The PYP Exhibition

1. The PYP Exhibition Presentation for Parents Spring 2014

2. To provide you with information about the Exhibition. To suggest ways how you can help your child during the Exhibition. What are the aims of this presentation?

3. The Exhibition is: an in-depth collaborative inquiry an inquiry that starts from personal interests and passions and extends into real-world local and global issues and ends in action an inquiry that requires students to apply their learning from previous years and to demonstrate their mastery of the Essential Elements of PYP What is the PYP Exhibition? This issue matters to me and affects my life, my community and my world. • Choose • Act • Reflect

4. Exhibition in plain words... A common theme is chosen by the teacher. This year’s theme is ‘Where we are in place and time’ (the development of humanity throughout history). Students pick an issue/problem that they would really like to investigate under the theme and make a topic proposal. Groups are formed based on common interests. Each group has to carry out their own inquiry into the chosen topic. This inquiry must end in action. What have you done to make the issue better? How can you help the situation? The main idea is that learning should lead to authentic ACTION. Groups present their inquiries to members of school and public community (see handbook for requirements).

5. Exhibition in plain words... Throughout their inquiry the students have to demonstrate their knowledge and understanding of the Essential Elements of PYP: • Knowledge (Transdisciplinary Themes) • Key Concepts • PYP Attitudes • IB Learner Profile • Transdisciplinary Skills • Action For more details see the Exhibition Handbook • “Exhibitions are the best way to measure learning because they put the kids right in the midst of their learning.” • Dennis Littky

6. How is the Exhibition going to be assessed? Both the process and the product are assessed. The process of inquiry has to be recorded by each student in their process journal (it is like keeping a diary, where they regularly record the information they have found and reflect on how it helped them make decisions; sketches of presentation; teacher-assigned and personally-initiated reflections; interview questions; copies of relevant emails etc. The process of the exhibition is monitored by the teacher-manager (the class teacher) and the group mentor. Their observations form part of the assessment. The product(s) is how the students choose to present the findings of their inquiry. It could be a poster, a poem, a play, an experiment, a speech, etc.(for more ideas see the handbook). As part of the product, there has to be evidence of action that has been taken by the group to resolve the issue. Teacher-manager is responsible for the assessment. At the end, students will receive a written feedback based on the assessment rubric rather than a final grade.

7. How is the Exhibition going to be assessed? More specifically, the students will be assessed on the following: whether the issue was appropriately defined (clear central idea and relevant lines of inquiry) whether their inquiry was well-organised and in-depth how and where they’ve collected information and whether it was adequate and well-documented the process by which they’ve prepared and completed the Exhibition (need to present a complete Exhibition portfolio, including the process journal and other required documents – see handbook.) whether their findings were presented in an interesting and effective way whether the attributes of the IB learner profile, PYP attitudes and transdisciplinary skills were evident and to what degree how strong was the action(s) they have decided to undertake

8. How will the Exhibition be organised?

9. How much time do students spend working on the Exhibition? • We began discussing the Exhibition during week 7, which overlapped with the previous unit. We covered regular unit work but some lessons were dedicated to the Exhibition. • From week 10, the students will receive as many lessons as needed to complete their preparation for the Exhibition. • Maths, PE and Technology will continue with classwork and homework as usual. • Updates on the Exhibition and due dates will be published on the blog. • To follow the stages of the Exhibition, please refer to the Exhibition Timeline document.

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16. What about homework? • There will be some homework in Maths and Technology but no other subject homeworksthan the Exhibition-related homework. • Students should use their time at home to research and prepare for the work in class. They will not always be given specific tasks but will be expected to plan their use of time themselves.

17. The role of adults guide advise evaluate support encourage ask organise facilitate assess

18. How can parents help? Support Encourage Ask questions Listen Provide assistance with access to resources (e.g. an expert to interview, a field trip) Don’t do the work for them Attend the celebration!

19. Something for us all to remember… As with any inquiry there will be times when it seems that students are not being very productive. Sometimes there will be a lot of discussion and thought but this will not result in anything that can be seen. Students (and adults) need time and space to wonder about things and consider their plans. This is why we place so much emphasis on the process journals. They will show the process that the students go through and their understanding of concepts and application of skills (e.g. problem solving).

20. We invite you to attend your child’s presentation of the Exhibition on Tuesday 29thApril 2014 in the Gym Hall (Time to be announced later.) MYP Personal Project Exhibition will be taking place at the same time so this will be a wonderful opportunity to view and choose winners from both PYP and MYP. Exhibition Day

21. Questions? Please feel free to ask.