On March 28^th, during the afternoon personal growth class, grades four and five of SHSID Puxi campus held the World Fair under the guidance of their geography teachers. In the process, the students looked beyond their textbooks and immersed themselves in a variety of activities, in order to understand and apply what they learned in real-life situations.

G4 Passengers on The Silk Road

The students in 4th grade had a wonderful, interactive experience today in their Geo Fair! Centered around the historical Silk Road, each class in fourth grade was transformed into a different country with historical significance to the seminal transport network.

With their custom-made passports in hand, the students embarked on a journey through four countries, all historically significant to the Silk Road. They really enjoyed learning about how impactful China’s past has been to the world at large.

After finding out just how much information was shared along the Silk Road, the students also loved learning that China actually had the world’s first “World Wide Web!”

In Turkey, the students performed a traditional Turkish dance and tried writing their own names in Turkish, before tucking into a huge selection of Turkish delicacies. In Egypt, they made their own miniature Sphinxes, deciphered hieroglyphic puzzles, learned to write their names in hieroglyphics, and even solved some math equations using Arabic numbers! In India, they played chess, used looms to practice textile weaving, and wrote their names in Sanskrit. They also enjoyed food unique to the Indian subcontinent. In Greece, they learned how to put on traditional ancient Greek togas, as well as make their own pottery patterns.

In each country, after learning all about that country’s contributions to the Silk Road, the students received a distinctive stamp to go in their passport, to remember their experience and provide proof of where they had been.

We want to express our heartfelt thanks to the dedicated parent volunteers who selflessly gave their time and assistance throughout the day. We are truly grateful for their participation in both helping out during the experience, as well as bringing the culinary delights for each of the Silk Road countries. These gastronomic pleasures really helped to transform each “country” into something special and memorable!

G5 Around the World in 80 Minutes

This year’s 5th grade World Fair proved to be our most engaging and interactive yet! Assigned a region corresponding to their homeroom class, our 5th grade students embarked on a journey to explore and present a UNESCO World Heritage Site or tradition from that region in both informative and creative ways. Through this initiative, the students began laying the foundations for global citizenship while showcasing their grasp of geography.

Excitement filled the atmosphere as the students diligently prepared their projects for exhibition. Classrooms brimmed with an array of presentations including posters, dances, models, brochures, paintings, and more. Navigating through the World Fair, the students eagerly engaged in completing passport questions related to diverse sites from various regions, earning stamps along the way. Many provided insightful reflections on their discoveries and posed thought-provoking inquiries to the presenters.

The opportunity to vote for their favorite projects in each region was taken seriously by students, teachers and parents, especially given the interactive elements incorporated into many presentations, such as dances and cultural demonstrations. This motivated active participation and fostered deeper connections among classmates, enhancing their communication skills and cultural understanding.

Adding a flavorful dimension to the event, each group shared culinary delights from their respective regions, allowing fellow students to sample diverse cuisines in exchange for a stamp on their coupon. This culinary exchange further enriched the immersive experience of the World Fair.

We extend our sincere gratitude to the parent volunteers who generously contributed their time and support throughout the day. Their involvement in both assisting and participating in the voting process for the most creative and informative student projects is deeply appreciated.

As the World Fair came to a close, it was evident that the students relished the chance to showcase their own creations while simultaneously appreciating the efforts of their peers. Collaborating on this project not only honed their communication skills but also instilled valuable lessons in time-management, planning and teamwork, nurturing their independence and readiness for future endeavors.

Written by Vincent Wood-Katic, Jack Vincent, Zhu Yiwei, Wu Yin

Pictures by Cao Minxuan and teachers of G4-5

Edited by Cong Luo, Bianca Noguera