections (Language, Mathematics, Arts, PSPE, etc.)
• Observable behaviors for each

E. Assessment & Documentation

• Starting points: observations, play-interviews
• Ongoing documentation: anecdotal notes, photos, learning stories
• Formative routines: daily check-ins, visible thinking routines
• Summative: child-led sharing/exhibition, portfolio narratives

F. Action (Student-Initiated)

• Opportunities for participation, advocacy, community care

G. Environment as "Third Teacher"

• Space design, materials, routines, well-being supports

H. Sequence & Rhythm

• Week-by-week arc with decision points

I. Inclusion, Language & Family Partnerships

• SEN/EAL strategies, culturally responsive practices

J–L. Weekly & Lesson-Level Planning

• Ready-to-run lesson templates with timings, teacher moves, and evidence collection

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Step-by-Step: Creating a PYP Unit in TeachAI

Step 1: Open the Teacher Workspace

Go to /teachers-workspace and sign in.

Step 2: Select IB PYP

From the curriculum dropdown, choose IB Primary Years Programme (PYP).

If you've uploaded PYP curriculum documents (scope and sequence, subject guides), select the relevant course to ground your planning in your school's specific context.

Step 3: Choose Your Plan Type

Select Unit to generate a complete unit of inquiry.

Step 4: Describe Your Unit

In the prompt box, provide details such as:

Create a PYP unit for Year 3 on the transdisciplinary theme "How the world works." Topic: Forces and motion Central idea: Forces affect how objects move and interact. Duration: 6 weeks Include science and mathematics connections.

The more context you provide, the more tailored the output.

Step 5: Generate and Refine

Click Generate. TeachAI will produce a complete unit plan following the structure above.

You can then:

• Edit any section directly
• Ask follow-up questions ("Add more differentiation for EAL learners")
• Request lesson plans for specific weeks

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Creating PYP Lesson Plans

For individual lessons, select Lesson as your plan type and describe:

Create a 60-minute PYP lesson for Year 2 on exploring patterns in nature. Link to the unit "How the world works" and the central idea about patterns. Include a hands-on investigation and documentation opportunities.

TeachAI generates a lesson with:

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Key PYP Elements TeachAI Handles

Transdisciplinary Themes

TeachAI understands all six PYP transdisciplinary themes and generates units that authentically connect to:

• Who we are — identity, relationships, well-being
• Where we are in place and time — orientation, personal histories
• How we express ourselves — ideas, feelings, culture
• How the world works — natural world, scientific principles
• How we organize ourselves — systems, communities
• Sharing the planet — rights, responsibilities, sustainability

Learner Profile Integration

Every unit includes explicit connections to Learner Profile attributes with observable behaviors:

Inquirers: Students ask "I wonder..." questions during provocations and record them in their inquiry journals.

Thinkers: Students explain their reasoning when solving problems and consider multiple approaches.

Approaches to Learning (ATL)

TeachAI maps ATL skills to specific activities:

Play-Based Learning (Early Years & Primary)

For younger learners, TeachAI emphasizes:

• Open-ended materials and loose parts
• Learning centres (dramatic play, blocks, sensory, atelier)
• Teacher moves: noticing, naming, extending
• Documentation through photos, transcripts, learning stories

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Example: A Complete PYP Unit Request

Prompt:

Create a PYP unit for Year 4 on the transdisciplinary theme "Sharing the planet." Topic: Water as a shared resource Central idea: Access to clean water affects communities and ecosystems. Duration: 5 weeks Include science investigations, mathematics (data collection), and opportunities for student action. Differentiate for a class with 3 EAL learners and 2 students with learning support needs.

What TeachAI Generates:

A complete unit with:

• Central idea, lines of inquiry, and key concepts
• Week-by-week sequence with provocations and investigations
• Science inquiry cycle activities (water testing, ecosystem studies)
• Mathematics connections (graphing water usage data)
• Action opportunities (school water audit, awareness campaign)
• Differentiation strategies for EAL and SEN learners
• Assessment and documentation plan
• Lesson-level templates ready to teach

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Tips for Better PYP Planning with TeachAI

1. Be Specific About Your Context

Include your year level, class profile, and any constraints (time, resources, space).

2. Reference Your School's Programme of Inquiry

If your school has specific central ideas or scope and sequence requirements, include them in your prompt.

3. Ask for Specific Sections

If you only need the assessment plan or a single week's lessons, ask specifically:

"Generate the assessment and documentation plan for this unit."

4. Iterate and Refine

Use follow-up prompts to adjust:

"Add more outdoor learning opportunities." "Include a provocation using picture books." "Strengthen the mathematics connections."

5. Upload Your Curriculum Documents

For the most grounded results, upload your school's PYP scope and sequence or subject guides. TeachAI will reference these when generating plans.

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Conclusion: PYP Planning Made Manageable

The PYP's inquiry-based, concept-driven approach is powerful—but planning for it can be overwhelming. TeachAI helps you:

• Generate complete units that follow the official PYP planner structure
• Integrate all PYP elements (themes, concepts, Learner Profile, ATL, action)
• Create developmentally appropriate lessons with play-based learning for younger students
• Differentiate for diverse learners
• Save hours of planning time while maintaining quality

Ready to try it?

• Open Teacher Workspace — Select IB PYP and start planning
• Explore PYP Curriculum Page — See all PYP planning features

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