Last Friday, Grade 5 classes initiated
the research phase of the Grade 5 PYP Exhibition, which is
the culminating project for all IB Elementary School students completing
the program. This major project challenges students to process
and apply all of the learning that has taken place during
the Elementary years, while engaging with the local community.
At a local Chinese school for low-income students in Grades K -
7, WAB students visited with other young learners. Student Rika
Wills, 5B, described the classrooms: "We saw how small the
classrooms were and how many kids were in one room. The rooms
were packed with desks and people writing and looking up to
the blackboard. As we left, we thought about how different
the local school was to our own and how much more we have than
them and what we really need."
Students also toured a second-hand market operated largely by migrants
from Henan Province. According to Rika, the market was crowded
with stalls: "There were sofas, beds, chess tables, high security
safes and more. We walked around and observed what items they
had and what the differences were between our style of furniture
and theirs."
Finally, the group strolled through Nai Xi village.
Rika described the area: "On the main road there were fruit
stalls, meat stores and restaurants. There were smaller roads
going off the main road that led to a grid of houses. All of
the houses looked the same; made out of bricks and the traditional
Chinese roof, made out of tiles. And once in a while a colorful
gateway popped up between the brown buildings."
Over the next six weeks, Grade 5 students will continue exploring
various social issues affecting the local community. Also,
representatives from local and global organizations such as
Roots and Shoots and Special Olympics will visit classes to
discuss social issues and community needs. |
