From Wheels to Beans: Exploring Transportation, Technology and Fair Trade in Shanghai

Grade 4: Fair Trade in the Chocolate Theatre

On 23 October, our Grade 4 students embarked on an exciting field trip to the Zotter Chocolate Theatre in Shanghai. This visit was the culmination of their studies on the bean-to-bar chocolate manufacturing process and the critical importance of ensuring fairness in chocolate production.

During the visit, students reinforced their learning by exploring and tasting the beans, ingredients, flavour enhancers, and final products at the theatre. They even had the opportunity to craft their own chocolate bars, enriching their experience with hands-on fun activities.

The pivotal question, “Is Zotter Chocolate Fair Trade?” was addressed during an engaging presentation in the theatre’s custom-built cinema. It was reassuring for the students to learn that Fair Trade and similar initiatives work diligently to provide cocoa farmers with a fair living wage. Knowing that the chocolate they enjoyed was free from economic inequities made the experience even sweeter. The tour guides at the Zotter Chocolate Theatre were exceptionally knowledgeable, emphasising the importance of fair compensation for farmers and highlighting the organic, Fair-Trade practices championed by Zotter.

Overall, it was an enriching and delightful educational journey that combined learning and enjoyment in a suitable environment.

Grade 3: Exploring Traffic and Transportation

Prepare yourself for an adventure through time, learning how transportation has changed – the Grade 3 students returned from their field trip to the Shanghai Auto Museum! This was an exploration through time travel, discovering how modes of transportation have changed over the years. The learners immersed themselves through decades of automotive history, learning about each type of transportation as they imagined themselves using the vehicles to get to and from school. The learners got to think about the benefit of each mode of transportation for themselves, their local communities, and also on a global scale.

The Shanghai Auto Museum showcases a wide range of transportation: past, present and future. The learners explored the development of transportation and were given the chance to think of how transportation will evolve in the future. The field trip was full of fun and laughter but also plenty of deep and creative thinking about the future of both technology and transportation. Our students are the next generation of thinkers, engineers, and policymakers who will shape the future of transportation locally and globally. It is important for them to experience and understand how transportation and road rules have changed over time and where they are heading in the years to come.

Our school vision is “SUIS Qingpu: The future of education, in service to the world.” Our learners represent the future of this world – this is why it was critical for them to dive deep into the past, present and future of transportation, which they did with great success!

Grade 5 – Transportation, Technology and the Future

Over the past few weeks, Grade 5 students have been studying “The World of Work” in the classroom, and on Friday, 25 October, they had a chance to put their skills learned in the classroom into action by exploring in a new environment at the Shanghai Auto Museum.

Upon arrival at the Shanghai Auto Museum, our students were greeted by a team of friendly guides who helped the students reinforce their learning about technology. They took the students to three pavilions: the History Pavilion, the Collection Pavilion, and the Technology Pavilion. Students had the opportunity to ask questions while exploring automobiles that demonstrate over one hundred years of technological development.

One of the highlights of the tour was the EV-AI Future Mobility Park, where we explored how technology may replace certain jobs in the future. The students were amazed by the technology used in the post office to stamp letters, as well as the charging stations for electric cars.

Overall, it was an unforgettable trip filled with exciting moments and fascinating facts. Based on the worksheets the students completed during the trip, we are confident that they can now answer the Big Questions such as, “How has technology changed people’s lives over the years?” and “Will technology take over our future?”

External education opportunities form a key part of the Learning Journey here at SUIS Qingpu, and we are glad to see the positive impact of these curriculum-enhancing Field Trips have on our students. Jia you!

SUIS Qingpu Global Perspectives Team