What is Exhibition?

What is the IB PYP Exhibition?

The Primary Years Programme (PYP) Exhibition is the culminating event of a primary student's education. It represents the high point of who our students are as learners and demonstrates what they have achieved in all areas of the PYP. An IB student learns to be an internationally-minded student who progresses through a collaborative, critical thinking journey of inquiry throughout the primary years. They explore local and global issues, as well as learn to make connections and dig deeper. In the final year of PYP, the Exhibition involves students working together to conduct an in-depth inquiry where they identify, investigate, find solutions, and take action to help solve real-life issues and problems. The central idea must be of sufficient scope and significance to warrant a detailed investigation by all students.

The PYP Exhibition has a number of key purposes and opportunities for students:

• To engage in an in-depth, collaborative inquiry

• To demonstrate independence and responsibility for their own learning

• To explore multiple perspectives

• To synthesize and apply learning of previous years and to reflect upon their journey through the PYP

• To provide an authentic process for assessing student understanding

• To demonstrate how students can take action as a result of their learning

• To unite the students, teachers, parents and other members of the school community in a collaborative experience that incorporates the essential elements of the PYP

• To celebrate the transition of learners from the primary to middle/secondary education

While the Exhibition experience is an important milestone in the IB journey, it also requires a significant commitment of time and effort. Despite the significant investments of time and effort students put into Exhibition, it is usually surpassed by the satisfaction they have upon reflecting on their accomplishments.  By the end of this journey, most students report that the Exhibition was the highlight of their 5th grade year.