Passion, Research, Action: PYPx 2023

The PYP Exhibition 2023 was an exciting and memorable milestone for our Grade 5 students. As the culmination of all the learning that they experienced during their PYP years at NIS, the exhibition was an opportunity for them to demonstrate their knowledge, skills, and bring an issue that they were passionate about to the forefront.

“This year’s PYP Exhibition was driven by the key concepts of responsibility, causation and related concepts,” said Ms. Debs Tellis, PYP Coordinator at NIS. “That includes conservation, diversity, sustainability, peace and conflict, interdependence, and relationships.”­

The process for our students began with Design Thinking. During Design class earlier this year, Grade 5s were introduced to the 17 United Nations Sustainable Development Goals. Through design lessons, they made connections between them. Next, they were introduced to members of the school community who shared their passion and linked it to the SDGs. From there, students became immersed in the idea of sustainability.

“They asked themselves what they were interested in, what they wanted to learn more about, and what questions they had,” said Ms. Tellis. “That’s when the research started.”

Our Grade 5 teachers allocated mentors from our inclusive learning community to guide students in their PYPx project journey. The mentors supported them, facilitated their learning, and helped them with research, surveys, letters, and community connections. Beyond research, students also created an art piece of their choice that linked to their chosen topic, whether it was a painting, drawing, sculpture, or other medium. On the exhibition day, they put on a musical performance celebration that was presented to parents.

So much of the PYP Exhibition at NIS is about Student Voice and Student Choice, two of our award-winning strategy goals. From the beginning, Grade 5s decided what they wanted to do, inquire about, and how they wanted to present it. According to Ms. Tellis, each project was something they had a keen interest in, felt passionate about, and then choose how they wanted to inquire and learn more. Every student had an individual project, which required the development of self-management and communication skills to succeed.

“The PYP Exhibition at Nanjing International School was an excellent opportunity for Grade 5 students to demonstrate their learning, skills, and passion,” said Ms. Tellis. “Our students were able to investigate and explore their interests and bring their ideas to life. It was a great way to prepare them for Secondary School, the MYP and beyond, and showcased the wonderful foundation that is the Primary Years Programme.”