The aim of Advisory at Dalian American International School is to develop skills among students at DAIS which targets one of the School-Wide Learner Outcomes (SWLOs). Once the skills are developed, students are given opportunities to demonstrate their mastery of the skills and SWLOs by performing service for the community.
Advisory Unit 1 focuses on the first School-Wide Learner Outcome (SWLO I) – Character. The secondary school students developed critical thinking skills by learning the Six Thinking Hats protocol. To make the advisory unit service-based learning, the students must build up to providing service to their community to demonstrate their mastery of the SWLOs.
This year, the students are teaching elementary school students about the importance of Environmental Health. DAIS secondary school students guided by Mr. Jacob Singleton have created games, performances, presentations, and interactive demonstrations to educate elementary school students on various facets of maintaining environmental health. Students make the “Character” come true — “Learners will become respectful and trustworthy global citizens that demonstrate strong character through responsible, fair, and caring actions.” The capstone event for the Advisory Unit 1 unit took place on October 17.
Imagine you and your friends are like superheroes, and you want to make the world a better place. These 17 SDGs are like your superhero quests to save the planet and help people all around the world!
Now you are given a mission to protect our DAIS/DHS school environment, what specific goals should you focus on?
However, global warming is not a problem only with the environment. The environment we live in also affects our own health.
The activities on October 17 were all planned, prepared, and delivered by secondary school students. The students hope their day of engaging learning can impart a sustained environmental consciousness among elementary school students.
Nick Wong, International Curriculum Coordinator: “It was evident that the children were prepared and knowledgeable about their topics. The transitions between locations went very well, even for our youngest learners. The games and activities were age appropriate and engaging for the different grades. Our kids learned and had fun...and that's what it's all about! The kids should be amazingly proud of themselves! I do hope we can continue to organize more cross divisional collaborations again in the future.”
Lubaina Essack, Secondary Assistant Principal: “It was wonderful to see our students' engagement, enthusiasm and ownership over the event. This was truly an interdisciplinary, experiential learning experience that provided our kids with the opportunity to develop a multitude of soft skills, including but not restricted to project management, teamwork, decision making, personal and social responsibility, and collaboration. In addition to the learning experience we afforded our secondary students, this event also allowed for us to come together as role models for the younger students, creating for them meaningful memories and cultivating whole school Sea Dragon spirit.”
