Last month, our J1 students had the opportunity to turn learning into action during a visit to Solar Ville Garaude, a care home for the elderly located next to Escola Internacional de Alphaville. The activity, aligned with the Unit of Inquiry “How We Organise Ourselves”, enabled the children to explore how communities are structured to meet different needs and to promote intergenerational living.The visit began with a warm welcome from the residents and staff of Solar Ville Garaude, who introduced the children to the institution’s daily routine and the adapted spaces designed to ensure accessibility and comfort. As they walked through the facility, the students observed details such as handrails, wheelchairs, and architectural modifications, reflecting on the importance of making community spaces inclusive for all ages.Beyond their investigative lens, the experience was also marked by affectionate interactions and the sharing of stories. The students spoke with the elderly residents, listened to accounts of their lives, and shared a bit about their own experiences, creating a truly meaningful moment of connection between generations. This encounter encouraged reflections on respect, empathy, and the role of community in supporting the well-being of its members.During the activity, the children were encouraged to raise questions and form hypotheses about how different public and private spaces are organised, and how rules and habits vary depending on the environment and social group. These discussions were later explored further in the classroom, allowing the students to link their observations to the unit of study.By the end of the visit, it was clear that learning through experience makes knowledge more meaningful and transformative. This experience not only consolidated the concepts explored in class, but also sparked a new perspective in the students on the role of community in social life.Furthermore, moments like this strengthen one of the key attributes of the IB learner profile: open-mindedness. By engaging with people from different backgrounds and perspectives, our students demonstrated respect, curiosity, and a willingness to learn from others, developing empathy and broadening their understanding of the world around them.Being a student at Escola Internacional de Alphaville means opening your mind and heart to new perspectives!
