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:
- What is a family?
- What is history?
- Where do our families come from?
- What places are important to our families?
- 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