Learning Through Inquiry
Transdisciplinary Theme- Who We Are Central Idea- We can do many things by ourselves but we need help with other activities. An inquiry into the nature of self; beliefs and values; personnel, physical, mental, social, and spiritual health; human relationships including families, friends, communities, and cultures, rights and responsibilities; what it means to be human.
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Teacher Questions/Provocations Engage ( probes prior knowledge, identifies misconceptions, provides motivation and interest inducing stimuli, develop thinking & questioning) - What does your fingerprint look like? Do leaves have fingerprints? - What are your likes and dislikes? What are your physical characteristics? -What are our roles and responsibilities in the classroom? -Do you have a shadow? -How big is your hand? How tall are you? - What can you do by yourself? What do you need help with? - Who are your friends? Who is your family? Explore Read aloud about identity, community, responsibilities, roles Exploring Communities. - Discuss rules and regulations (proper hand washing etc) -Discuss with class similarities and differences, Can you identify your hands? Eyes? -Dramatic play area becomes a family home- "La Casa" -Who has a finger print? make fingerprints and handprints -create a classroom covenant- share at aLL school gathering -create a list of responsibilities, jobs for the classroom, things I can do independently and things I need help with Explain Create classroom books about characteristics of a human Reflect and share with peers. - What can you do? What did you notice?- label drawings and/or share a story * What kind of friend do I want? - Did you notice similarities, differences? -Share classroom covenant with whole school "Wishing Flower" - keep track of height growth and record. Notice change -illustrate and write in journals - create a classroom job chart, display in room, change jobs weekly - display and discuss photos of students being independent and things they need help with -Observe using senses Extend & Reflect Often revisit covenant, lists, charts, photos, books, and journals Provocation- Students discover that someone stole the cookies from our cookie jar. They notice a fingerprint. They begin to investigate who left the fingerprint by comparing fingerprint size of PJS teachers. It was Mr. Anton! His fingerprint size and pattern match exactly. Some students feel bad about Mr. Anton getting caught. They write a note to him saying, "It's Okay. You can have some more." More questions are emerging. Do we have feet prints? Do leaves have fingerprints? (collect and observe) Do other animals have prints? Learning Through Landscapes- Change is the concept. Students will observe the life cycle of a butterfly and discuss migration. The will observe, predict, and record. Art- Responsibility is the concept. Students will learn how to be a responsible citizen in the art room. They will use tools, set up, clean, and pace themselves. Matisse and Goldsworthy are the featured artists. They will explore line, shape, and color. Performing Arts Program- Perspective, Identity, and Independence are the concepts. Students will explore role playing with roles and responsibilities in a community. They will share and express themselves song and dance. Spanish- Reflection and form are the concepts. Students will use illustrations to explain. They will express how they feel through language and pictures. Physical Education- Perspective is the concept. Students will help each other as they move their bodies. They will practice listening, moving, starting, and stopping. Science- Students will observe using their senses. They will observe fingerprints, leaves (fall items), rocks, pumpkins, potatoes. They will do a demonstration using leaves and alcohol to see what happens when we "take the green out" of a leaf. |
Math Skills Compare size,shape, & color Measuring height with nonstandard units (string) Find patterns, draw shapes Survey and interpret data Graph results Number sense Ordinal numbers Counting mapping problem solving using math |
Literary Skills
Word web about prior knowledge that will be revisited throughout the year. Share experiences from home Share and listen to books, songs, poems Students illustrate and label, write a story Phonetic awareness Concept of print Making connections to their own experiences when listening to stories. Discuss Listen Ask questions practice writing names and labeling illustrations |