Who in the World am I?
In Summer 2018, students in Year 7 studied exclusively a Humanities and Arts expedition.
The learning targets were :
- I can write accurately and fluently an essay about myself which is detailed and informative
- I can use poetry to critically evaluate how language, including figurative language, to identify how writers use poetic conventions
- I can write at length for pleasure, in the form of an informal letter, for a range of purposes and audiences
- I can organise and present whole texts effectively, sequencing and structuring information, ideas and events
The Immersion for this expedition ranged from watching mystery texts such as extracts from ‘Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland’ and ‘Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows’, to taking a circular Gallery Walk to consider images and quotations linked to journeys and circles, then competing in a relay track event and, finally, using only circles, students created a piece of personal creative artwork.
The Case Study started by building further on the identity work students had completed during their previous expedition, ‘Stand Up!’. After reading inspirational biographies by young people such as Malala Yousafzai and Michaela DePrince, the ‘greatest sprinter of all time’ Usain Bolt, action man Bear Grylls and the best-selling living author J.K. Rowling, they composed their own mini-biographies. They got to know each other even more!
To explore their identities further and answer the question ‘How do you see yourself?’, students then read and discussed different poems entitled ‘Who am I?’. By doing this, they explored the idea that their identities are not static, but rather ever-changing based on their experiences as they move through the world. Students were able to reflect on theirselves as young people and focus on aspects of ourselves that they are proud of or that they would like to change.
The anchor text was ‘The Humans’ by Matt Haig. Using extracts from the text, students considered key questions such as ‘What is the meaning of human life?’ and ‘What if life on earth is something not just to fear and ridicule but also cherish?’. After completing an identity chart for a human from the point of view of an alien, they then focused on the advice they would give a human and their future selves.
Throughout the Case Study, students were mapping their own land of wonder. By completing their own visual timeline of their journey through Year 7, they were able to identify events that have started to influence them as individual people with their own unique characters and individual people as learners. Students reflected on their own pivotal moments which have brought them to where they are today.
The final product was designed to capture their journeys. Students created their own digital portfolios which would capture and be the beginning of a digital record of their achievements while they are students at XP East school. Containing examples of their work and information about themselves as young people and learners, they now have a digital platform to continue adding to as their personal and academic journey moves on both locally, nationally and even globally!
To conclude the expedition, students returned to where it all began: Malham Cove. Walking a well-known path led them to the summit – a wonderful limestone pavement! Here, they sat in quiet reflection and composed a letter to their future selves. What advice would they give? What might they need to do to ensure that they fully realise the dreams and aspirations they now have following their journey throughout Year 7?
So now, wherever you are on your journey, remember this…
Your life is an occasion. Rise to it!
All resources relating to this expedition can be found below:
Final Product – Digital Portfolios
Examples of these will appear here shortly