Students Demonstrate Agency: Taking Action about Global Issues

The Primary Years Programme (PYP) stresses the importance of developing student agency. Connected to agency is action. Students who take action see themselves as capable and able to make a difference, which is a primary outcome of the PYP. 

During the last few weeks of school, students have been motivated to take action. Anri, Karin and Mina in Grade 4 organized events this Spring to raise awareness and support for Palestine. They initiated action that involved fundraising and boycotts. Last week, they also initiated action by inviting students to take part in art advocacy to honor and remember people killed in Palestine. Students from Grades 1 through 5 participated by making poppies.

In addition, Grade 3 students also initiated action recently by organizing a fundraiser in response to events in Myanmar.

First, Riho, Ria and Julia gave presentations to elementary students that included information about Myanmar’s culture and the situation in Myanmar, including the civil war since 2021 and the recent earthquake this past March.

Their fundraiser took place on Tuesday, June 3rd.

Whether action is directly inspired by units of inquiry or results from students developing an international mindset, we celebrate the link between learning, agency and action. We also celebrate our student involvement in global issues of the day. We look forward to supporting more student action in the next school year too!