The First PYP Exhibition at the Academy

The Grade 6 students of the Aga Khan Academy, Hyderabad participated in the school’s first ever Primary Years Programme Exhibition on 11 and 12 June 2014. Their collaborative inquiry was under the theme “Sharing the planet”, and they collectively inquired into ‘People attempt to find sustainable solutions for global issues’ with different groups taking up different issues related to this big idea.

The issues they explored were: Wildlife Conservation, Global Warming, Terrorism, Poverty, Corruption and Human Rights. The students spent several weeks conducting in-depth inquiry into these issues and were mentored by a number of teachers in the school. They were guided and supported by their class teachers throughout the journey. The Exhibition is the culminating event in the life of a PYP student, and it was especially significant as these students were the pioneers who successfully participated in this momentous occasion.

The event was inaugurated with the lighting of a lamp by Mr. Prosun Sen, who is an Advocacy and Communications specialist with UNICEF, and was presided over by Mr. Ian, the Head of the Academy. The inauguration ceremony was followed by each of the Exhibition groups giving the audience a snapshot of the issue they were focusing on through creative performances. There were mimes, dances, songs and role-plays. The performances also reflected the holistic nature of the PYP where the arts are integrated into the learning.

The students displayed their knowledge, conceptual understanding and application of transdisciplinary skills and the attitudes of cooperation, empathy, commitment, enthusiasm and confidence in the presentation of their inquiry process. The most outstanding aspect was the action taken by each group with authentic purpose and practical implementation. They addressed all the essential elements of the PYP curriculum and received accolades from parents, teachers and visitors who attended the Exhibition.

Each group was also recognized for its outstanding attributes through criterion based assessment, and they were awarded certificates in a special assembly. The pride and joy of the faces of the students as they received the awards spoke volumes, and the entire AKA, Hyderabad school community is proud of their achievement.