“Having the opportunity to know about China and Chinese people has changed my perspective on my own culture and on Chinese culture.” Grade 10 student

Since WAB’s founding and in line with the aspirations of the international education regarding enriching student learning through both local and global contexts, our China Studies department has been the key driver of developing an understanding of our host country's traditional and modern-day culture and science.

Over the last 25 years, the China Studies program, led by Michael Crook and Wang Wenjing, has organized countless activities and projects providing opportunities for our students to engage in meaningful, experiential learning that goes beyond the school walls. From trips to places of cultural or historical interest to projects that engage with local communities to transforming WAB’s learning spaces into immersive learning environments – there’s always something creative and thought-provoking on offer.

Even during the pandemic, the China Studies department has found ways to bring the world into our classrooms and spaces, creating exciting and purposeful opportunities for all learners to put their learning into context.

Everything that the China Studies department does is tightly interwoven with the school’s rigorous academic goals and serves an authentic purpose. An example of this is the Rainforest Exhibition that is currently on display in the Elementary School foyer. The exhibition is co-developed by the Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS) to promote understanding and appreciation of the rich and fragile ecosystems of the world’s rainforests. It features a wide range of insect samples and animals native to tropical rainforests, accompanied by sounds, detailed explanations, and illustrations about the biodiversity, characteristics and functions of rainforests. The immersive exhibition fosters discussions about a wide range of topics, aligning with the inquiry-learning approach of the IB Primary Years Programme (IB PYP).

For Middle and High School students, the exhibition will enrich their understanding of a rainforest’s fragile ecosystem, humankind’s impact, conservation and environmental science. It will also provide a springboard for other interdisciplinary projects in art, science and humanities. Over the course of the two-month exhibition, students will also have the chance to hear from CAS scientists who will visit the school to share more in-depth insights.

“WAB’s China Studies department is an important bridge that assists teachers and students to get into the local community and to bring the local community in to WAB campus. China Studies draws on a wide range of formats and channels to enrich student learning. Community and service is a key element that is carried out throughout all school sections with the help of the China Studies department,” said Wenjing Wang, China Studies Director.

Other exciting, upcoming activities coming up with the China Studies department include:

• Grade 6 field trip to the Jinpoluo Village Organic Farm for a hands-on learning experience and to strengthen community service
• Grade 7 WAB campus tour to explore Chinese architectural features as part of the MS Art classes
• Trip to the China Zoology Museum as part of Middle School Science and Day 9
• Supervising various High School student clubs with their community engagement goals
• Chaoyang Park field trip climate and temperature survey as part of High School Geography
• Field trip to the China Science Museum and Chinese mathematics masters workshop as part of High School Math

Keep an eye out for more stories related to China engagement and interdisciplinary learning.