Inquiry in First Grade

Our first graders learn through the lens of six thematic inquiry units throughout their school year.

Inquiry Unit Theme One: How we express ourselves

Central Idea: Family plays an essential role in our beliefs and values.

Sample Guided Inquiry question asked by scholar: I wonder what family life is like in the Bahamas?

Summative assessment: Students create mini book about the family life, beliefs, and values of the country of their interest.  

Key Concepts: Change, Perspective, Form, Responsibility

Subject Focus: Social Studies, Reading, Writing

Learner Profile Traits: Open-Minded, Knowledgeable

ATL Skills: Viewing (Communication Skill), Writing (Communication Skill), Acquisition of Knowledge (Thinking Skill).

Lines of Inquiry:

  • Members of families have different roles.
  • There are common elements that all families share.
  • Families around the world are both similar and different.

Inquiry Unit Theme Two: Where we are in place and time

Central Idea: Exploring and sharing family histories enhances intergenerational connections and leads to the development of international mindedness.

Sample Guided Inquiry question asked by scholar: I wonder how I am similar and different from my ancestors?

Summative assessment: Students create a family tree that shows connections to ancestors and family members then reflect about similarities and differences.

Key Concepts: Change, Causation, Form, Perspective

Subject Focus: Social Studies, Reading, Writing

Learner Profile Traits: Communicator, Thinker, Inquirer, Open-Minded

ATL Skills: Writing (Communication Skill), Acquisition of Knowledge (Thinking Skill).

Lines of Inquiry:

  • Family origin and history can be found in family tree.
  • Keepsakes and customs passed down through generations can be shared.
  • Children have characteristics that are similar and different from their parents.

Inquiry Unit Theme Three: Who we are

Central Idea: People have different ways of meeting their basic needs within a community.

Sample Guided Inquiry question asked by scholar: I wonder how a firefighter’s needs and wants are similar and different from my family’s needs and wants?

Summative assessment: Scholars write a paragraph comparing the needs and wants of a community helper of their choice with their own needs and wants.

Key Concepts: Form, Connection, Perspective

Subject Focus: Social Studies, Reading, Writing

Learner Profile Traits: Caring, Inquirer, Open-minded

ATL Skills: Formulating Questions (Research Skill), Fine Motor (Self-Management Skill), Analysis (Thinking Skill), Writing (Communication Skill)

Lines of Inquiry:

  • Basic needs are met to keep us healthy and safe.
  • Humans meet their basic needs in different ways.
  • Human needs are connected to communities.
  • Different humans have different needs and wants.

Inquiry Unit Theme Four: How the world works

Central Idea: Humans can identify weather patterns in different locations and plan accordingly.

Sample Guided Inquiry question asked by scholar: I wonder why the temperatures change with the seasons?

Summative assessment: Scholars will create an info-graphic poster that shows their data from their observations over a month, a bar graph, conclusions in complete sentences and images they drew and researched to cut and paste.

Key Concepts: Causation, Perspective, Connection

Subject Focus: Science, Reading, Writing, Math

Learner Profile Traits: Knowledgeable, Thinker, Inquirer

ATL Skills: Observing (Research Skill), Presenting (Communication Skill), Synthesis (Thinking Skill)

Lines of Inquiry:

  • Humans can monitor the change of temperature and relate it to the movement of sun.
  • Humans can monitor the length of days and relate it to the change of seasons.
  • Humans can monitor the daily weather and relate it to the change of seasons.\
  • Humans can monitor the position of moon over course of a month.

Inquiry Unit Theme Five: How we organize ourselves

Central Idea: Sound and light interact with objects in ways that often serve humans.

Sample Guided Inquiry question asked by scholar: I wonder how electricity helps keep people connected? OR I wonder how music helps keep people connected?

Summative assessment: TBD (Scholars may create a video detailing their learning).

Key Concepts: Form, Function, Causation

Subject Focus: Science, Music, Reading, Writing

Learner Profile Traits: Communicator, Thinker, Inquirer

ATL Skills: TBD

Lines of Inquiry:

  • Sound comes from vibrating objects.
  • Objects react differently to beams of light.
  • Humans use sound and light devices to communicate.

Inquiry Unit Theme Six: Sharing the planet

Central Idea: Plants and animals have structures and behaviors that help them grow and survive.

Sample Guided Inquiry question asked by scholar: I wonder

Summative assessment: TBD

Key Concepts: Function, Responsibility, Reflection

Subject Focus: Science, Reading, Writing

Learner Profile Traits: Knowledgeable, Risk-Taker, Caring

ATL Skills: TBD

Lines of Inquiry:

  • Learning the structures of plants can help us grow more plants.
  • Humans can observe the changes in plants over time.
  • Humans can categorize organisms based on variations in structure and behavior.
  • Humans can design controlled habitats for living things.  

After Inquiry in First Grade insert page tab titled Inquiry in Second Grade.