PYPX Week 2: Planning the Action in PYPX

Week 2: Planning the Action in PYPX

In this post, I will discuss the second week of the PYPX, which focuses on action planning. Just as the first week was dedicated to unit planning, this second week is about defining an initial draft of the action, understanding that it will evolve as students progress through their inquiry.

Many schools begin the PYPX with the inquiry phase, but in my experience, students find it easier to organize and structure their research when they have a clear objective—in this case, an initial version of the action they wish to carry out.

Last year, my students already had a clear idea of the action they wanted to take, so it was more practical to start with this step and then use it to guide their inquiry and research. This flexibility is one of the greatest advantages of the PYP, allowing us to adapt to the needs of each class and student, strengthening their abilities and supporting them in areas where they need guidance.

Week 2 Activities

1. Action Opportunities & Brainstorming

In this activity, students explore opportunities for action in their community and globally, linking their action to their central idea and planned unit. They reflect on questions such as:

• What challenges or opportunities do you notice at home or school?
• Imagine your route to school… do you see anything along the way that you could learn more about?
• Are there any global issues that you know about or care deeply about?

At the end, they write a reflection answering:

• "How can I make the world a better place?"

They brainstorm three ideas on how they could create a positive impact.

2. Action Draft

Students write a first draft of their action, including as many details as possible. They then illustrate their idea with a drawing representing their action.

Next, they connect their action with one of the IB action types and explain how it relates to that category.

Finally, they analyze the scope of their action, determining whether it will have a local or global impact and justifying their decision.

3. Action Backward Planning

This is one of my favorite activities because it helps students visualize the steps needed to complete their action within the remaining time before the exhibition.

For this activity, we go outside, and I draw a large circle on the ground with chalk, writing PYPX in the center. Each group sits around the circle and receives chalk of different colors.

They take one step back and draw a smaller circle, writing what they should have completed one week before the exhibition.

They take another step back and write what should be done two weeks before the exhibition.

The process continues until they have a complete timeline leading up to PYPX.

I love this activity because it is visual, interactive, and engaging for students. It also promotes planning skills and helps them see in a tangible way how their project will unfold in the coming weeks.

After completing the visual planning, students transfer their plan to their notebooks to keep a structured record of their action steps.

4. Action Success Criteria

Students reflect on the following question:

• "How would I make a positive change in my community?"

This helps them establish success criteria for their action, giving them a clear vision of what makes an action meaningful and impactful.

5. Circle Time: Peer Feedback & Reflection

We close the week with a group reflection session, similar to the one we did in Week 1.

Each group presents their action draft and receives feedback from their classmates.

Students take notes on the suggestions and reflect on possible improvements.

This activity is crucial because students learn how to receive constructive feedback and how to provide thoughtful input to others. Additionally, it fosters a supportive and collaborative environment in the classroom.

The next post will focus on Weeks 3 and 4, which cover the inquiry and research phase, showcasing how students apply the agency they have developed throughout the school year. These two weeks represent the culmination of months of preparation.