Who we are
An inquiry into the nature of 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.
Where we are in place and time
An inquiry into orientation in place and time; personal histories; homes and journeys; the discoveries, explorations and migrations of humankind; the relationships between and the inter-connectedness of individuals and civilizations, from local and global perspectives.
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.
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.
How we organize ourselves
An inquiry into the inter-connectedness of human made systems and communities; the structure and function of organizations; societal decision making; economic activities and their impact on humankind and the environment.
Sharing the planet
An inquiry into rights and responsibilities in the struggle to share finite resources with other people and with other living things; communities and the relationship within and between them; access to equal opportunities; peace and conflict resolution.
Kinder
Ages 5 - 6
Central Idea:
Being knowledgeable about each other and our school helps us to be caring.
An inquiry into:
How we are the same and different, how our actions and words make others feel, and our responsibilities inside our community
Key Concepts: Connection, function, responsibility
Related concepts: Community
Central Idea:
Certain people are honored over time for their responsible actions.
An inquiry into:
Characteristics of a hero, how we can make good choices to imitate heros, and how people over time fulfill their responsibilities as global citizens
Key Concepts:
Cause, reflection
Related Concepts:
Values, decision-making
Central idea:
Artists use patterns to express themselves.
An inquiry into:
The exploration of different fabrics and their properties, how we use patterns in our daily lives, and artistic expression through patterns
Key Concepts:
Function, form, connection
Related Concepts: Patterns, culture
Central Idea:
Through observation scientists make connections and see changes between living things.
An inquiry into:
Characteristics of a tree, why and how trees change throughout the seasons, and connections between trees and human beings
Key Concepts:
Form, change, connection
Related concepts:
Seasons
Central Idea:
People serve their community through their work.
An inquiry into:
Types of job responsibilities, ways people serve their community, and how the jobs we do affect the community
Key Concepts:
Responsibility, connection, function
Related concepts:
Community, service
Central Idea:
Survival relies on a balanced relationship between living things.
An inquiry into:
Animal characteristics and cycles, what animals need to survive, what the community can do to protect animals and their homes/habitat
Key Concepts:
Responsibility, function, causation
Related concepts:
Habitats, survival
First Grade
Ages 6 - 7
Central Idea:
Making well balanced decisions will allow us to have healthy lives.
An inquiry into:
Healthy habits, well balanced choices, conflict resolution
Key Concepts:
Reflection, responsibility, causation
Related concepts:
Physical, mental and social health
Central Idea:
Families are influenced by their past, but continue to change.
An inquiry into:
Our family history, how families are different or similar over time, ways we can find out about our ancestors’ history
Key Concepts:
Change, connection, perspective
Related concepts:
History, chronology, family
Central Idea:
Culture is a reflection of people's’ beliefs and values.
An inquiry into:
What is culture, how culture is expressed, cultural values and traditions
Key Concepts:
Form, connection, perspective
Related concepts:
Identity, traditions
Central Idea:
The Earth provides materials that help meet human needs.
An inquiry into:
Earth materials, how earth materials are used by humans, the engineering design process
Key Concepts:
Function, form, connection
Related concepts:
Shelter, geology
Central Idea:
Collaboration helps reach goals that benefit a community.
An inquiry into:
Roles and values of a community, responsibilities and rights in a community, individual and group decision making
Key Concepts:
Responsibility, connection, reflection
Related concepts:
Decision-making, collaboration
Central Idea:
Animals survive in a forest according to their survival skills, adaption to change and protection of their habitats.
An inquiry into:
Survival skills, how animals adapt to change, the protection of animal habitats in a forest
Key Concepts:
Change, function, form
Related concepts:
Inter-dependence, survival
Second Grade
Ages 7 - 8
Central Idea:
Making friends and the ability to cooperate affect the well-being of the individual and the community
An inquiry into:
Characteristics of a healthy friendship, ways to work well in a group, cause and effect of decision making
Key Concepts:
Reflection, connection, perspective
Related concepts:
Cooperation, friendship
Central Idea:
Humans orient themselves through the use of maps.
An inquiry into:
The functions of different maps, parts of a map, changes in orientation technology over time
Key Concepts:
Function, form, change
Related concepts:
Geography, measurement
Central Idea:
Engineers and scientists structure their inquiries through systems to understand and better the world.
An inquiry into:
The scientific method, the engineering design process, the many ways objects move
Key Concepts:
Form, causation, reflection
Related concepts:
Structure, system, inquiry
Central Idea:
The biology of plants sustains the life of humans and other living things.
An inquiry into:
How plants grow and propagate, inter-dependence of living things. comparing and contrasting physical characteristics of plants
Key Concepts:
Function, connection, form
Related concepts:
Plants, biology
Central Idea:
The economic choices that we make as individuals impact us and others and the environment.
An inquiry into:
Wants and needs, how our choices affect others and our environment, people value goods and services differently based on their perspective
Key Concepts:
Responsibility, perspective, causation
Related concepts:
Sustainability, scarcity, consumption
Central Idea:
People and societies adapt to the weather and climate where they live.
An inquiry into:
Causes weather and climate, human adaptation to weather and climate, positive and negative effects of weather
Key Concepts:
Causation, connection, change
Related concepts:
Adaptation, climate change, weather
Third Grade
Ages 8 - 9
Central Idea:
Folklore reflects cultural beliefs and values.
An inquiry into:
Types of folklore – fairy tales, fables, myths, legends, how folklore connects across cultures, how cultural beliefs and values are reflected in folklore
Key Concepts:
Connection, perspective, reflection
Related concepts:
Interpretation, the creative process
Central Idea:
Civilizations change over time and contribute to the development of the modern world.
An inquiry into:
How civilizations change over time, inventions of the ancient world, connections between ancient & modern civilizations
Key Concepts:
Change, connection, reflection
Related concepts:
Chronology, civilizations, innovation
Central Idea:
People use various forms of technology to communicate their ideas.
An inquiry into:
What is technology, means of communication, how technology is used to improve communication
Key Concepts:
Form, connection, perspective
Related concepts:
Communication, technology
Central Idea:
The solar system has various components that interconnect with life on Earth.
An inquiry into:
The components of the solar system, movement of the solar system and how it affects life on Earth, human perspectives and stories about the solar system
Key Concepts:
Form, causation, perspective
Related concepts:
Geography, seasons, space
Central Idea:
Communities are structured to meet the needs of its members.
An inquiry into:
The characteristics and structure of a community, how the needs of the members of a community are or are not met, how communities around the world are connected to one another
Key Concepts:
Function, responsibility, connection
Related concepts:
Citizenship, rights, roles
Central Idea:
Organisms have structures and characteristics that allow them to grow, survive and adapt to their surroundings.
An inquiry into:
Characteristics of organisms, effects of humans on other organisms, how organisms adapt to their habitat
Key Concepts:
Form, change, causation
Related concepts:
Adaptation, habitat, heredity
Fourth Grade
Ages 9 - 10
Central Idea:
Regions of a country form their identity through their culture and geography.
An inquiry into:
Similarities and differences between regions, cultural characteristics of regions, mapping skills
Key Concepts:
Form, function, causation
Related concepts:
Geography, culture, identity
Central Idea:
Personal stories and historical events help teach us about the present and the past.
An inquiry into:
The process of historical inquiry, chronology of historical, events and people, personal histories of people from the past.
Key Concepts:
Connection, form, cause
Related concepts:
History, chronology
Central Idea:
Art is a form of communication that allows us to transmit and express ideas, feelings and concepts.
An inquiry into:
Visual and performing arts, cultural perspectives in art, self reflection through the writing process
Key Concepts:
Perspective, reflection, form
Related concepts:
Genres, communication, self expression
Central Idea:
Exploring scientific principles helps us understand how the world works.
An inquiry into:
Scientific principles of electricity, scientific principles of magnetism, ways technology affects systems
Key Concepts:
Function, causation, form
Related concepts:
Magnetism, electricity
Central Idea:
People and organizations make informed economic decisions after identifying goals and evaluating opportunities.
An inquiry into:
The decision making process, steps in starting a business, global interaction and trade of buyers and sellers
Key Concepts:
Function, connection, form
Related concepts:
Decision making, commerce
Central Idea:
Water is a natural resource that needs to be conserved.
An inquiry into:
The various forms that water takes, the distribution and usage of water around the world, our responsibility in conserving water
Key Concepts:
Form, change, responsibility
Related concepts:
Conservation, stewardship
Fifth Grade
Ages 10 - 11
Central Idea:
Democratic government depends on the participation of its citizens in order to protect human rights.
An inquiry into:
Characteristics of a democracy, functions of a democracy, responsibilities of civic participation
Key Concepts:
Form, function, responsibility
Related concepts:
Human rights, civic participation, democracy
Central Idea:
The reasons people explore and conquer may be different, but both contribute to cultural and political change.
An inquiry into:
Cultural and political life before and after a conquest, possible motives between exploration and conquest, intercultural perspectives
Key Concepts:
Change, cause, perspective
Related concepts:
Exploration, settlement
Central Idea:
Self-expression is a way of understanding yourself as well as connecting with others.
An inquiry into:
How visual arts connect to the written word, different forms of expression self reflection
Key Concepts:
Connection, form, reflection
Related concepts:
Voice, live performance
Central Idea:
Curiosity inspires people to look for answers.
An inquiry into:
Scientific questioning, the elements of the scientific method, scientific analysis
Key Concepts:
Reflection, function, cause
Related concepts:
Variables, equilibrium, curiosity
Central Idea:
A leader that unites people can create change that affects how a society functions.
An inquiry into:
The elements that connect revolutions, the vision of a revolution and the fight for change, the perspective of different groups impacted by a revolution.
Key Concepts:
Causation, change, perspective
Related concepts:
Leadership, revolution
Central Idea:
Human interactions with the environment can benefit and harm natural resources
An inquiry into:
Structure of animal and plant survival, the formation of the earth, creative problem solving
Key Concepts:
Responsibility, causation, perspective
Related concepts:
Problem solving, erosion
Sixth Grade
Ages 11 - 12
Central Idea:
Leaders affect their community with their courageous decisions
An inquiry into:
The character of a leader, cause and effects of decision making, the responsibility of authority
Key Concepts:
Reflection, change, responsibility
Related concepts:
Community, leadership
Central Idea:
Human migration is a response to challenges, risks and opportunities.
An inquiry into:
The reasons why people migrate, migration throughout history, effects of migration on communities, cultures and individuals
Key Concepts:
Change, cause, perspective
Related concepts:
Migration
EXHIBITION
Central Idea:
With creativity and knowledge, we can collaborate to solve problems.
An inquiry into:
The role collaboration plays in the engineering design process, creative problem solving, elements as the building blocks that make up everything around us
Key Concepts:
Function, form, reflection
Related concepts:
Innovation, collaboration
Central Idea:
Society makes decisions in an organized way for the good or bad of it's members.
An inquiry into:
Formation of laws, consequences of decision making, problem solving
Key Concepts:
Causation, connection, perspective
Related concepts:
Decision making, government, freedom
Central Idea:
The distribution of wealth can cause conflict and injustice.
An inquiry into:
Economic and other causes of conflict, connecting common elements of war, different perspectives within historical conflict
Key Concepts:
Causation, connection, perspective
Related concepts:
Conflict, justice, distribution