Transdisciplinary Program of Inquiry

Shaker Heights City School District

Lomond Elementary School – August 28, 2012

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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. /

Where We Are In Place & 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 then interconnectedness 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 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. /

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.
K / Central Idea: Children develop respect and responsibility by learning about themselves and others.
Key Concepts: form, function, responsibility
Related Concepts: relationships, uniqueness, and communication
Lines of Inquiry:
  • Cooperating and communicating with others at home and at school
  • Relationship between diversity and uniqueness
  • Traditions and celebrations
Date : Nov. 12 – Dec. 21 / Central Idea:The environment impacts our homes, shelters, and means of transportation
Key Concepts: perspective, form, function
Related Concepts: basic needs, shelters, locality, journeys
Lines of Inquiry:
  • Places people live
  • Survival is dependent on having universal basic needs met.
  • Impact of surroundings on daily life and how people travel from place to place
Date: Feb. 25 – Mar. 27 / Central Idea: Music is a way to explore and discover cultures, beliefs, feelings and ideas
Key Concepts: perspective, form, and reflection
Related Concepts: interpretation, feelings, and beliefs
Lines of Inquiry:
  • Objects and materials can be made to vibrate to produce sound
  • The purpose of music
  • Beliefs, culture, feelings, emotions and ideas
Date: Oct. 8 – Nov. 9 / Central Idea:Observation, exploration, and investigation help us understand the natural world.
Key Concepts: change, form, causation
Related Concepts: characteristics, properties, seasons
Lines of Inquiry:
  • Physical and behavioral characteristics of living things
  • Scientific investigations
  • Weather changes
Date: April 8 – May 17 / Central Idea: A community cooperates to meet the needs of its people.
Key Concepts: perspective, connection, function
Related Concepts: responsibilities, community, roles
Lines of Inquiry:
  • The needs of a community
  • Different groups of people that make up a community.
  • The ways groups of people work together in a community
Date: Sept. 4 – Oct. 5 / Central Idea:People make a difference when solving problems and conflicts.
Key Concepts: perspective, responsibility, form
Related Concepts: behavior, communication, initiative
Lines of Inquiry:
  • Cooperation, collaboration, and respect
  • Peaceful solutions to problems and conflict
  • Ways to make a difference
Date: Jan. 7 – Feb. 8
1st / Central Idea: People develop relationships and identify roles within family, friend, and community groups.
Key Concepts: causation, function, responsibility
Related Concepts:
Families, communication and citizenship
Lines of Inquiry:
  • types of families and communities
  • the PYP action cycle (reflect, act, choose)
  • ways people communicate and interact with others
Date: Aug.29 – Oct. 9 / Central Idea: Children can understand their place in the world by learning about other locations and times
Key Concepts: form, change, perspective
Related Concepts: interpretation, observation, composition
Lines of Inquiry:
  • maps and globes
  • impact of geographical location
  • changes over time
Date: Jan. 14 – Feb. 15 / Central Idea: Art, music, and literature help us to be creative and reflective.
Key Concepts: form, perspective, reflection
Related Concepts: interpretation, observation, composition
Lines of Inquiry:
  • ways to extend, enjoy, and reflect on our creativity
  • relationship between feelings and artistic expression
  • understanding and appreciating different forms of creativity
Date: Oct. 15 – Nov. 20 / Central Idea: Energy can change from one form to another and can be used in different ways.
Key Concepts: connection, change, form
Related Concepts: conservation, transformation, food chain
Lines of Inquiry:
  • forms and sources of energy
  • renewable and sustainable energy
  • transformation of energy
  • conservation of energy
Date: Feb. 27 – Mar. 22 / Central Idea: People make choices based on needsand wants.
Key Concepts: connection, function, responsibility
Related Concepts: systems, interdependence, choices
Lines of Inquiry:
  • connection between wants and needs
  • bartering and using money
  • making responsible economical choices
  • the wants and needs of people, locally, nationally, and globally
Date: Nov. 26 – Jan. 11 / Central Idea: The choices we make impact limited resources.
Key Concepts: causation, change, connection
Related Concepts: responsibility, interdependence, resources
Lines of Inquiry:
  • reduce, reuse and recycle
  • limited nature of resources
  • behaviors that foster conservation
Date: April 8 – May 3
2nd / Central Idea: People’s roles and responsibilities contribute to building community.
Key Concepts: connection, function, responsibility
Related Concepts: citizenship, rights, systems
Lines of Inquiry:
  • Rights and responsibilities of citizens
  • The U.S. Constitution
  • Making choices and taking action
Date: Aug. 27 – Oct. 2 / Central Idea: Monuments and memorials serve as expressions of culture.
Key Concepts: form, perspective, reflection
Related Concepts: heritage, geography, diversity, and structure
Lines of Inquiry:
  • Types and structures of significant monuments/memorials
  • Reasons for the locations of monuments/memorials locally and globally
  • Awareness of cultural practices and products
Date: Feb. 19– April 17 / Central Idea: People communicate and respond through the arts.
Key Concepts: perspective, function, responsibility
Related Concepts: reflective, communication, audience
Lines of Inquiry:
  • One’s personal response to the arts
  • The way we communicate through the arts
  • Various artists and art forms
Date: Oct. 3 – Nov. 16 / Central Idea: Scientific principles are reliable and used to make predictions.
Key Concepts: reflection, change, causation
Related Concepts:
systems, equilibrium, impact
Lines of Inquiry:
  • Forces
  • Properties of the atmosphere
  • Using scientific principles to make predictions
Date: Jan. 17 – Feb. 15 / Central Idea: The economic activities humans choose impact the environment in which we live.
Key Concepts: perspective, causation, connection
Related Concepts: consequences, networks, interdependency
Lines of Inquiry:
  • Supply and demand (Production, distribution, and consumption)
  • Consequences of economic activities
  • Decisions based on data
Date: April 18 – May 31 / Central Idea: Organisms survive in environments that meet their needs.
Key Concepts: causation, form, connection
Related Concepts
Interdependence, survival, ecosystem
Lines of Inquiry
  • The basic needs within an ecosystem
  • The characteristics of various habitats
  • The interdependence of organisms
Date: Nov. 19 – Dec. 21
3rd / Central Idea: Humans question and interpret evidence through investigation
Key Concepts: function, change, reflection
Related Concepts: evidence, investigation, interpretation
Lines of Inquiry:
  • posing and solving problems.
  • the scientific method.
  • the characteristics and contributions of scientists/inventors
Date: Nov. 26 – Dec. 21 / Central Idea: Cultures and communities change over time.
Key Concepts:: form, perspective, reflection
Related Concepts: relationships, identity, culture
Lines of Inquiry:
  • the diversity of communities.
  • causes for change within communities and cultures.
  • the impact of geographical location on communities.
  • the uniqueness of different cultures.
Date: April 29 – June 7 / Central Idea: Authors express values through the structure of story.
Key Concepts: perspective, form, causation
Related Concepts: values, pattern, conflict
Lines of Inquiry:
  • authors purpose
  • story elements and patterns
  • literature from different cultures
Date: Oct. 8 – Nov. 20 / Central Idea: Natural and human events cause changes on planet earth.
Key Concepts: change, form, causation
Related Concepts: transformation, structure, evidence
Lines of Inquiry:
  • Properties of rocks and soil.
  • Weathering and erosion.
  • Natural disasters.
  • Effect of human actions.
Date: Jan. 14 – Feb. 20 / Central Idea: People create organizations to meet the needs of a community.
Key Concepts: function, responsibility, connection
Related Concepts:
systems, government, participation
Lines of Inquiry:
  • Community organizations
  • Organizational structures
  • Power and authority – locally, nationally, and globally
  • Civic responsibility
Date: Sept. 4 – Oct. 5 / Central Idea: Living things may adapt to changes in the environment in order to survive.
Key Concepts: causation, change, responsibility
Related Concepts: adaptation, cycles, living things
Lines of Inquiry:
  • The types of cycles.
  • Adaptations living things have made in order to survive.
  • The impact of environmental change on living things.
Date: Feb. 25 – Mar. 27
4th / Central Idea: People develop their identities through their choices and their relationships.
Key Concepts: perspective, reflection, responsibility
Related Concepts: choice, identity, change
Lines of Inquiry:
  • Rights and responsibilities within the learning community
  • How choices and relationships define one’s own identity
  • Diversity of people and the uniqueness of identity
Date: Aug. 27 – Oct. 5 / Central Idea: People take risks when they face challenges and explore opportunities.
Key Concepts: Form, perspective, causation
Related Concepts:
Migration, discovery, chronology
Lines of Inquiry:
  • The development of local settlement groups
  • Impact of migration on communities and cultures.
  • Impact of migration on individuals
Date: Nov. 12 – Dec. 21 / Central Idea: People use the arts to express personal, social and cultural perspectives.
Key Concepts: perspective, reflection, form
Related Concepts: interpretation, communication, self-expression
Lines of Inquiry:
  • Self-expression through the arts
  • Genres of written expression, such as fables, folk tales and poetry
  • Customs, traditions, and artifacts of other cultures
Date: Jan. 7 – Feb. 15 / Central Idea: Human societies interact with the natural world and earth processes.
Key Concepts: function, causation, change
Related Concepts: : choice, structure, evidence
Lines of Inquiry:
  • Landforms and changes to the earth’s surface
  • Impact of human actions on the natural world
  • How landforms and natural resources affect human activities
  • Fossils
Date: Feb. 19 – March 27 / Central Idea: People create organized systems to govern themselves and resolve conflicts.
Key Concepts: Function, responsibility, change
Related Concepts:
systems, citizenship, conflict
Lines of Inquiry:
  • Systems of government
  • The role of a citizen to the community
  • Conflict resolution within communities
Date: Oct. 8 – Nov. 9 / Central Idea: Interdependence exists between natural resources and living things.
Key Conceptsresponsibility, reflection, connection
Related Concepts: interdependence, behavior, resources
Lines of Inquiry:
  • Distribution and use of resources
  • Rights, responsibilities, and respect for the environment
  • Impact of humans on the environment
EXHIBITION