My name is Mei Li Driver, I am a year 6 student, studying at Clavis International Primary School in a small island named Mauritius. The transdisciplinary theme for my Primary Year Program (PYP) Exhibition this year is " Sharing the planet” and my central idea is: “Understanding the importance of nature helps us to protect and save the environment for future generations” I chose to work on the topic "Rainforest Care" because I thought "Rainforest Care" was the most interesting and challenging topic as the rainforest is really vast i also choose this topic as I am really sad to see how people treat the environment. I chose the title “Earth's Lungs” as the rainforests are like the planets lungs…The rainforests are important to not only to the countries where we find rainforests but also in other countries such as Mauritius, it is important as if the rainforests didn't exist we would not be able to breathe. Did you know that without the rainforests we would not have all the resources they need on a daily basis? The air we breathe, for instance, rainforests act as a filter, by absorbing Carbon Dioxide (CO2) and releasing oxygen that we breathe. Rainforests are also natural habitats which favor the growth of many plants. Some of these plants have medicinal properties and can be used to cure diseases.
Unfortunately, as you read this, those same rainforests are in danger. Throughout the world, about 900 million trees are cut down annually. This equals to about 2.47 million trees cut down every day. This equates to at least 28 trees every second. But while you are reading this paragraph a ginormous amount of rainforest is being destroyed or burnt down and if we do not do anything to stop that, the destruction of rainforests will never stop. One day if we continue to destroy them the rainforests will be gone forever and we will all regret its consequences.
Line of Inquiry 1
Rainforest as a natural resource
Line of Inquiry 2
Impact of human activities on the rainforest
Line of Inquiry 3
Ways to save the rainforest
Function:
How does human activities affect the ecosystems in the rainforest?
Connection:
How far does man depend on the resources from the rainforest?
Responsibility:
What should we do to save the rainforest?
My mentor was Miss Neezlah, she was a great help and source of support, I really enjoyed having her as a mentor! For me Miss Neezlah is the best mentor ever, if ever you will stay until year 6, I hope you get her for your exhibition! We did have some challenges to start working on the Central Idea and the lines of Inquiry , we were able to come up with solutions with the help of my teachers and my parents. It has been a great experience for me overall!
Mentor Note:
Mei Li was really looking forward to working on her exhibition with a lot of bright ideas, she has been a risk taker and chosen to work on her own and also an inquirer by getting in contact with different trusts to obtain information for her project. As her mentor, I have learned a lot from Mei Li and I have seen her trying her best to overcome some challenges and to be reflective by solving the puzzle. Since we have school on staggered days, we had to meet every other day and with support from the teachers who helped us to get back on track and also from the parents. It has been a pleasure accompanying Mei Li throughout this exhibition journey.
I did an interview with Mrs Whitney Petrilli. She works for the Rainforest Trust Association, which works to save rainforests and other habits. I learned about the association. I learned that people are cutting down forests for infrastructural development. This reduces our access to oxygen and destroys habitats and homes for animals and indigenous communities.
If ever you want to know more about Rainforest Trust and how to help here are some links:
My art form represents the rainforest also defined as the Earth's lungs. as you can read it says “without the Earth's lungs we cannot breathe” and the fire represents how people are burning and destroying our source of oxygen and our planets lungs.
Millions of years past,
My mind is still racing and still I don't know why
Do you care about me?
Nothing will ever come out without any consequences
Cause I won't burn!
Even if you try you will try forever and ever
Cause with you on my back, my back…
That's the price to pay
For leaving me rotting all alone…
Few more years until I am gone
See the truth in the eyes Goodbye,
I am already in my grave guys…
No need to take action now…
My beating heart slowly stops…
It is starting to get cold
My vision gets blurry…
Goodbye cruel world
I distributed brochures for my action component, I hang them in the school hall and handed it over to different teachers. One of the teachers gave me his opinion on my brochure "very nice action (Mr. Mark)." I am very happy my action was a success.
Here is my brochure for the little curious people:
My Reflection
This week we had to choose our subject for the exhibition, I hesitated a bit at first then I knew what to choose, I choose to work on “Rainforest Care” It was a little confusing at first because I decided to work alone,
But after some time I eventually started working normally. During this first week the learner attributes I used were: I was courageous, I was a thinker, and I was open-minded. I was courageous as I chose to work alone, I was a thinker as I thought a lot during this first week, and I was open-minded as I trusted myself to start something new. Work on a big project alone.
My Reflection
This week we were announced our mentors and we were supposed to meet them at the end of the week! I was enthralled when I learned that my mentor was Miss Neezlah! She is like THE best mentor I could get! When I went to see her we worked on our daily plan (when I can come and after what time) I was so excited to start working!!! The skills I used were communication skills and social skills.
My Reflection
This week I learned a lot of things I didn't know on the exhibition. This exhibition is so much hard work and I can barely concentrate. The exhibition also gives me the creeps, it is really scary as you arrive in only a week to finish your final work! but I am too excited to see the final website… I can't wait!!! This week the learner attributes I used were I was a communicator, I was an inquirer and I was reflective.
Bibliography:
https://sciencing.com = how is rainforest a natural resource
https://rainforest.mongabay.com = how to save the rainforest
https://kids.nationalgeographic.com = what is a rainforest
https://www.arborday.org = rainforest habitats
https://www.srl.caltech.edu = why do rainforests need to be protected
https://national geographical.org = where are the world's rainforests
https://www.sciencedaily.com = devastating human impact on the Amazon rainforest revealed
https://rainforest.mongabay.com = threats to rainforest by humankind
https://rainforest.mongabay.com = how can we save the rainforest
https://rainforestcruise.com = how is the rainforest a medicinal source
https://rainforest.mongabay.com = How is the rainforest home to indigenous people