Other Units of Inquiry

Unit of Inquiry #1 (Year-Long Unit)

Transdisciplinary Theme: Who We Are
An inquiry into the nature of the self; beliefs and values; personal, physical, mental, social and spiritual health; human relationships including families, friends, communities, and cultures; rights and responsibilities; what it means to be human.

Title: Community Relationships

Central Idea:
Actions and choices people make impact communities.

Lines of Inquiry (and teacher questions):

  • Relationships in different communities
  • Individual and group choices
  • Growing through challenges

Teacher Questions

  • What is a relationship?
  • What kind of relationships do we have?
  • What is a community?
  • What is your responsibility in the community?
  • How do your choices and actions affect relationships?
  • Why might people have different relationships?

Key Concepts:
– Causation
– Change
– Responsibility
(Reflection will occur on an ongoing basis throughout the inquiry.)

 

Unit of Inquiry 2 – Transdisciplinary Theme:
Where We Are in Place and Time
An inquiry into the orientation in place and time; personal histories; homes and journeys; the discoveries, explorations and migrations of humankind; the relationships between and the interconnectedness of individuals and civilizations, from local and global perspectives.

Title: Family Histories

Central Idea:
Family history can connect people to the past, present, and the future.

Lines of Inquiry:

  • Family histories
  • Location in place and time
  • Change over time

Teacher Questions:

  1. What is a family?
  2. What is history?
  3. Where do our families come from?
  4. What places are important to our families?
  5. What changes have happened in our lives?

Key Concepts:

  • Change
  • Connection
  • Perspective

 

Unit of Inquiry 3 – Transdisciplinary Theme:
How the World Works

An inquiry into the natural world and its laws; the interaction between the natural world (physical and biological) and human societies; how humans use their understanding of scientific principles; the impact of scientific and technological advances on society and on the environment.

Title: Nature Inspires

Central idea:
People design and create using observations from nature.

Lines of inquiry:
– Natural elements
– Functions of natural features
– How nature influences design

Teacher Questions:
1. What structures are in nature?
2. How does structure affect function?
3. How do natural structures affect man-made structures?

Key Concepts:
– Form
– Function
– Causation

 

Unit of Inquiry 4 – Transdisciplinary Theme:
How We Express Ourselves

An inquiry into the ways in which we discover and express ideas, feelings, nature, culture, beliefs and values; the ways in which we reflect on, extend and enjoy our creativity, our appreciation of the aesthetic.

Title: Expression

Central idea:
Purposeful storytelling can connect us with others.

Lines of inquiry:

  • Ways of storytelling
  • Purposes of storytelling
  • Connecting through stories

Teacher Questions:

  • What are different ways of telling stories?
  • Why do people tell stories?
  • How do stories connect people to one another?

Key Concepts:

  • form
  • function
  • perspective