It started February 5, but of course, to start it there was plenty of preparation work. Tomorrow it officially ends, but I have a feeling the impact will linger. Picture, if you will 65 fifth graders in the Black Box, standing in front of their display boards with a table full of artifacts they could speak to. Topics they were passionate about, that they had chosen after careful consideration. The energy was there!
It is our grade 5 PYP Exhibition. Our school uses the International Baccalaureate Primary Years Program which is a framework that includes knowledge, attitudes, skills, and more. According to the IB website:
“The PYP offers an inquiry-based, transdisciplinary curriculum framework that builds conceptual understanding. It is a student-centered approach to education for children aged 3-12. It reflects the best of educational research, thought leadership and experience derived from IB World Schools.
The PYP has evolved to become a world leader in future-focused education. The PYP is an example of best educational practice globally, responding to the challenges and opportunities facing young students in our rapidly changing world.
The PYP curriculum framework
The PYP curriculum framework begins with the premise that students are agents of their own learning and partners in the learning process. It prioritizes people and their relationships to build a strong learning community.
PYP students use their initiative to take responsibility and ownership of their learning. By learning through inquiry and reflecting on their own learning, PYP students develop knowledge, conceptual understandings, skills and the attributes of the IB Learner profile to make a difference in their own lives, their communities, and beyond.
The framework emphasizes the central principle of agency, which underpins the three pillars of school life:
Embedded in the framework is the recognition of the importance of fostering an individual’s self-efficacy. Students with a strong sense of self-efficacy are active in their own learning and take action in their learning community.”
The PYP Exhibition is a chance for the students in their final year of elementary to design their own inquiry. Topics in my class this year included: why friendships are important, racism, cyberbullying, how and why app designers target kids, regulating emotions, how to normalize mental health concerns, alcohol abuse, road safety, how everyone should have access to education, why healthy foods should be available to all, why green cities matter, deforestation in Cambodia, and much more. Students chose these areas of interest and over the last weeks researched (including surveys and interviews), met with supportive mentors within our school community alone or with a partner for 45 minutes a week, worked with specialist teachers to create a provocation piece, and so much more. Last week they started pulling all this together and today and tomorrow they share their journey with our community.
Today we had visitors from another international school who will have their first exhibition next year as our first guests. Throughout the day classes from our elementary school and secondary school visited. Another international school brought their fifth graders who have just started their exhibition process.
It took about five minutes for the nerves to wear off and these ten and eleven-year-old students were joyfully teaching students of all ages and their teachers. Their confidence and knowledge shone through. A few times throughout the day the background music got turned up and students walked to the risers flash mob style to sing their chosen PYPX anthem. The students did this for three 45-minute sessions. Tomorrow will be a big day too. First thing in the morning their parents will come in- the students are, in some cases, even more nervous about this. Then they will have another two blocks of teaching others. It is a big milestone in their school life and they have risen to the challenge. They definitely exceeded expectations and went home exhausted today. Tomorrow they will shine again. I am so grateful for the supportive community at our school- it really does take a village and we are lucky to have it at school.
Ms. Victor Reads 
Erika,
I appreciate this lengthy explanation of the elementary version of IB. I’ve thought often about the differences between IB and AP at the high school level. As I read I thought: This would be a fantastic NCTE convention session. I know attending is a challenge given where you live, so maybe think about writing an article for one of the NCTE journals. I’d love to see pictures of the event. When it’s over, take a much-deserved long nap.
Congratulations! I speak the language of PYP. I know what intensive work the exhibition requires and how incredible the result is. I have been back to my former school only once since I left last June, and it was on the exhibition day. I went there to listen to my former students.
As a former teacher, I loved trying to individualize lessons and pushed for individualized units of learning. Your post today shares the joy of learning and how students do have a voice, interests, and the ability to demonstrate superior rates of knowledge. Thanks for sharing the framework and I highly agree with this statement: The PYP curriculum framework begins with the premise that students are agents of their own learning and partners in the learning process. It prioritizes people and their relationships to build a strong learning community. Your students are blessed to have this guidance!
Be sure to celebrate!! This seems like a BIG accomplishment!! I liked learning about PYP through your slice.