WISS students make Shanghai their classroom

January 24, 2008, Thursday |

Print Edition

AN essential element of the IB Primary Years Program which is used as the framework for learning in grades nursery through five at Western International School of Shanghai, is that students construct knowledge and are guided by key concepts, such as causation and form, in their research and exploration.

Through such explorations, students develop what the IB calls "transdisciplinary skills," such as note taking, research skills, data collection and analysis, and communication skills, both spoken and written.

Such an approach naturally leads students into the world beyond the school grounds, and what is more exciting classroom of the city of Shanghai, and even Xujing Town, in which the school is located.

Grade two students recently ventured out to the Oriental Pearl TV Tower in Pudong and the Huangpu River to study development of the riverside and the concept of old and new.

For this unit of inquiry, students explored the central idea that all places on earth have special features that distinguish them from other places.

Before heading outside the classroom, they studied features of key cities around the world in order to compare and contrast and to present their findings visually through posters and displays.

During their visit to the Bund area and Pudong, their quest was to identify natural and human made features and to understand how and why people have changed the places they live in over time. Students had to formulate questions, conduct Internet and text research, and then write up their findings.

In a recent study of the central idea that "The protection of the natural environment is essential for all life on earth," students once again ventured outside the gates of school, but this time into the surrounding Xujing Town.

The key concepts they studied were: causation - how people's actions impact on the environment; and responsibility - how and why people take action to protect the environment.

Students had to collect data on such issues as the square meterage of developed space, the remaining amount of green space, and the degree to which green spaces and waterways were in danger.

Students then wrote a report that organizes and draws conclusions from their data and presents an analysis of the changes in the surrounding biome and the reasons for change.

Since a key element of the PYP program is for students to learn to take action based on their study, students will also be presenting their reports to Xujing Town authorities.

Grade two teacher Nigel Pritchard from the UK points out: "This kind of authentic learning is so effective. When students study real life problems in the world around them, their book and Internet research becomes much more meaningful. They care a great deal about what they are doing."

Taking learning outside of the classroom is set to continue at WISS this year with community service visits planned, as well as, visits to organic farms and gardens, museums, nature reserves and a privately owned and operated 600-hectare animal sanctuary just outside of Shanghai.

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WISS students make Shanghai their classroom

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