Ellerton Primary School’s open day on Wednesday offered a vivid demonstration of how integrated, project-based learning can deepen student engagement and broaden classroom experiences, education officials said.
The showcase featured projects completed during the first two terms of the school year, including displays for Independence, African Awareness Day, Valentine’s Day and International Water Day.
Principal Karen Sealy-Cox said the school had been planning the event since the start of the academic year before the Ministry of Education Transformation later made open days mandatory.
“Today we have on exhibit, projects that we did for Independence, African Awareness Day as well as to commemorate International Water Day and the children had a blast doing these projects,” she said.
Students looking at the different country displays. (Photo Credit: Lauryn Escamilla/Barbados TODAY)
“Some of them were individual and some of them were whole class projects… we have our art gallery as well. So if you miss what we did today, it’s a great show.”
She praised teachers for bringing the displays together and said she was surprised by the volume of work produced by students. “I didn’t know they had so many things out there until this morning.”
Sealy-Cox added that students explored cultural differences through the African Awareness projects, observing how Valentine’s celebrations differed across countries.
“We found that some of them were similar. Some of them do not do it at all,” she said. “Unlike us, how we use red, they more use like purple, not traditional colours.”
Ministry of Education Transformation officer Kirtis Luke described the event as “absolutely wonderful”, saying the school demonstrated strong project-based and play-based learning techniques.
Kirtis Luke Representative of the Ministry of Education Transformation. (Photo Credit: Lauryn Escamilla/Barbados TODAY)
“I have been amazed at the integration of projects in the school, the integration of subjects, how everything combines into one fantastic learning experience,” he said.
Luke pointed to exhibits focused on water conservation, animal husbandry and aquaponics as examples of the creativity taking place beyond the classroom desk.
“Many people don’t know what happens in schools except for what happens at the desks, some math, some language arts, but everything is so combined,” he said. “Our teachers are so creative.”
Students playing jumbo X and O. (Photo Credit: Lauryn Escamilla/Barbados TODAY)
He added that open days gave schools an opportunity to display students’ talents and achievements to the wider community.
“One of the things we want at our schools is for schools to show off what they can do and what they have been doing,” he said. “It was absolutely wonderful.”
Parents attending the showcase were also impressed by the work produced by their children.
(LE)
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