Hi Joy,
I am very much a lurker on this sight but reading the interesting posts on this
topic I can not help but think that the IB/PYP format for developing a unit is
the framework that may help guide you. This post could get lengthy and I am
thinking I should probably email you but perhaps others can piggy back on my
info. Maybe they will have additions if I do not explain it clearly.
The Primary Years Program units of inquiry have organizing themes. for example:
"How We Express Ourselves" is the organizing theme.
This is 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. (This is
the main idea that we use to build a unit) There are 5 other inquiry themes we
use for other units.)
Under that theme our 3rd grade team created a unit called,
"Writing it Down!"
We have a central idea:
People use written language to communicate and preserve ideas. (this would be
the same as an enduring understanding; what do we want the students to know?)
LINES OF INQUIRY:
How writing developed (Sequoyah and Braille)
The reason people use written language to communicate
Types/Genres of writing (newspapers, magazines, books, letters, poetry, blogs)
TEACHER QUESTIONS: (guides the inquiry)
Why is it important to communicate and preserve ideas?
What are various forms of writing?
How has written communication changed over time?
The inquiry will use resources from our media center, magazines, internet, etc.
We will "guide" students through this inquiry and look at the ways people
express their ideas, feelings, information, etc. and how it has changed over
time which will lead into some technology pieces.
After we come up with the main pieces of information (listed above), as a
group, the teachers come up with the type of strategies (MOSIAC) that will fit
best here. We will incorporate any literacy standards and weave in social
studies and our science teacher will intergrate into the unit with any topics
that she can. (I am not sure what they will be because this is a new unit this
year.) Math activities and standards can easily be built into many of these
units. We will also brainstorm lesson ideas together.
All of units of inquiry have over arching themes that we are able to coordinate
with other grade levels to insure we aren't overlapping and teaching the same
thing but students can use prior knowledge to build on concepts.
I know this isn't the best explaination (it is getting late and my brain is
fading) but there are websites with complete unit examples and that will give
you more information. Do a search under Primary Years Program units and I am
certain there will be a lot of information.
I hope this helps.
Phyllis
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