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Feature
IC NEWSLETTER -
SUMMER 2009
6
Have you ever wondered how music affects you? Or how
to decrease Co2 emissions? Or even how to treat your own
pets?
Well, wonder no more. IC’s fifth graders have practically
become walking encyclopedias.
Eager to show off their much researched knowledge,
students held a two-day exhibition in May for peers,
parents and teachers.
For many students, their research stems from personal
experiences.
Amin, 10, was bullied so he bullied Hussein 11. Their group
topic was: bullying.
The boys threw themselves into researching their topic. As
they delved deeper into their subject, they came to one
conclusion: ignore the bullies and stop the cycle of anger.
More surprisingly, the boys had become good friends.
“At first we ignored each other,” admitted Amin, “but then
we got to talking about the project and then realized it’s
just not worth being mean to each other.”
The group wrote an anti-bullying rap song which they
performed at the exhibition.
The exhibition, which comes after an intensive month
of research, allowed the students to pursue an inquiry
into the Planner’s Central Idea -“we are all members of a
community that defines who we are.” Each student’s line
of inquiry was linked to this idea and their investigations,
as varied and diverse as they were, revealed an aspect of
their responsible involvement in their community.
“The whole purpose was to bring to conclusion their years
of PYP work,” explained teacher Antony Di Nardo who was
in charge of coordinating and supervising the projects. “In
terms of research, in terms of developing the study skills,
school skills, to work in groups, to organize it, to present
the information.”
Students had to gather information at all levels – libraries,
internet, surveys, and interviews with various people.
They then had to find ways to organize and relay their
information – not an easy task for 10 year olds. There was
reportedly much frustration but they persevered.
“I saw bright students struggling on how to organize their
information and I saw students, whom I thought would
not be capable of doing some of these things, just shining
through,” said Di Nardo.
Every group had a mentor – a parent or teacher and all
had to fall back on the skills they have been learning since
Fifth Grade
Exhibition