Grade 11 CAS students were provided with an opportunity to reflect on their reading of “A Small Place” (Kincaid, 1988) through a “Creativity” experience. Each student was given a canvas. After discussing the main themes of “A Small Place”, students were given 10 minutes to choose a medium (paint, charcoal, crayon, glue and tissue paper, coloured pencils, etc.) and express their thoughts/feelings/ideas about one of the themes in the book on their canvas. Then, they had to move to another student’s canvas and add to it, in another medium. One additional rotation occurred so that each student contributed to 3 canvases. Students were encouraged to take photos of the product and process so as to demonstrate their experience in their electronic portfolio (Managebac). Beyond reflecting on their reading and expressing their ideas creatively, the experience was intended to foster collaboration (a central theme of their CAS projects and the Service strand of CAS).

CAS is part of the CORE course in the IB programme. It is required for all IB Diploma students, and an elective for anyone else in high school. It stands for Creativity, Activity, Service (these are known as the CAS “strands”). CAS students engage in “experiences” on one or multiple of the CAS strands, and they design and implement a major (1-month long) project during their 18 months in the course.

The canvases will be on display, on the CAS board (on the fourth floor across from the Secondary office) in the coming days.