Individuals and Societies
In our IB Middle Years Programme Individuals and Societies courses, students study humanity through the lens of lived experience, historical context, and social responsibility. Building on the Upper Elementary Montessori focus on fundamental human needs, the program deepens students’ understanding of how societies form, how power operates, and how people experience the world differently across time and place.
From Human Needs to Human Systems
Students begin with essential questions that anchor Montessori learning: What do people need to survive, belong, and thrive? From there, they examine how those needs give rise to social, political, economic, and cultural systems. History, geography, civics, and economics are explored as interconnected stories shaped by human choices, values, and conditions.
Understanding Perspectives and Power
Inquiry in Individuals and Societies emphasizes perspective. Students learn to analyze events and systems through multiple viewpoints, paying attention to whose voices are centered and whose have been excluded. As an anti-racist, gender-inclusive, and globally minded school, we intentionally examine identity, equity, and representation, helping students develop empathy, critical awareness, and ethical responsibility.
Research, Reflection, and Voice
Students engage deeply with research as a tool for understanding the world and their place within it. Through portfolios and personal projects, they gather evidence, ask complex questions, and reflect on how their own experiences and values connect to broader human stories. Learning is cumulative and personal, encouraging students to see themselves as active participants in society rather than passive observers.
Montessori Model United Nations
Each year, students participate in Montessori Model United Nations, a four-day international conference held in New York City that brings together thousands of Montessori students from around the world. Through this experience, students represent countries, debate global issues, collaborate across cultures, and practice diplomacy, research, and public speaking in an authentic global forum.
The Great Works
Each unit culminates in a Great Work that integrates research, analysis, communication, and action. These projects are designed to imprint each student’s voice and perspective into their understanding of human societies. Examples include:
Research Papers, grounded in evidence and historical context
Research Presentations, focused on clarity and audience engagement
The Speech, developing persuasive and ethical argument
The Proposal, addressing real social challenges
The Service Project, connecting learning to meaningful action
As students advance, these Great Works require increasing independence, depth, and accountability.
Preparing Engaged Global Citizens
By the end of the MYP Individuals and Societies program, students understand that societies are created and changed by people. They see their own identities, choices, and responsibilities as part of the ongoing human story. Equipped with knowledge, empathy, and agency, students are prepared to engage thoughtfully and courageously with the world.
