By Claire Febrey - Primary Years Programme Coordinator
At ICS, the Primary Years Programme (PYP) Exhibition is more than just a final presentation; it is the culminating experience that transforms our students into active, compassionate, and lifelong learners. Grounded in the IB mission to develop "inquiring, knowledgeable, and caring young people," the Exhibition challenges students to make a positive impact on our complex, interconnected world. This journey is woven through several units of inquiry, creating a powerful thread of personal and academic growth.
The process begins during the Who We Are unit, where students reflect on their identities as learners. Inspired by Jane Goodall’s philosophy—“If we all act locally, we will be acting globally”—students connect their interests to the UN Sustainable Development Goals. While the issues are global, our focus remains firmly on local action, as students seek ways to make a tangible difference within our own community.
During the Research Phase, students lead their own inquiries, drafting driving questions and diving into both primary and secondary sources. This includes impactful trips to Geneva to visit the United Nations, the Red Cross Museum, and the Olympic Museum to find first-hand connections to their inquiries. Developing subject knowledge and conceptual understanding through these experiences builds the foundation for their next step: Taking Action.
Under the theme How We Express Ourselves, and with the support of our specialist arts and design teachers, students choose diverse paths for action. Various PYP action types come to life: some engage in Advocacy through visual and performing arts, while others explore Social Entrepreneurship by designing prototypes. From organising clothes swaps (Lifestyle Choices) to launching school initiatives (Participation), students prove that meaningful action starts with a single choice.
A highlight of this stage is the "PYPx Talks," where every student crafts and delivers a TED-style presentation, honing their communication skills to advocate for their cause. Through How We Organise Ourselves, students learn that an effective group accomplishes more than individuals, taking on roles as curators and planners to stage the event.
We recognise that the Exhibition is, above all, a process in which students develop IB Approaches to Learning: thinking, research, communication, self-management, and social skills, while reflecting on the IB Learner Profile. We are immensely proud of our Grade 5 students as they emerge as inquiring, knowledgeable, and caring young people. We look forward to celebrating this journey with our community in March.