Constellation Mindset: Be Prepared to Be Needed. Be Prepared to Need Others. Be Prepared to Change. (Gr5)
What’s Going On in This Picture?
What
As a launch into a year-long focus on independent and community responsibility and well-being, grade five learners explored concepts found in Matthew Barzun’s book The Power of Giving Away Power. The goal of the learning experience was to highlight the power of an interdependent “constellation mindset,” interconnecting unique individuals working towards a common, greater good.
As a mentor model, the United Nations helped our grade five community to focus on the strengths and limitations of interdependent systems and organizations working towards more sustainable and just outcomes.
One of the rotations illuminated in this vignette led learners towards deeper inquiry in the target levels of the Sustainable Development Goals, again shedding the light upon the interdependent systems that calls for unique individuals and communities to honor interests and strengths, while joining together in co-creating diverse solutions to these 17 goals and 169 targets. Above, all of the grade five students identified diverse target-level goals which resonated with their interests and curiosities — creating a gallery wall of guiding questions that will help guide the year-long inquiry and eventual PYP exhibition.
Why
We need greater interdependence and flexible leadership in a volatile and uncertain world. Therefore, even as early as primary school, students can experience how communities and organizations designed as constellations are dynamic and flexible networks. Each member of the team is able to both stand out and fit in at the same time, to form something greater. When leaders find the courage to distribute rather than hoard power, creativity multiplies, trust deepens and inclusivity expands.
In 2021, we have more work than ever to do in implementing and attaining the Sustainable Development Goals and targets. These goals and targets have the power to create a better world by 2030, by ending poverty, fighting inequality and addressing the urgency of climate change. Guided by the goals, it is now up to all of us, governments, businesses, civil society and the general public to work together to build a better future for everyone.
How
Student were given time in smaller groups to identify targets of interest and utilize questions stems to create questions to share with peer reviewers and finally to post on the gallery wall. Educators supported questions related to vocabulary and nudging learners towards deeper thinking and potential questions that might shed light upon interdependence between two or more targets.