We recently began working on our IB PYP Exhibition, and it already feels like an important milestone in our learning journey. We started by breaking into groups and having honest conversations about the challenges and opportunities within our own personal communities. It was interesting to hear different perspectives and realize that even though we live in the same area, we notice different issues and care about different things. Through inquiry and reflection, we began forming possible central ideas and lines of inquiry that connect to the transdisciplinary themes, like Who We Are and Sharing the Planet. This process has helped us grow as communicators and thinkers, and it reminds us that we have a responsibility to take meaningful action in our communities.

In Social Studies and ELA, we wrote letters to a high school class in Queens as part of a cultural exchange. This connects to our learning about Spanish and French explorers and how different cultures interact and influence one another. Through this experience, we are exploring the concept of perspective, because we are curious about how high school students experience learning compared to us in elementary school. Writing these letters felt meaningful because we were communicating with a real audience. We are excited to receive their responses and reflect on the similarities and differences between our school communities. This exchange helps us become more open-minded and aware of how education changes as we grow.