Notre Dame Academy

The PYP Exhibition

Mentor Volunteer Information

What Is the
Exhibition?
The fifth-grade Exhibition is the culminating
activity of the International Baccalaureate s
PYP Programme. It occurs in the student s
final/graduating year of the programme.

Exhibition =
Inquiry
The Exhibition is:
an individual or group inquiry
an inquiry that starts from personal interest and
passions then extends into real-world issues
an inquiry that requires students to apply their
learning from previous years

Exhibition
Requirements
The subject of the inquiry must be a real-world issue.
Students must be involved in all stages of planning:
- the issue
- the learning outcomes
- the activities
- the assessment

Exhibition
Requirements
(continued)

The Exhibition should include:

- examples of written work
- oral presentations
- examples of technology
- performances in any medium dance,
drama, film, video, mixed media

Exhibition
Requirements
(continued)

Eight Key Concepts: With respect to their

chosen line of inquiry, the students must
demonstrate an understanding of:
1. Form

5. Connection

2. Function

5. Perspective

3. Causation

6. Responsibility

4. Change

7. Reflection

The Exhibition:
Non-Negotiable
Features
(cont)

Five Skill Sets: Students must use skills from all

areas.
1. Thinking Skills
2. Social Skills
3. Communication Skills
4. Self-Management Skills
5. Research Skills

Exhibition
Requirements
(continued)

Twelve Attitudes: Students must demonstrate

these attitudes:
1. Appreciation
7. Curiosity
2. Commitment

8.

Empathy

3. Confidence

9.

Enthusiasm

4. Cooperation

10. Independence

5. Creativity

11. Integrity

6. Tolerance

12. Respect

Students present through:

Poster
Video
Graph
Power Point
Music
Drama

Students decide on:

Interests, passions
What they want to explore
Can they explore it personally and
globally?

Research progresses.
Reflect and ask questions.
Take the inquiry deeper.
Choose and plan presentation.

Students research:
Read, listen, interview
Survey, etc.

Students create:
a timeline
a planner

Student Commitment

December: The students start brainstorming

ideas and concepts.
January and February: The students spend about
six weeks working on their inquiries.
The students continue having math, religion and
literacy lessons during the Exhibition time, but the
majority of each day will be used working on
inquiries.

Student Homework
The children will have less homework during this
time.
The children should use their time at home to
research and prepare for the work in class.
The actual work should be done in class so the
teacher can keep track of progress.

Mentors Role
Mentor

Individual
or
Group
t
n
re
a
P

Mentors guide,
evaluate and
advise.
Parents support.
Teacher facilitates.
Te
ac
he
r

Mentors
Commitment
Mentors have five preparation meetings in
December.

Mentors meet with student groups twice a week

for two hours each time for the duration of the
Exhibition process (6-7 weeks).

How Can Parents

Help?
Parents can:
keep informed of the process by reading newsletters and
attending meetings
support and encourage their children
provide knowledge
help to locate resources people, places, media and information

Celebrate with the students by attending the final presentations.

Its the Journey More

Than the Destination
Exhibitions are the best way to measure
learning, because they put the kids right in
the midst of their learning Dennis Littky
We assess the process more than the
product.
The students keep a journal throughout the
Exhibition demonstrating how their thinking
and goals have developed.
This journal may include pictures, diagrams,
poems, timelines and writing.
The mentors keep a journal that monitors
student progress against a timeline.

Rubrics
Each inquiry has four scoring rubrics that
assesses a different aspect of the Exhibition.
Rubric 1: Journal
Rubric 2: Independent Oral Project
Rubric 3: Final Multimedia Project
Rubric 4: Collaborative work skills: (social
skills, quality of work, and time management)

Assessment
Assessment of the process and end-product
takes place at all levels.
Children will self assess using the rubrics.
Class teacher will use the rubrics to assess.
Mentors will assess the group dynamics
component of the processusing a rubric.

The Final Grade

There is not one final grade at the end.
It is possible that a group scores very well
on one rubric and not so well on another.
The rubrics are not be averaged.
The mentor and class teacher will each write
a short summary of their observations.
These summaries and the rubrics will
constitute the final assessment.

Something for Us All

to Remember
As with any inquiry there
will be times when it
seems that students are
not being very productive.
Sometimes there will be
lot of discussion and
thought, but this will not
result in anything that can
be seen.

Something for Us All

to Remember
(continued)

Students (and adults) need

time and space to wonder
about things and consider
their plans.
This is why we place so
much emphasis on the
journals. They will show the
understanding of concepts
and application of skills (i.e.,
problem solving) more than
the final product.

Questions?