Units of Inquiry
Integrated learning occurs through six Units of Inquiry. These units integrate
subject knowledge across the main curriculum areas of Languages;
Mathematics; Social Studies; Science
and Technology; The Arts;
Personal, Physical And Social Education (PSPE). Every year children
in each Grade inquire into a unit from each of these six PYP
Transdisciplinary Themes:
| 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 organise 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. |
Each Unit of Inquiry:
- Is a significant, relevant and challenging learning experience.
- Involves students in a range of learning activities.
- Requires students to engage in positive action.
- Integrates diverse subject areas whenever meaningful and appropriate.
What does inquiry look like?
Inquiry, interpreted in the broadest sense, is the process initiated by the students or the teacher that moves the students from their current level of understanding to a new and deeper level of understanding. This can mean:
- exploring, wondering and questioning
- experimenting and playing with possibilities
- making connections between previous learning and current learning
- making predictions and acting purposefully to see what happens
- collecting data and reporting findings
- clarifying existing ideas and reappraising perceptions of events
- deepening understanding through the application of a concept
- making and testing theories
- researching and seeking information
- taking and defending a position
- solving problems in a variety of ways