Creating Change: Grade 5 Students Shine at PYPx 2026

Grade 5 students at ICS Addis were tasked with making an impact on an issue close to their heart.

Whether local or global, students identify an issue, research it, take action, and the create a presentation on their approach and impact which they share at a community-wide exhibition.

Their journey is called the Primary Years Programme Exhibition (PYPx), and it is a significant event for our Grade 5 students as they move forward in their IB journey, take ownership of the end of their Elementary learning journey, and prepare to move to the next stage of their learning. 

“The essence of PYPx is that it is the culminating event of all of the years in the elementary school,” Grade 5 Advisory Teacher Troy Smith said. 

The showcase follows weeks of research and collaboration, where the students dive deep into their topics and refine their presentation skills. 

Students covered topics ranging from climate change to racism and other social justice matters. 

“The beauty is that they chose their topic so with choice comes motivation and engagement … they have the ownership and they can see it to the end," Mr Smith said. 

For his project, Masha S. researched inequality in sports, focusing on gender inequality and access to sports. 

“I chose it because I really like sports and I see some people not able to play sports or they’re excluded from sports and I feel like I just want to help them,” Masha explained. 

Through his research and findings Masha sought to not only raise awareness on the topic but to take action. 

Along with his classmate Adriano, the pair organized a football tournament on campus which was open to students from Grades 2 to 5. 

The entrance fee for the tournament was 400 ETB and all the proceeds were allocated for buying football supplies for the Asko Football Project in Addis. 

“I learned that when people have fun, it can actually be a for a good cause too,” Masha said. 

Anya N., who presented on the impacts of overfishing, said the exhibition helped her build her confidence. 

“It was my first presentation to lots of people, so I think I really learned a lot about how to present and how to make people interested in your topic.”

“I also learned how to be focused and research over a long period of time.”

In preparing for the exhibition, many students grew exponentially and were able to work through any challenges they faced, Mr Smith said. 

"When they started they were anxious and nervous because they knew that PYPx was coming, but maybe didn’t have the self belief about what they were going to do...

... But the process and how we do it at ICS, we give them the tools along the way, some people are completely self-driven, some people need a lot more support and scaffolding but we know that each students exhibition is different, we celebrate wherever they’re at.”

“Our kids are proud of themselves and the team as a whole because we go together," Mr Smith said.

The exhibition prepares students for the next phase of their IB learning as they make the transition into Middle School. 

“We’ve instilled the attributes and the skills needed to transition so I think we’ve set them up for success."