This document provides information about an upcoming Exhibition for PYP students. It discusses that the Exhibition is a culminating project where students independently inquire into a self-chosen topic of personal interest related to the transdisciplinary theme of "Who We Are." Students will spend 6 weeks researching their topics, applying PYP skills and attitudes. The Exhibition is meant to be an intense but rewarding process where students take action based on their learning. Parents are encouraged to support their child's learning by discussing the project and helping locate resources, while allowing the student independence in the process. Teachers will assess students based on the process, not just the final product or presentation.

1. Parent Information Evening
April 2014

2. What is the Exhibition?
 A culminating project for the PYP
 A collaborative inquiry that students have a personal
interest in exploring
 An inquiry that requires students to apply their
learning from previous years
 An experience that uses the essential elements of the
PYP
 A demonstration of how students can take action as a
result of their learning
 A celebration of who our students are as learners

3. What is the Exhibition?
 It is:
 Intense
 Tiring
 Exciting
 Self-directed
 Process driven
 Rewarding
 Action Provoking
 It is not:
 A science fair
 A poster contest
 A competition
 Individual
 Product driven
 Adult directed
 A burden

4. Students must use the PYP
Trans-disciplinary skills
 Communication Skills
 Research Skills
 Social Skills
 Self-management Skills
 Thinking Skills

5. Students should show
 Positive Attitudes: Appreciation, commitment,
confidence, cooperation, creativity, confidence,
curiosity, empathy, enthusiasm, independence,
integrity, respect, tolerance
 Learner Profile: thinker, open-minded, risk-taker,
communicator, inquirer, principled, caring,
knowledgeable, balanced, reflective

6. Central Idea
 Issues that matter to me related to our
Trans-disciplinary theme:
Who We Are
An inquiry into the nature of the self; beliefs and values;
personal, physical, mental, social and spiritual health;
human relationships including families, friends,
communities, and cultures; rights and responsibilities;
what it means to be human.

7. What should the topic be?
 The topic should be something which effects the
students’ life (school, local family or community)
 Ideally, students have a high interest in the topic
 The topic should inspire students to take positive
action

8. Possible areas of focus
 Scarcity or availability
 Change or adaptation
 Economy or jobs
 Health and safety
 Human welfare
 Environment
 Community Systems
 Structures
 Conservation
 Diversity

9. What is the process?

10. Plan
Gather information
Present Information
Reflect
Hopefully

14. How much time do students spend
on the exhibition?
 The students started brainstorming and thinking of
ideas in March during the Advertisement Unit
summative task.
 The students will then spend the next 6 weeks working
on their inquiries…from April to May 19th
 The students will still have language and maths
lessons during the Exhibition time, but the majority of
each day will be spent working on inquiries

15. What about Exhibition homework?
 The children should use their time at home to research
and prepare for the work in class
 The actual work and organization of information
should be done in class so the teacher and mentor can
keep track of progress.

16. The Role of the Parents
The
Mentor
The
Parent
The
Teacher
Student
Or
Group

17. How can parents help?
 Parents can:
 Have conversations about the exhibition (verbal
reflections)
 Support and encourage your child
 Provide background knowledge
 Help to locate resources-people, places, media and
information
 Check the Weebly website regularly
 Celebrate with students by attending the final
presentation

18. Develop Critical Thinking
 Ask your child open ended questions about their
project
 Let them solve their own problems
 Let them be responsible for their own learning
 Encourage independent inquiry and respect student
ownership of the process
 Monitor, challenge, question, clarify

19. How do we assess students work?
“Exhibitions are the best way to measure student
learning because they put the kids right in the midst of
their learning.”
Dennis Litky
 We assess the process more than the product
 The students will keep a record throughout the process
that shows how their thinking and goals are evolving
 Student self-assessment

20. Something for us all to remember…
 The process is more important than the product
 The Exhibition is a celebration of your child as a
learner