On April 9th, teachers and students in grades 4 and 5 of the Puxi Campus of Shanghai High School International Division once again welcomed the annual cultural feast - the World Fair.

Centered around the historical Silk Road, each fourth-grade class was transformed into a different country with historical significance to this renowned transport network. The fifth grade explored different geographical regions around the world, centering their research on local UNESCO World Heritage Sites or Intangible Cultural Heritage elements. Through creative projects, they built a learning platform connecting the world. The event seamlessly blended knowledge and creativity, allowing students to broaden their cultural horizons and further strengthen their core competencies in geography.

Grade 4

The Grade 4 students took part in a vibrant and engaging experience at last week's GEO Fair. Centered around the historic Silk Road, each classroom was transformed into a different country, bringing to life the cultures, traditions, and exchanges that once connected civilizations across continents.

With their passports in hand, students embarked on an interactive journey through a range of Silk Road countries, engaging in hands-on activities and exploring elements of each culture along the way. As they traveled from classroom to classroom, they discovered how ideas, goods, and traditions were shared across regions, gaining a deeper appreciation for the Silk Road's historical significance.

In Egypt, students explored ancient communication by deciphering and writing hieroglyphs and constructing their own pyramids. They also had the opportunity to sample a variety of traditional foods, including hummus and Egyptian kofta, along with refreshing mint tea.

In Greece, the focus was on trade and craftsmanship, with students learning about silk and pottery while designing their own pottery patterns. They also enjoyed tasting Greek yogurt, Greek salad, olives, and gyros.

In India, students took part in yoga and henna design, while enjoying popular dishes such as chai tea, curry, and banana roti.

Meanwhile, in Uzbekistan, students learned about the country's vital role along the Silk Road, created their own pottery designs on cups, and sampled a variety of traditional Uzbek-style dishes.

In Italy, students were introduced to the Venetian Carnival, designing their own masquerade masks while sampling classic Italian foods such as pizza and sweet treats.

As they visited each country, students kept a log of their travels and collected stamps in their passports, creating a lasting record of their experiences and learning. The success of the day was made possible by the support of our parent volunteers, whose contributions--both in preparing a wide variety of authentic cultural dishes and assisting throughout the event--helped bring each country to life and made the experience truly memorable for our students.

Grade 5

This year's Grade 5 Geography World Fair transformed our classrooms into vibrant cultural spaces, bringing learning to life beyond traditional lessons.

Each homeroom explored a different region of the world, with students working in groups to research UNESCO World Heritage Sites and intangible cultural traditions. Through this process, they developed independence, collaboration, and strong research skills, while deepening their understanding of global diversity.

On the day of the fair, classrooms became immersive exhibition spaces, thoughtfully decorated to reflect each region. Students delivered engaging and interactive presentations, including traditional crafts and hands-on activities. Many groups also included clear calls to action, raising awareness of endangered UNESCO sites and why they should be protected.

Students used their "passports" to travel between classrooms, collecting stamps as they completed activities. They explored each region through the five senses: seeing, hearing, touching, smelling, and tasting, making the experience both memorable and meaningful.

Food stations were a highlight of the event, with each group offering small samples of traditional dishes. Parent volunteers played an essential role in ensuring these stations ran smoothly and safely throughout the day.

Parents also contributed by voting for the most informative, most creative, and most interactive projects, recognizing the effort and creativity of our students.

This event highlighted the power of experiential learning in Grade 5. Students not only strengthened their geographical knowledge but also built confidence, independence, and teamwork skills, growing into informed and responsible global citizens.

We sincerely thank all parent volunteers for their support in making this event such a success.

(Written by Darren Edward Hodnett, Jack Vincent, Yutong Zhu, Cathy Cao

Pictures by Minxuan Cao, Teachers, Parents Volunteers

Reviewed by Ms. Lu Luting, Shiyu Wu, Hannah Kloeber)