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1 | Programme of Inquiry Falls Church City Public Schools (23-24) | |||||||
2 | Grade | Who We Are | Where We Are in Place and Time | How We Express Ourselves | How the World Works | How We Organize Ourselves | Sharing the Planet | |
3 | 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. | 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. | 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. | 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. | 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. | An inquiry into rights and responsibilities in the struggle to share finite resources with other living things; communities and the relationships within and between them; access to equal opportunities; peace and conflict resolution. | ||
4 | Pre-K | Central idea: People in communities build relationships. Key Concepts: Form, Function, Responsibility Related Concepts: relationships, comunities Lines of inquiry: ● Our school community ● Our responsibilities at school ● Building positive relationships | Central Idea: People share and learn about others through storytelling. Key Concepts: Causation, Perspective Lines of Inquiry: ● Storytelling ● Self-expression ● How we use music and art to tell stories | Central idea: We can explore how the shape and movement of balls helps us in our lives. Key Concepts: Function, Change, Form Related Concepts: Role, Adaptation, Properties Lines of inquiry: ● Properties of balls ● How forces affect balls ● Ways we can use balls | Central Idea: People use different ways to get from place to place. Key Concepts: Function, Connection, Form Lines of Inquiry: ● Different types of transportation ● Reasons for using transportation ● Transportation safety | Central idea: The environment helps all living things. Key Concepts: Form, Change Related Concepts: Environment, sustainability Lines of inquiry: ●Living and nonliving things ●How nature changes ●How we use and reuse the earth’s resources | ||
5 | K | Central idea: Similarities and differences exist in all people making them unique. Key Concepts: Perspective, Causation, Form Related Concepts: Diversity, choice Lines of inquiry: ● Using our senses to learn about the world ● People develop different preferences. ● Accepting and appreciating other people's’ differences. | Central idea: People and events from the past have shaped our world today. Key Concepts: Causation, Form, Related Concepts: Community Lines of inquiry: ● Symbols and the celebration of holidays respect the values of different cultures ● History teaches us about people who have affected change ● Circumstances cause people to act in order to make changes | Central idea: Feelings, the arts, and taking action are connected. Key Concepts: Causation, Connection, Perspective Related Concepts: Expression, communication Lines of inquiry: ● How we experience and express our feelings ● How the arts (music, art, literature) help us feel and express emotions ● How our feelings lead to action | Central idea: People cooperate to build a peaceful community. Key Concepts: Form, Function, Responsibility Related Concepts: Cooperation, community Lines of inquiry: ● Becoming kind, fair, safe and responsible citizens. ● Our families, our classrooms, our school, and our city are all communities. ● Community members depend on each other. | Central idea: Living things have needs in order to survive. Key Concepts: Connection, Responsibility, Change Related Concepts: Interdependence, cycles Lines of inquiry: ● Needs and wants of living things ●Characteristics of living and non-living things ●Life cycles | ||
6 | 1 | Central idea: Our choices impact us and our communities. Key Concepts: Perspective, Causation, Connection Related Concepts: Relationships, consequences, citizenship Lines of inquiry: ● Characteristics of a successful community (classroom, local, national, international) ● How our interactions impact others. ● Consequences of choices | Central idea: Our perspective of the world is enriched when we understand that where we live affects how we live. Key Concepts: Form, Function, Causation Related Concepts: Culture, Interdependence, Populations, Beliefs and Values Lines of inquiry: ● Geographical regions. ● Our location affects our food, clothing, shelter, transportation, and recreation. ● How understanding our community helps us relate to communities around the world. | Central idea: People express themselves and perceive the world in different ways. Key Concepts: Perspective, Form, Function Related Concepts: Communication, symbols, stories Lines of inquiry: ● Forms of expression: written, artistic, verbal ● Ways in which and reasons why cultures and individuals communicate ● Ways in which artistic expression allows us to communicate | Central idea: Matter is affected by forces and characteristics. Key Concepts: Function, Form, Change Related Concepts: Force Lines of inquiry: ● Moving objects exhibit different kinds of motion ● Forces affect motion ● Objects have different characteristics that can change their movement | Central idea: Human needs and wants affect our past, present and future.. Key Concepts: Connection, Responsibility Related Concepts: Choices, economics Lines of inquiry: ● How wants and needs vary ● How people make choices ● Changemakers and barrier breakers | Central idea: Humans impact Earth Key Concepts: Causation, Connection, Responsibility Related Concepts: Resources Lines of inquiry: ● Natural resources and plants ● Effects of human actions on the environment ● Our responsibility to the environment | |
7 | 2 | Central Idea: Members of a community come together to respect the rights and freedoms of others. Key Concepts: Function, Responsibility, Perspective Related Concepts: Rights, responsibilities, community Lines of inquiry: ● Traits and responsibilities of a citizen ● How citizens contribute to communities ● Impact of contributions on communities | Central Idea: By understanding the past, we understand where we are now. Key concepts: Form, Causation, Change Related Concepts: Connection, Change, Form Lines of inquiry: ● American Indian Tribes ● Contributions of American Indians ● Impact of American Indian contributions on the present world ● Maps | Central Idea: Sharing our ideas, values, and beliefs can lead to change. Key Concepts: Form, Connection, Causation Related Concepts: Beliefs, history Lines of inquiry: ● Individuals who shape our society ● The values and attitudes of role models ● What we can learn from role models | Central Idea: Scientists learn about our physical world by observing, asking questions and using tools to do investigations. Key Concepts: Form, Function, Connection Related Concepts: properties, scientific method, force, matter, weather Lines of inquiry: ● The role of scientists ● The scientific method ● How scientific investigations impact the world | Central Idea: Economic choices impact the role we play as producers and consumers in our world. Key Concepts: Connection, Function, Form Related Concepts: choice, interdependence, resources Lines of inquiry: ● Economic systems, i.e. barter and monetary ● Economic decision making ● Resources | Central Idea: All living things go through a process of change and are interdependent. Key Concepts: Function, Change, Responsibility Related Concepts: adaptation, interdependence Lines of inquiry: ● Life cycles ● The interdependence of living things within habitats ● The impact of environmental changes | |
8 | 3 | Central Idea: Respecting differences leads to understanding. Key Concepts: Responsibility Connection, Perspective Related Concepts: Culture, Citizenship, Geography Lines of Inquiry: ● How world geography shapes beliefs and values ● Forms of diversity ● Global Citizenship | Central Idea: Time and energy cause change Key Concepts: Causation, Change, Function Related Concepts: movement, discovery, evolution Lines of Inquiry: ● Contributions from the past ● Force and motion ● Evidence of change (fossils/innovations) | Central Idea: Knowledge allows the expression of ideas Key Concepts: Perspective, function Related Concepts: expression, values Lines of Inquiry: ● How our ideas develop and change over time ● How questions lead to new understandings ● How knowledge is communicated | Central Idea: Resources affect civilizations Key Concepts: Causation, Change, Function Related Concepts: interaction, matter, resources Lines of Inquiry: ● How resources impact challenges and opportunities ● The Water Cycle ● Matter | Central Idea: Structure is essential to order. Key Concepts: Form, Causation Related Concepts: Structure, Resources Lines of Inquiry: ● Contributions from the past ● Structure of government ● How natural events affect Earth’s structures | Central Idea: Humans have a responsibility to the planet. Key Concepts: Change, responsibility, Related Concepts: Relationships, interdependence, adaptation Lines of inquiry: ● Ecosystems ● How living things adapt over time ● The relationships humans have to the environment | |
9 | 4 | Central Idea: Standing up for our beliefs and values may cause conflict. Key Concepts: Causation, Perspective Related Concepts: Government, independence, unity Lines of Inquiry: ● Acting on beliefs and values ● Rights and responsibilities ● Impact of conflict | Central Idea: Human migration and the natural environment are interconnected Key Concepts: Causation, Change Related Concepts: Settlement, Survival, Interdependence Lines of Inquiry: ● Challenges of human migration ● Survival strategies ● Impact of human migration ● Natural phenomena's effect | Central Idea: Expressing individual rights may lead to change Key Concepts: Perspective, Responsibility, Change Related Concepts: Advocacy, equality, equity, justice Lines of Inquiry: ● Advocating for individual rights ● Outcomes of change ● Persistence in the face of adversity | Central Idea: Living and nonliving things are interdependent Key Concepts: Form, Function, Connection Related Concepts: Adaptation, systems, structure Lines of Inquiry: ● Structures of living things ● How living things depend on each other ● Ecosystems | Central Idea: Human systems and communities evolve. Key Concepts: Causation, Change Related Concepts: Interdependence, culture, power Lines of Inquiry: ● Influences on colonization ● Systems developed by colonies ● Possible conflict as a result of colonization | Central Idea: Geographic resources support living things. Key Concepts: Form, Connection, Responsibility Related Concepts: Geography, resources, organization Lines of Inquiry: ● Landforms and water features of geographic regions ● Responsibilities of humans in sharing the planet ● Interrelationship between features of the earth, and living things. | |
10 | 5 | Central Idea: Sharing a passion can lead to action in the community. Key Concepts: Varies per group Related Concepts: Varies per group Lines of Inquiry: Varies per group | Central Idea: Exploration leads to discovery and develops new understandings. Key Concepts: Change, Causation Related Concepts: Transformation, impact, growth, beliefs Lines of Inquiry: ● Technology’s impact on how we understand our changing earth. ● Humans' natural curiosity about the world around them | Central Idea: Perspectives influence how the world is interpreted. Key Concepts: Perspective, Causation Related Concepts: Sensitivity, Subjectivity Lines of Inquiry: ● How the world is perceived through the senses ● The causes and impact of conflict ● How perceptions influence actions | Central Idea: Interaction within systems expands an understanding of the world Key Concepts: Connection, Causation, Change Related Concepts: Interdependence, networks Lines of Inquiry: ● Motivations that lead people to migrate ● Advances in technology that change communities ● The forces that impact movement ● Different ways energy can be created and utilized | Central Idea: Identifiable characteristics provide structure to organization. Key Concepts: Form, Function, Connection Related Concepts: systems, characteristics Lines of Inquiry: ● Features of the earth ● External influences impact the organization of cultures. ● How information is gathered, displayed, and organized to match a specific purpose ● What impact different types of earth resources have on humans and the environment | Central Idea: Societal actions influence cultures. Key Concepts: Change, Responsibility Related Concepts: Initiative, transformation, interaction, value Lines of Inquiry: ● Movements that lead to change. ● Tension within countries and the impact this has on society. | |