Student-led learning

One key focus of the Primary Years Programme (PYP) is creating opportunities for learners to take ownership of their learning and supporting the initiatives they choose to pursue. This week, Grade 3 experienced a wonderful example of student-led learning. Emma excitedly brought her experiment kits to class and shared her enthusiasm for leading an experiment with her classmates. With my advice, she selected an activity that connected meaningfully with our current unit of inquiry. Emma introduced the “Bursting Blood Cells” experiment, which used water, calcium chloride, and red sodium alginate. She confidently began by explaining the materials needed before guiding the class through each step of the procedure. Finally, she invited her classmates to take part by squeezing red drops into the mixture. The result was a fascinating model of “fake blood,” which formed soft, round, jelly-like drops. The activity sparked curiosity, encouraged participation, and gave students an engaging way to connect scientific ideas to their learning. Providing students with voice, choice, and opportunities to share their interests is an important part of helping them take charge of their learning journeys. We are proud of Emma for sharing her passion so confidently, and we look forward to seeing more students take initiatives like this in the future.

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