inquiring minds pyp home ib unit...

Inquiring Minds

PYP Home

IB Unit Overview

Transdisciplinary Theme: How We Organize Ourselves An inquiry into the interconnectedness 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.

Central Idea Organizations are created to provide services.

Grade: First

Date: December 2016/January 2017 Unit of Inquiry: World Organizations

AnimalAnimalCommunities

Key Concepts Responsibility: Why should we care about other’s needs? Do I have a civic duty to help local organizations? Connection: How are organizations connected to natural disasters? How do organizations reach the people they need to help? Causation: Why are some people’s basic needs not being met? Why are certain organizations more successful?

Lines of Inquiry

Reasons human needs are not met Organizations that provide support Personal/communal responsibility

Colorado State Standards Social Studies: Standard 2: Geography

2. People in communities manage, modify, and depend, on their environment

Social Studies: Standard 3: Economics 1. The scarcity of resources affects the choices of

individuals and communities 2. Apply decision-making processes to financial

goals

Social Studies: Standard 4: Civics 1. Responsible community members advocate for

their ideas

Science: Standard 3: Earth Systems Science 1. Weather and the changing seasons impact the

environment and organisms such as humans, plants, and other animals.

Related Concepts Networks – How do organizations work together to help

people?

Amenities- Why do some areas have more organizations than others?

At Home Support: When discussing this unit with your child here are some questions you might pose to them.

What are basic human needs?

What is an organization? Vocabulary: organizations, services, cause and effect, civic duty,

scarcity, responsibility, catastrophe, philanthropy Please inform your child’s teacher if your child takes action that is

centered on organizations. Some examples may include: forming

their own organization, joining an existing organization, talking

about and using vocabulary from the unit, teaching a family

member about what they are learning.

Grade: Second

Inquiring Minds

PYP Home

IB Unit Overview

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.

Central Idea The interaction of forces cause change in the motion of objects and can impact our lives.

Grade: First

Date: April 2017

Key Concepts

Form: What is Force? What is motion? What is a simple machine? What are other types of Forces in the Natural world? (Magnets, friction) Function: How are simple machines used to complete work? What motion is needed in order to make a simple machine work? Causation: What causes change(s) in the motion of objects? What are some simple machines of the past? Do we still use them today?

Lines of Inquiry

Types of Forces (Pushes/pulls) Changes in Force; effects on motion How people use forces (Simple machines and their purpose)

Colorado State Standards Science: Standard 1: Physical Science

1. Changes in speed or direction of motion are caused by forces such as pushed and pulls

Reading, Writing, and Communicating: Reading for all Purposes

1. Fluent reading depends on specific skills and approaches to understanding strategies when reading informational texts

Reading, Writing, and Communicating: Research and Reasoning

1. Reference materials help us locate information and answer questions

2. Questions are essential to analyze and evaluate the quality of thinking

Related Concepts Forces – What forces are at work when you try to push

your chair across the floor? How do you measure force?

Motion- How is force related to motion?

Variables –What are variables? How do they affect force?


What simple machines do we have around the house? What do they help with?

Could you think of a new simple machine using simple pushes and pulls?

Vocabulary: forces, pushes, pulls, motion, changes in force, variables, friction, applied force, gravity,

Please inform your child’s teacher if your child takes action that is

centered on simple machines. Some examples may include:

building simple machines, using the vocabulary, teaching someone

about what they are learning, researching on their own.

Grade: Second Unit of Inquiry: Forces

Inquiring Minds

PYP Home

IB Unit Overview

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.

Central Idea Effective communication is necessary to convey feelings and ideas.

Grade: First

Date: August/September 2016 Unit of Inquiry: Communication

Key Concepts Function: Why is communication important? What is the purpose of good communication? What does good communication look like? What do people need to be doing to be good communicators? Perspective: What are the different roles needed for communication? Reflection: How do we know that the listener understood the speaker? How do we know that the speaker clearly communicated their ideas?

Lines of Inquiry

Relationship between participants (Listening, questioning)

Mechanics of writing

Presentation skills

Colorado State Standards Social Studies: Standard 4: Civics

1. Responsible community members advocate for their ideas.

Reading, Writing, and Communicating: Standard 1: Oral Expression and Listening

1. Discussions contribute and expand on the ideas of self and others

2. New information can be learned and better dialogue created by listening actively

Reading, Writing, and Communicating: Writing and Composition

1. Exploring the writing process helps plan and draft a variety of literary genres

Related Concepts Communication: Do people learn more by talking or

listening? Why? What is the most important thing to do to ensure people understand a presentation?


Why is it important to use precise vocabulary in communication?

Why is it important to writers to know who will be reading their work?

Vocabulary: communication, listening, writing process, effective Please inform your child’s teacher if your child takes action that is

centered on communication. Some examples may include: wanting

to do more writing, talking about and using vocabulary from the

unit, teaching a family member about what it looks and sounds like

to be an effective communicator.

Grade: Second

Inquiring Minds

PYP Home

IB Unit Overview

Transdisciplinary Theme: 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

interconnectedness of individuals and civilizations, from local and global perspectives.

Central Idea People and events change an area over time.

Grade: First

Date: February / March 2017 Unit of Inquiry: History

Key Concepts Change: What events caused our town to change? How has the town changed? Do communities or neighborhoods continue to change/will they still change? Causation: How have people altered their community? How did people influence the area? How do people continue to influence their area? What developments have affected day to day life in the area? Reflection: What can we learn from studying our area’s past? What are good sources of historical information? What are different tools that can help us learn about our area?

Lines of Inquiry

Community development over time

Impact of events and culture

Tools historians use

Colorado State Standards Social Studies: Standard 1: History

1. Identify historical sources and utilize the tools of a historian.

2. People have influenced the history of neighborhoods and communities.

Social Studies: Standard 2: Geography 1. Geographic terms and tools are used to

describe space and place 2. People in communities manage, modify and

depend on their environment



Related Concepts History – What kinds of tools and sources do historical

thinkers use to investigate the past?

Chronology- How can putting events in order by time help describe the past?


Why do we use geographical tools such as maps, globes, grids, symbols, and keys?

How have events and ideas from the past shaped the identity of Evergreen or Denver, Colorado?

Vocabulary: historian, chronology, artifacts, Please inform your child’s teacher if your child takes action that is

centered on the history of Evergreen or Denver. Some examples

may include: wanting to do more research about our town or state,

talking about and using vocabulary from the unit, teaching a family

member about what they are learning.

Grade: Second

Inquiring Minds

PYP Home

IB Unit Overview

Transdisciplinary Theme: Who we Are An inquiry into the nature of self; beliefs and values; personal, physical, mental, societal and

spiritual health; human relationships including families, friends, communities, and cultures;

rights and responsibilities; what it means to be human.

Central Idea People take risks to create change in the world.

Grade: First

Date: January/February 2017 Unit of Inquiry: Risk

Key Concepts

Reflective: How do I know I am growing and becoming more confident? What things can I do to show what I am curious about? Perspective: How can we understand more about risk-takers and why they have made the choices that they did? How do we know that some risks are ok to take and others are not? Causation: Why are many successful people risk-takers? What qualities do they have that have propelled them this far?

Lines of Inquiry

Attributes of risk takers Types of risk taking Risk takers of the past, present, and future, both local and global Evaluating risk taking

Colorado State Standards Social Studies: Standard 4: Civics

1. Responsible community members advocate for their ideas

2. People use multiple ways to resolve conflicts or differences

Reading, Writing, and Communicating: Oral Expression and Listening

1. Discussions contribute and expand on the ideas of self and others



Related Concepts Character – How does being a risk taker build my personal

character?

Resilience- How can I become more resilient? What steps can I take?


What would you do to create change in the world?

What successful person do you admire? Why? What character traits do they possess that help them succeed?

Vocabulary: risk-taker, confidence, resilience, character traits, perseverance,


centered on risk taking. Some examples may include: trying

something they have never tried before, talking about and using

vocabulary from the unit, teaching a family member about what

they are learning.

Grade: Second

Inquiring Minds

PYP Home

IB Unit Overview

Transdisciplinary Theme: 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 relationships within and between them; access to equal opportunities; peace and conflict resolution.

Central Idea Animals are classified according to distinct characteristics and must adapt in order to survive.

Grade: First

Date: October / November 2016 Unit of Inquiry: Animal Kingdoms

AnimalAnimalCommunities

Key Concepts

Function: How do animal adaptations work to help animals survive? Connection: What connections do animals have in nature? How are kingdoms alike and different? Form: What are the characteristics of each kingdom?

Lines of Inquiry

Components of a healthy habitat Classification of species Weather influence on migration

Colorado State Standards Science: Standard 2: Life Science

1. Organisms depend on their habitat’s nonliving parts to satisfy their needs.

2. Each plant or animal has different structures or behaviors that serve different functions.

Science: Standard 3: Earth Systems Science 1. Weather and the changing seasons impact the

environment and organisms such as humans, plants, and other animals.

Social Studies: Standard 2: Geography 1. Geographic terms and tools are used to

describe space and place. Reading, Writing, Communicating: Standard 2: Reading for all Purposes

1. Fluent Reading depends on specific skills and approaches to understanding strategies when reading informational texts

Related Concepts Animals – How do animals adapt to their given

environment?

Classification- How do scientists determine how to classify species and why?


Why do you think it is important to learn about animals and their classification?

How does our animal interactions effect the animals in our local environment?

Vocabulary: Classification, Animal Kingdoms, Families, species, habitat, cold-blooded, warm-blooded, camouflage, amphibian,

mammal, reptile, bird, fish, nocturnal, hibernate, migration, vertebrate


centered on animals.

Grade: Second

inquiring minds pyp home ib unit...

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