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Program of Inquiry

 

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 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.

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:

 We are unique individuals with similarities and differences.

Key Concepts: Form, Connection, Perspective

Lines of Inquiry:

  • Uniqueness
  • My physical characteristics
  • My feelings-likes and dislikes

Central Idea:

Individuals come from various backgrounds that create diversity.

Key Concepts: Form, Perspective, Connection

Lines of Inquiry:

  • Ways to learn about our backgrounds
  • Personal history
  • Cultural diversity

Central Idea:

Stories are universal forms of communication.

Key Concepts: Form, Function, Connection

Lines of Inquiry:

  • Story elements
  • Purposes of stories
  • How stories make us feel

Central Idea:

The world is influenced by forces and motion.

Key Concepts: Function, Causation, Change

Lines of Inquiry:

  • Force
  • Magnetism
  • Motion 

Central Idea:

The school is a place where people work together in order to learn.

Key Concepts: Form, Connection, Responsibility

Lines of Inquiry:

  • Jobs people have in a school
  • Interconnectedness of jobs within a school

Central Idea:

The sunlight’s energy affects the earth’s surface.

Key Concepts: Function, Connection, Responsibility

Lines of Inquiry:

  • Sunlight warms earth’s surface
  • The sun’s energy affects weather patterns

1

Central Idea:

A balance between nutrition, physical activity and emotional intelligence contributes to human health when we make informed choices.

Key Concepts: Change, Connection, Responsibility

Lines of Inquiry:

  • Healthy and balanced life styles
  • Nutrition
  • Behavior that is harmful and helpful to your health
  • Developing emotional intelligence

Central Idea:

Homes are built for different reasons in a variety of places.

Key Concepts: Form, Function, Connection

Lines of Inquiry:

  • Types of different building materials for homes in our region
  • Features and design of  homes from other areas
  • Reasons homes are made from different materials, and designed in different ways

Central Idea:

People communicate their ideas through various art forms.

Key Concepts: Form, Function, Perspective

Lines of Inquiry:

  • Self expression
  • Various art forms (music, dance, painting, photography, creative writing)

Central Idea:

Organisms have tools for survival.

Key Concepts: Form, Causation, Change

Lines of Inquiry:

  • Biomimicry
  • Structures of living things 
  • Patterns and behaviors of parents and their offspring
  • Case Study:
  • Insects, plants, mammals (heredity and traits)

Central Idea:

Light and sound systems help humans communicate and organize systems that are a part of everyday life.

Key Concepts: Form, Function, Perspective

Lines of Inquiry:

  • Communication forms
  • Sound and light waves
  • Impact of light and sound inventions on human-made systems

Central Idea:

Patterns in the universe affect the way people live.

Key Concepts: Causation, Change, Function

Lines of Inquiry:

  • Earth’s orbital rotation around the sun
  • Seasonal weather patterns
  • Decisions people make that are dependent upon predictable patterns

2

Central Idea:

A community is a group of people with shared responsibilities working together toward a common purpose.

Key Concepts: Function, Responsibility, Change

Lines of Inquiry:

  • Communities
  • Responsibilities of community members
  • Interconnectedness of community members

Central Idea:

Peace results from accepting that there are diverse perspectives and managing conflict.

Key Concepts: Responsibility, Perspective

Lines of Inquiry:

  • Acceptance of diverse perspectives
  • Conflict resolution
  • Global figures who help(ed) manage conflicts

Central Idea:

Developing international-mindedness contributes to the understanding and expression of a person’s values and beliefs.

Key Concepts: Responsibility, Perspective, Connection

Lines of Inquiry:

  • IB learner profile
  • Responsibilities that go beyond academic (school) environment
  • How personal experience shapes perspective

Central Idea:

Matter has different characteristics. 

Key Concepts: Form, Function, Change

Lines of Inquiry:

  • Properties of objects
  • Solids, liquids, gasses
  • Chemical and physical changes

Central Idea:

The geography and climate of an area influences the population and daily life of a region.

Key Concepts: Form, Connection, Causation

Lines of Inquiry:

  • Geographical Features
  • Native resources
  • Case Study
  • Regions of the US
  • Work and products in/from particular regions

Living Together

Central Idea:

 Living things are interdependent and rely on the earth’s natural resources.

Key Concepts: Function, Responsibility, Connection

Lines of Inquiry:

  • Natural resources
  • Basic needs of living things
  • Interdependence
  • Conservation and preservation
 

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 time and place

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.

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.

3

Central Idea:

Increasing self-awareness enhances our ability to learn about other’s perspectives and communicate our own.

Key Concepts: Form, Responsibility, Connection 

 

Lines of Inquiry:

  • Social interactions
  • The role of an active learner
  • Individual rights and responsibilities 

Central Idea:

People immigrate for a variety of reasons.

Key Concepts: Causation, Connection, Perspective

Lines of Inquiry:

  • Causes of immigration
  • Effects of immigration 
  • Patterns of immigration

Central Idea:

Cultures tell stories as a way of passing beliefs, traditions and history to future generations.

Key Concepts: Connection, Perspective, Responsibility

Lines of Inquiry:

  • Native cultures
  • Commonalities in folk tales among various cultures
  • Oral storytelling

Central Idea:

Natural forces are constantly transforming the surface of the earth.

Key Concepts: Form, Change, Causation

Lines of Inquiry:

  • landforms
  • internal and external forces that transform the earth’s surface
  • properties of earth’s materials

Central Idea:

Humans have developed systems to organize and support themselves. 

Key Concepts: Function, Connection, Perspective

Lines of Inquiry:

  • organizations of systems
  • Systems needed to support a community (ie. schools, agriculture, transportation, housing, culture, government)
  • Functions of systems and how they are interrelated

Central Idea:

A cause and effect relationship exists between humans and ecosystems.

Key Concepts: Function, Connection, Responsibility

Lines of Inquiry:

  • Ecosystems
  • Plant and animal interaction within an ecosystem
  • Food webs/food chains
  • Human impact on ecosystems
  • Contributions of various ecosystems

4

 

Central Idea:

Inquiry drives innovation and discovery.

Key Concepts: Form, Causation, Responsibility

Lines of Inquiry:

  • Origins of discovery
  • Causes and effects of discoveries
  • Advantages and disadvantages of discoveries

Central Idea:

Human thoughts, ideas and emotions are expressed in a variety of ways.

Key Concepts:  Form, Perspective

Lines of Inquiry:

  • Purposes of expression
  • Interpretations of expression
  • Diverse ways in which humans express themselves, with a focus on poetry

Central Idea:

The world’s oceans and their movements affect the planet.

Key Concepts: Change, Responsibility, Connection

Lines of Inquiry:

  • Ocean geography
  • Waves (water, light, sound)
  • Currents and tides

 

Central Idea:

Groups of people form settlements based on environments.

Key Concepts: Function, Connection, Perspective

Lines of Inquiry:

  • natural history of an area
  • reasons why settlements arise
  • interactions within and between settlements
  • Case Study: Connecticut

Central Idea:

Energy is a resource in infinite demand.  

Key Concepts: Function, Change, Responsibility

Lines of Inquiry:

  • Generating energy
  • Magnetic energy
  • Renewable/nonrenewable sources of energy
  • Preservation and conservation