At St. Michael’s, we believe that challenge and choice are powerful tools in shaping confident, independent learners. During their recent IPC unit Go with the Flow, our Year 5 students were set an exciting challenge: to research, collaborate, and construct a labelled model of a river system in under one hour.

The learning task demanded teamwork, time management, and a solid understanding of river features—but the approach was entirely their choice. Learners selected their own materials, planned their own strategies, and decided how best to represent their knowledge. The activity concluded with a reflective gallery walk, where each group explained their models, evaluated their process, and considered what they might do differently next time.

Opportunities like this highlight the richness of learning at St. Michael’s, where learners are empowered to take ownership of their education through meaningful, hands-on experiences.