- Lower School
Through the transdisciplinary theme ‘How We Express Ourselves’, Grade 2 students at Hangzhou International School explore various artistic forms used to communicate beliefs, ideas, and emotions. While students often associate expression with art and music, they deepen their understanding by recognizing how movement and body language also convey meaning.
As part of our ongoing journey in Physical, Social, and Personal Education (PSPE), Grade 2 students have been participating in an exhilarating Ninja Training Camp this year. This program focuses on developing aesthetic movement skills, including ground movements, jumping, rolling, and balancing, all while exploring the theme of how we express ourselves.
Throughout this camp, students have been challenged to use their skills to overcome physical obstacles, allowing them to build confidence and enhance their physical abilities. The process of navigating these obstacles has been a fantastic way for our young ninjas to demonstrate their growth and resilience with their courageous attitudes.
By integrating with PSPE classes, teachers created learning engagements with the movement skills students were developing, using physical theatre as a lens for exploration.
Students worked collaboratively to analyze how physical performances such as Charlie Chaplin, shadow theatre performers, and the Thousand Hand Bodhisattva dance engaged audiences through facial expressions and body language. This led to the creation of movement sequences incorporating ground movements, rolling, and balancing to express emotions.
We are thrilled to announce that all students successfully completed their Ninja Training Camp Graduation event. This special occasion provided our students the opportunity to showcase their impressive physical development and reflect on their journey through the obstacle course.
During the graduation, students demonstrated their newfound skills and shared their personal reflections on the experience. We believe this is a wonderful way for students to celebrate their achievements and recognize the hard work they have put into mastering the challenges.
Students reflected on how their PSPE skills supported their ability to express themselves in their Unit of Inquiry. These meaningful connections foster transdisciplinary learning, helping students see how skills transfer across disciplines and into the world beyond the classroom.
Student Reflections:
“I got better at performing different balances by myself and with my classmates” - Yicheng, 2B
“I enjoyed Ninja Training Camp because I could choose which balances, jumps and movements to use for the obstacle course” - Chris, 2B
“I got better at balancing during Ninja Training Camp” - Kiara, 2C
“I enjoyed that there were many obstacles and challenges” - Samuel, 2C.
“I think Ninja Training Camp gave me new skills to practice” - Jackie, 2C