Learning at St Columba's

The PYP Exhibition

As we head into Term 4, the Year 6 class are diving into their learning journey and preparing for the exhibition. The PYP Exhibition takes place in the final year of primary school. This is an opportunity for students to showcase their skills and behaviours developed over the years. During the 15 years I have spent at PYP schools, I have seen many exhibitions, mentored various groups of students, and witnessed students taking their learning to a new level during the process.  

This year will mark St Columba’s second PYP Exhibition. This is a time to celebrate students transitioning out of primary school and into high school. This year, the Year 6 class have been striving to take The Exhibition at St Columba’s to another level. They have visited the Melbourne Museum to gain insight into what makes an exhibition engaging. Upon reflection, the students realised that reading sheets of text was not their preferred way to engage in exhibitions; rather, having hands-on opportunities and being immersed in storytelling was what caught their attention.   

To provoke emotion and a sense of caring for the world around us, we used the short mockumentary ‘Regenerating Australia’ as we began our inquiry into ‘Sharing the Planet’.  This year, the Year 6 class have worked through a process to write individual central ideas. This is intended to help them connect personally with their exhibition.  

A key element of the exhibition is connecting with the community. We may call on you to provide your expertise to support the students. This support could relate to the students’ process of inquiring or potentially as a primary source of information. If you have a particularly relevant skill, such as interview experience, this could also be an invaluable resource for the students.

If you would like further information regarding the PYP Exhibition and its impact on students, I have included a LINK from the IB. 

Our PYP Exhibition will take place on Thursday, 9th of November, from 6:30 - 7:30.  We look forward to seeing you there. 

Nicole Spence

PYP Coordinator