PYP Exhibition Process March 10th- May 16th

Tuning In - Deep Dive into own Interests

PYPX Logo - Work in Progress

We have a wonderful opportunity to craft a logo that beautifully captures our shared ideas, deep inquiries, and boundless creativity for this year's PYP Exhibition. With passion and dedication, we are pouring our hearts into designing a captivating emblem that embodies the essence of our journey. In the end, we will choose one remarkable design—a symbol that reflects our collective vision and the spirit of our learning adventure. 

Mapping Our Passions

The First Step of PYPX! 

As we began our journey for this year’s PYP Exhibition, we explored our interests by creating mind maps. This helped us brainstorm ideas, make connections, and reflect on what truly excites us. We started with a central idea—something we are curious or passionate about—and expanded it by adding related thoughts, questions, and possible areas of inquiry.

Mind mapping allowed us to visualize our thinking and see how our ideas connected to bigger concepts. It also helped us identify topics we wanted to research further. This process wasn’t just about organizing our thoughts; it was about discovering our voices and taking ownership of our learning.

Through collaboration and discussions, we refined our ideas and prepared to dive deeper into our chosen inquiries. The mind maps were just the beginning of our PYPX journey, setting the stage for meaningful exploration and action!

From Interests to Action

Our PYPX Journey Begins! 

At the start of our PYP Exhibition journey, we explored our interests and thought about how they connect to real-world issues. We asked ourselves: What do we care about? Why does it matter? How can we make a difference?

Through discussions and brainstorming, we made connections between our passions and the actions we could take. Some of us were drawn to environmental issues, while others were interested in technology, health, or human rights. We realized that our interests could lead to meaningful change, whether by raising awareness, creating solutions, or inspiring others to take action.

This was an exciting moment for us! It helped us see that learning is not just about gathering information—it’s about making an impact. With our ideas taking shape, we were ready to dive deeper into our inquiries and take the next steps in our PYPX journey.

Our Top Three Picks!

We started our PYP Exhibition by brainstorming three topics we are passionate about. After writing our ideas, we had an interview with our teacher, answering questions that helped us refine our inquiries and think critically.

For each idea, we considered ways to raise awareness, help our community, or innovate solutions. This journey has shown us that our voices matter—we are not just learners, but change-makers! Stay tuned as we take action and share our discoveries.

Finding Out (Research/Sources and Coaching Connections)

Setting the stage!

Following our interview, our teachers grouped us based on shared interests. Together, we brainstormed a group name and catchphrase, shared our strengths, and explored our commonalities. We also designed a group logo and drafted essential agreements, laying the foundation for a successful collaboration on our PYPX journey. 

Refining Our Inquiry: Setting the Direction for Exploration 

We began our initial research to refine and finalize our inquiry focus. While we had a clear topic in mind, we conducted preliminary research to determine the direction of our exploration. This helped us gain a deeper understanding, identify key aspects, and ensure that our inquiry was both meaningful and well-structured.

Drafting Key Concept Questions

We used these questions, along with a chatbot, to deepen our understanding of different key concepts. Each group member selected two key concepts and formulated various questions based on their choices. The task concluded with each group having a rich collection of questions and opportunities for inquiry! 

Creating our Lines of Inquiry

As a group, we reviewed all the key concept questions and then voted for three from the list. This process required both social and critical thinking skills. After that, we restated the selected questions as statements, transforming them into lines of inquiry. Finally, we chose three related concepts to connect the lines of inquiry to our topic.  

Sorting Out  (Synthesizing and Connecting with an Expert)

Crafting Powerful Central Ideas

In our groups, we created a mind map to brainstorm all the ideas and concepts related to our topic. Using the mind map as a guide, each of us drafted a central idea on our own. Then, we checked our statements against the given criteria to make sure they were strong and relevant. In the end, our group chose one central idea that will shape our learning in the coming weeks! 

Sending our coaches meeting invites

Since each group has two coaches, they met with our homeroom teachers to decide whether they preferred to meet with their groups collectively or individually. Based on their preferences, we reviewed our assigned coaches' calendars and sent them meeting invitations. This step helped us establish clear communication and set the stage for meaningful discussions with our coaches. 

For more details kindly refer to the 'Our Coaches' page.

Meeting our coaches for the first time

This week, we met our coaches for the first time. We shared our central idea, lines of inquiry, key concepts, and related concepts with them. They provided us with valuable insights and shared their perspectives, helping us refine our understanding. Their feedback gave us new ideas and directions to explore further in our inquiry. 

Media Literacy

As researchers, we know that media biases can impact the way we understand and interpret information. To strengthen our critical media literacy skills, we worked on identifying these biases and learning how to navigate them. Using a video as our guide, we explored different types of biases and discussed how they can influence our research. This activity helped us become more aware of the information we consume and how to think critically about it. 

Let the Exploration Begin 

Our research journey has begun, and we are now diving deeper into our inquiry. We are actively gathering information, exploring different perspectives, and uncovering new insights about our chosen topic. With each step, we are getting closer to a deeper understanding! 

Inspiring Hope: A Conversation with Dr. Elin Kelsey 

We had an amazing opportunity to meet Dr. Elin Kelsey! She talked to us about hope and how small actions can make a big difference for our planet. She shared inspiring stories about people around the world who are helping the environment in creative ways. It made me realize that even as kids, we can take action and create positive change. I felt excited and motivated to do my part, whether it’s reducing waste, caring for animals, or sharing hopeful stories with others. Meeting her was really inspiring! 

Sorting Out  (Synthesizing and Connecting with an Expert)

Questions for our Coaches

As we prepare for our next meeting, we have been reflecting on what we would like to learn from our coaches. We took time to brainstorm and jot down meaningful questions that will help us gain deeper insights and improve our skills. 

We are excited for our upcoming conversation and look forward to learning from their experiences! 

Thinking Skills - ​Reflection and Metacognition

We demonstrated our thinking skills through reflection and metacognition, emphasizing the importance of understanding one's thinking processes for learning. Active self-reflection enabled us to understand their cognitive strategies and adapt their learning approaches accordingly by making informed decisions. 

Expanding Our Understanding Through Research 

We expanded our research by incorporating additional information related to our line of inquiry. We explored a variety of online sources, which provided diverse perspectives and enriched our understanding. By synthesizing information from multiple resources, we deepened our knowledge and strengthened our critical thinking skills. 

Search and collect information from Library Books

The library's vast collection of books provided us with a rich array of resources for research. Guided by our lines of inquiry, we explored these texts, uncovering valuable insights and information. As an essential tool, the library empowered us to engage in meaningful exploration and deepen our understanding. 

Bots and Brilliance: Exploring with AI

To delve deeper into our chosen topics, we embarked on an engaging journey through the world of artificial intelligence, harnessing the power of a variety of AI chatbots. Among these, the Magic School AI stood out as a remarkable tool, offering access to a suite of specialized bots designed to deliver precise and relevant insights. As we skillfully explored this digital landscape, these intelligent companions became invaluable guides—illuminating our path, enriching our understanding, and elevating the quality of our research with their timely support and vast knowledge.  

Learning from the Experts: Gathering Insights from Interviews

To help us understand our topics better, we decided to go straight to the experts! We interviewed people who have knowledge and experience in the areas we’re researching. These interviews gave us valuable, firsthand information that helped us see our topics in a new light.

We prepared questions ahead of time, thinking about what we needed to learn and what kind of insights could help us with our action. Some of us spoke with environmental activists, while others interviewed professionals in industries related to gender equality or sustainable practices. These conversations gave us real-life examples and helped us connect the dots between theory and action.

By gathering primary sources through interviews, we were able to dive deeper into our topics and get advice from people who truly understand them. These expert insights are now shaping our action plans and making our projects even more meaningful.

Going Further (Refining, Making Connections and Thinking about Impact)

The CRAAP Compass

We worked on our research by prioritizing the validation of sources and giving proper credit to authors, editors, and contributors. We employed the CRAAP test—evaluating sources for Currency, Relevance, Authority, Accuracy, and Purpose—to ensure credibility. We demonstrated responsibility and integrity in our research endeavors by acknowledging the efforts of content creators and maintaining high standards of information quality. 

Behind the Info: Our OPVL Investigation!

 
When we took notes using OPVL, it felt like being detectives on a mission! First, we looked closely to discover where the information came from and who created it—just like finding clues about the author. Then we asked ourselves why this information was made and what the author was trying to tell us. That helped us understand their purpose.

Next, we jotted down the parts we found really interesting or useful—those “aha!” moments that made things clearer for us. Finally, we put on our thinking caps and asked, “Hmm… could there be any problems with this source?” or “Is there something that might make it less trustworthy?” It was like being thoughtful truth seekers!

Drafting with Direction

Before we began writing our final essays, we took time to organize our thinking and shape our ideas. After diving deep into our research, we paused to reflect and brainstorm. We spread out our notes, highlighted important facts, and asked ourselves: What do we really want people to understand?

We listed the key points we wanted to include and thought carefully about the message we hoped to share with others. It was exciting to see all the ideas we had gathered come together!

Next, we created rough drafts and planning sheets to guide our writing. We made sure every piece had a clear beginning, middle, and end. In the beginning, we introduced our topic and explained why it was meaningful to us. In the middle, we chose at least three strong facts or pieces of evidence to support our ideas—facts we had found through books, websites, videos, and even interviews. We made sure each piece of evidence connected clearly to our main message. For our endings, we reflected on what we had learned through the process and thought about what actions we could take moving forward. Planning first felt like building a detailed map before setting off on a journey—it helped us know exactly where we were going and how to get there.

Our Voice, Our Research: Essays with Heart

After careful planning, it was time to write. With our research and outlines in hand, we let our voices shine through. Each of us wrote essays that not only shared important information but also showed our personal connection to the topic. 

We followed a strong structure: beginning, middle, and end. In the beginning, we introduced our topic with excitement, explaining why it mattered to us and why others should care too. In the middle, we wove together the evidence we had gathered, showing our understanding and building a powerful case for our ideas. And in the end, we looked back at everything we had learned and shared our hopes for what could happen next—because learning isn't just about knowing; it's about doing.

Writing these essays made our learning feel real. We weren't just copying facts—we were using research to build knowledge, understanding, and passion. We are so proud of how far we have come, and we are excited to share our essays with others. We believe that when we use our voices, we can inspire action—and when we take action, we can truly create change.

Infographics: Making Data Speak 

After collecting data related to our chosen topics, we wanted to find a clear and creative way to share what we had learned. That’s when we decided to create infographics!

We looked through all the facts, statistics, and information we had gathered from our research. Then, we chose the most important data points and thought about how to present them visually. We used graphs, icons, numbers, and short texts to make our infographics eye-catching and easy to understand.

Creating infographics helped us organize our data in a meaningful way. It also made us think carefully about what information matters most and how to communicate it clearly. We’re proud of how our infographics turned out—they’re not just informative, they’re also great tools to raise awareness and inspire others to care about our topics too.

Taking Action (From Ideas to Impact)

Think It. Feel It. Do It! 

In PYP, we have always been learning all about action—what it means, how it looks, and why it matters. To help us get started, our homeroom teachers invited the Action Coordinator to join us and guide us through Stage 1: Getting Inspired!

We explored different books and real-life scenarios that showed people taking action in small and big ways. Some were helping their communities, some were protecting the environment, and some were standing up for what they believed in. We learned that action isn’t just one thing—it can be personal, local, or even global. It can be as simple as making a new choice or as big as starting a campaign.

Looking through these stories helped us understand the different types of action: direct, indirect, advocacy, and research. We started asking ourselves: What matters to us? What change do we want to see?

This was just the beginning, but now we’re feeling more ready to take action ourselves. We’re excited to move forward with our ideas and make a real difference!

Creating Our Action Prototype: Expressing Change 

In our action journals, we’ve been exploring how to turn our ideas into real action. One of the most exciting parts is developing our action prototypes, which is a creative way of showing how we plan to make a difference.

We’ve been brainstorming different ways to raise awareness about our topics—whether it's about sustainability, gender equality, or another important issue. Some of us are thinking about writing an awareness poem to express our feelings in a powerful, emotional way. Others are considering performing a skit to bring attention to real-life situations in a fun and engaging way. Some of us want to deliver a TED-style talk to share the research and ideas we’ve gathered, while others are planning to create a comic strip to communicate complex issues through storytelling and art.

Each of these prototypes will help us take action and inspire others to think about how they can make a difference too. We’re excited to see our ideas come to life in creative ways and share them with the world!

Action, action and some more action!!!

Preparing for our D-Day 

While finalizing our displays, action products, and presentation layouts, our schedule was super busy and exciting! We had to organize our ideas, make sure everything looked eye-catching, and double-check that our information was clear and easy to understand. Some of us were cutting, pasting, and decorating our boards, while others were rehearsing speeches or adding final touches to our action prototypes. It felt a little stressful at times, but we were proud of how much we had accomplished. We worked as a team, helped each other stay focused, and made sure every detail was ready to share our learning with confidence! 

Our Learning Takes the Stage 

Presenting to our Parents| May 13th 

There was no shortage of excitement and energy as we got ready to share our research and learning! We couldn’t wait to show our parents, MIS teachers, and even the P4 students everything we had worked so hard on during our project. Some of us felt a bit nervous at first, but mostly, we were proud and eager to explain our topics, answer questions, and talk about our action ideas. We loved seeing everyone stop by our booths, listen to our presentations, and ask questions—it made us feel like real experts! It was amazing to see how all our effort had turned into something we could confidently present to others.