USC Streams Elementary Hosts Inquiry Exhibition

Did you know the Animal Rescue league started right here in Pittsburgh during World War II?

Did you know there is only one program in the world that helps kids in need under 12 years of age obtain a canine assistance dog?

That information was foreign to about 50 area fourth graders before completing their IB Primary Years Program this week.

IB stands for International Baccalaureate. The program's mission is to challenge kids to learn about the interconnected world where knowledge is always developing. The goal is to help kids become active participants in their journey of learning.

"These kids grow in their ability to express, and articulate in a comfortable way," said Dr. Claire Miller, principal at Streams Elementary.

These fourth graders have primarily graduated from the first level of the program with this project. There are other programs for middle year children (called IB Middle Years Program), and high school kids (called Diploma Years Program) as they get older.

Dr. Miller is proud that Upper St. Clair is one of the few areas authorized in all three programs.

In January the kids were challenged to pick an organization near and dear to their heart. They've been learning about that organization all year culminating in their presentations this week.

Jack Kayser loves dogs. He taught me about Canines for Disabled Kids.

Connor Damon loves baseball. He wanted to know what made the Miracle field (a baseball field that caters to disabled children) different from a regular baseball field.

"My Mom is leaving on a medical mission to Haiti on June 18," Brooke Christiansen proudly told me.

Brooke now knows all about Friends Of Haiti and why mom leaves home for one week out of the year.

Clearly, family had a lot of influence in the decision making concerning a topic for this project. That's the point. The whole family can get involved in the learning process right at home.

Curious what peaks the interest of a fourth grader?

Animals. Kids love their animals. Animal Rescue leagues, Greyhound rescue leagues and all other organizations that help animals score big with these kids.

The other big topic dealt with keeping ourselves physically fit, as well as our planet.

"Did you know 19.5% of high schools kids have smoked?" Rachel Harris said.

However, Rachel knows a lot more than that. Thanks to her interest in a group called No Kids Smoking she knows everything that is being done these days to keep kids from starting the habit.

The IB Primary Years Program seems to be geared towards getting children to start asking these questions now. Questioned, researched, and learned.  That's the motto behind these exhibition projects.

Dr. Miller was right. These children know their topics, but they are also very comfortable presenting the information. As the children stood in front of their projects they seemingly were begging for interested parties to inquire about their material.

These kids have been working on their projects for five months.  That's a long time in a child's life. And it was five months well spent.