Film

PYP Film: Learning Through Creative Expression (Grades 3–5)

Grade 3 – How We Express Ourselves

Central Idea: People use a variety of creative techniques to express ideas, emotions, and stories.
In Film, our 3rd graders are exploring animation as a powerful form of self-expression. Students are learning how images, movement, and sequencing work together to communicate ideas. They are currently creating stop-motion animation projects that highlight their understanding of visual storytelling, character actions, and narrative structure.
Throughout this unit, students have demonstrated Creativity, Confidence, and the Risk-Taker learner profile as they experiment with new tools, problem-solve during filming, and bring their ideas to life frame by frame.

Grade 4 – Where We Are in Place and Time

Central Idea: Our interpretation of time and history influences personal and cultural perspectives.
Fourth graders are using stop-motion animation to explore the concept of time. Students are investigating how pacing, historical viewpoints, and sequencing shape the way stories from the past are understood. Through planning, storyboarding, and animating, 4th graders have shown strong Thinker, Inquirer, and Open-Minded learner profile traits as they reflect on how perspective shifts over time and how film can capture these ideas creatively.

Grade 5 – Where We Are in Place and Time

Central Idea: Innovation in media and technology shapes how stories are told and preserved.
Fifth graders are building digital animation skills using Google Slides to design their own frame-by-frame motion graphics. Students are examining how digital tools influence the way stories from different periods and cultures are represented. This unit has pushed students to be Knowledgeable, Principled, and Balanced as they manage their workflow, collaborate responsibly, and use technology to communicate purposeful messages.

How Families Can Support at Home

Encourage storytelling: Have students share their storyboard ideas or explain the message behind their animation.
Provide simple materials: Clay, paper cutouts, toys, or household objects can inspire creative stop-motion practice.
Celebrate curiosity: Ask open-ended questions—“How did you create that effect?” or “What perspective are you showing?”
Support responsible tech use: Allow time for students to experiment with animation apps or Google Slides while practicing digital balance and care.
Watch short animations together: Discuss characters, pacing, perspective, and how feelings or ideas are expressed visually.

STEAM

In STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Art, and Mathematics), students are building the skills of real-world thinkers—curiosity, creativity, collaboration, and perseverance. Each week, students explore hands-on challenges that encourage them to ask questions, try new ideas, learn from mistakes, and celebrate innovative thinking.

Our youngest learners have been exploring the Project Lead the Way unit on Structure and Function: Living and Nonliving Things.

Kindergarten students learned how to identify living versus nonliving things and what all living things need to survive—food, water, air, and shelter.
First grade took their learning a step further by creating coral reef habitats for marine animals. Students designed and built models of underwater environments, thinking carefully about how each animal’s needs are supported by its habitat.

Both grades used the PLTW design process to plan, sketch, build, and reflect on their models. This helps students connect science learning with creative problem-solving and hands-on design

This month, students engaged in a Project Lead The Way (PLTW) engineering challenge: building the tallest and strongest tower. Using simple materials, students followed the engineering design process—ask, imagine, plan, create, test, and improve. After testing their towers, students reflected on what worked well, what didn’t, and what they would try differently next time. This reflection step helps students build problem-solving skills and understand that improvement is a natural and important part of learning.

How to Extend STEAM Learning at Home

You can support STEAM learning through fun, simple activities:

Encourage questioning: Ask “What do you notice? What do you wonder?”
Build together: Use blocks, recycled materials, or household items to design bridges, towers, or inventions.
Incorporate art + science: Try drawing what they built or redesigning it with new materials.
Practice real-world math: Measure, compare, sort, and estimate during everyday routines (cooking, shopping, organizing).
Explore nature: Observe weather, plants, or animals and talk about patterns and change.

STEAM learning is everywhere—and with your partnership, our students grow as confident problem solvers ready to take on any challenge!

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