Learning does not always happen at a desk. Sometimes, the best way for students to understand an idea is to experience it in action.
This term, Ashwood Glen’s Junior and Middle School (JMS) students are taking their Physical Education learning beyond the classroom through an eight-week physical education extension program with Burlington Soccer Club. As an extension of their PE curriculum, students will participate in soccer classes led by experienced soccer instructors, developing their skills while exploring the importance of teamwork, communication, and shared goals.
The experience also connects naturally to the students’ recent IB Primary Years Programme (PYP) Unit of Inquiry, How We Organize Ourselves.
Learning How Teams Work
At the heart of How We Organize Ourselves is an exploration of how people create systems, work together, and organize themselves to achieve shared goals. These ideas are not limited to classroom discussions or written activities. They can be seen and experienced in everyday life, including on a soccer field.
Soccer provides a natural environment for students to explore how individuals work together as part of a team. Players have different roles and responsibilities, communicate with one another, make decisions, follow agreed-upon rules, and adapt their approach as circumstances change.
Students learn that individual skill is only one part of being successful. A team also depends on trust, cooperation, and an understanding of how each person contributes to the group.
From Inquiry to Experience
One of the strengths of an IB education is the opportunity to connect learning across different areas. Concepts explored during a Unit of Inquiry become more meaningful when students recognize them in authentic situations.
Through their soccer sessions, students are putting these ideas into practice. They are learning to listen to others, take responsibility for their roles, solve problems together, and work toward a common goal. They also have opportunities to reflect on what makes a team effective and how teammates can respond when things do not go according to plan.
These experiences help students develop skills that extend beyond Physical Education. Communication, collaboration, decision-making, and adaptability are valuable in the classroom, on the playing field, and in the wider community. Soccer also gives students opportunities to take risks, learn from mistakes, adjust their approach, and try again—an important part of meaningful learning.
Learning Through Community Partnerships
Over the course of eight weeks, JMS students will continue developing their soccer skills while exploring how individuals contribute to a group and work together toward shared goals.
At Ashwood Glen, we believe learning is most meaningful when students can connect ideas to real experiences. Our association with Burlington Soccer Club brings this approach to life, helping students see how the ideas explored in How We Organize Ourselves apply beyond the classroom. Through this experience, students are discovering that organization, cooperation, and teamwork are not just concepts to learn about—they are skills to practise and apply in everyday life.
