Portledge in the Now.

PYP May 11, 2025

Welcome back to the Portledge PYP Corner! The Lower School has just completed our fifth transdisciplinary theme, Where We Are in Place and Time. What an incredible journey it has been across all grade levels! If you can believe it, next week marks our final theme of the school year! I can’t wait to see the amazing work that comes from the How We Express Ourselves theme!
But first, here’s a quick look at what our students have been up to:
  • Kindergarten launched into space to discover how exploration expands our understanding of our place in the universe. Students imagined, designed, and brought to life their planets in a brand-new galaxy, using creativity and scientific reasoning to think beyond Earth.

  • 1st Grade became historians as they uncovered the rich history of our Portledge School. Students conducted interviews, explored archival photos, and pieced together a timeline that helped them understand how our school has grown and changed over time. It was a beautiful way to connect with our learning community’s history.

  • 2nd Grade explored life cycles and seasonal changes, drawing connections between Charlotte’s Web and the arrival of our newly hatched chicks. The classroom came alive as students witnessed real-time growth and change in the new baby chicks. This blend of literature and life science helped deepen their understanding of the cycles that shape all living things.

  • 3rd Grade investigated how studying the past helps us understand the present through an in-depth look at rocks and fossils. Students became junior paleontologists, participating in hands-on labs, creating fossils, and even excavating chocolate chip cookies to simulate fossil discovery. Their curiosity sparked thoughtful discussions about Earth’s history and the clues it leaves behind.

  • 4th Grade navigated the stars and the land, connecting constellations to the spirit of westward expansion. They studied Greek mythology and even began crafting their own star stories. This unit encouraged students to think about how exploration has shaped cultures and how the night sky has inspired generations.

  • 5th Grade studied American explorers, examining how curiosity and courage shaped our nation’s story. Through primary sources, research projects, and rich classroom dialogue, they examined the motivations, challenges, and consequences of exploration. This inquiry helped students connect historical movements to present-day ideas of discovery and innovation.
The Where We Are in Place and Time theme is a powerful opportunity for students to explore how history, exploration, and the passage of time shape who we are today. Each grade took this theme in a unique and meaningful direction, and the inquiry-driven learning that unfolded was nothing short of inspiring.

In addition to our classroom learning, we recently hosted our first PYP Parent Cohort Meeting. During this session, we reflected on our favorite learning moments, highlighting the depth of student understanding, the growing sense of agency across grade levels, and the joyful, purposeful learning that defines the PYP.

A special thank you to the families who took the time to join us for our recent IB Verification Visit. Your presence and partnership helped showcase the heart of our learning community.

Looking ahead, our next PYP Parent Cohort meeting will take place in June, where we’ll be discussing meaningful ways to increase family involvement in the PYP for the upcoming school year. If you are interested in joining, please send me an email, as we would be happy to welcome you!
As always, thank you for being a part of this exciting journey with us!
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