The Year 6 Exhibition, asks students to complete a
collaborative, transdisciplinary inquiry that identified and
offered solutions to real-life issues or problems.
“All students have been involved in a detailed investigation
which took them out into the community engaging in conversations
with experts or those with rich experiences to share, with face to
face meetings, via skype, email or by phone,” Head of Junior School
Kathleen McDonnell explains.
The girls covered an extensive number of topical subjects and
showed not only the ability to research but to think critically and
question what they had discovered.
Sophie Tonkes investigated technology and ethics in medicine
in her project ‘Advanced technologies can provoke and challenge
humankind’.
She examined the use of 3D printing in healthcare and the ethics
of animal testing for medical research.
As part of her investigation, Sophie interviewed a Futureintech
Medical Physicist, who described ways 3D printing was used by
doctors.
These include the creation of a 3D model heart for a 14 month
child to assist in surgery and the 3D printout of an ultrasound to
allow a blind mother to ‘see’ her unborn child.
Sophie examined the advantages anddisadvantages
of both 3D printing and animal testing and concluded
that while 3D printing had mostly positive benefits for
the medical industry, animal testing was a much more
complex issue.
Lily Rose explored how human rights are affected
by conflict by using Syrian refugees as a case study.
She interviewed both the Executive Director of
UNICEF NZ and a Syrian Refugee to learn about
refugees are affected by war.
“Shelter, water, food, air, clothing and sleep are the
essential building blocks at the base of a pyramid of
human needs,” Lily explains.
“War shatters the pyramid of needs that is the
basic foundation for life.”
Lily explained in her conclusion that there were a
Throughout Term 3 there was a constant hum of Year 6 students working tirelessly on their
Exhibition, a final project within the Primary Years Programme (PYP) and as the term drew to
a close, friends and family gathered to view their finished work.
Year 6
Exhibition
2015
number of agencies that support refugees but she asked society to
think about what causes people to become refugees in the first place
and how they can address that.
“What is the use of violence? Why can’t we all get along?” she
says.
“We make the problems so we can fix them.”
Florence Bygraves investigated how governments are planning
for the development of youth in the future by discussing the
government policies and agencies in place to address youth related
issues.
“The issues facing youth in this century range from health, to
finance, to technology,” Florence says.
Florence concludes that although the Government could be
doing more to address youth issues, the situation is improving but
advises the Youth Minister to listen to the public to hear what youth
really need.
Head of Junior School Kathleen McDonnell is very proud of
what the Year 6 students have achieved and thanks teachers, mentors
and parents for their guidance and support.
The Year 6 Exhibition is available online at