When looking at units that you are planning for the upcoming school year, have a look at the breakdown of PYP transdisciplinary skills as they offer lots of big ideas to focus on. I always strive to embed these skills within my unit planning. I have highlighted just some of these skills below(more can be found on pgs 20-24 in Making the PYP Happen handbook):
Thinking Skills
Acquisition of Knowledge-gaining specific facts, ideas, vocabulary
Evaluation- Making judgments or decisions
Dialectical Thought- thinking about 2 points or more at the same time
Social Skills
Accepting Responsibility-assuming a share of the responsibility
Respecting Others- listening sensitively to others, making decisions based on fairness, recognizing that others' beliefs, viewpoints, religion and ideas may differ from one's own
Group Decision Making- working towards and obtaining concensus
Communication Skills
Listening: listening to directions, to others, to information
Writing- recording information and observations
Non-Verbal Communication-Recognizing the meaning of visual and kinesthetic communication
Self-Management Skills
Gross and Fine Motor Skills
Spatial Awareness
Organization
Time Management
Safety
Healthy Lifestyle
Research Skills
Collecting Data: gathering info from direct observation
Recording Data: Describing and recording observations by drawing, note taking, making charts
Observing-Using all senses to notice relevant details