IB PYP Programme Unit Plans
Unit of Inquiry Planner Places on Earth
Inquiry Unit: Central Idea
All places on Earth have special features that distinguish them from other places.
Lines of Inquiry:
- The physical characteristics of where we live
- Places similarities and differences (physical characteristics)
- Uniqueness of a place that we could find out more.
- Form, causation, connection
Unit Related concepts:
- Structure, impact, relationship
Skills
- Research skills – formulating questions, observing, collecting data, recording data, organizing data, presenting research findings.
- Self-management skills- spatial awareness, fine motor skills
- Communication skills – listening, speaking, reading, writing, viewing, presenting
- Thinking skills – acquisition of knowledge, comprehension
- Social Skills – accepting responsibility, respecting others, cooperating, resolving conflict
Attitude (unit of inquiry focus but not limited to the following)
- Appreciation, curiosity, enthusiasm, respect
- Knowledgeable, Inquirer, communicator, open-minded (This is just the focus IB profile but the teacher should continue using all the profile inside or outside the classroom.)
What teacher questions/provocations will drive these inquiries?
- How do people identify different places?
- What sets apart one place from another?
- What features do people associate with certain place?
Inquiry Unit Teaching Resources:
Microsoft Encarta Kids, Classroom map, world map, Globe, passports, postcards, movie “Around the world in 80 days”, Travel brochure, video recorder, story “Passport to Earth” and “Spy Maps”, Books – Children Atlases, General information books about countries, magazines, “I am Planet Earth” by: Jean Marzollo. Book” 8 wonders of the world”. Classroom will be used as exhibit place for the classroom tour, places for field trip.
Unit of Inquiry Cycle teaching activities:
- People Bingo – students fill in a bingo card grid of A4 size through asking their classmates.
- Silent jigsaw – students construct a picture (related to inquiry unit) from cut outs of different irregular size
- Think Wink Decide – students write down on the front page what country they knew and next page write questions about the topic. Then decide which question to share to the class.
Download the complete Unit of Inquiry Planner below with complete activities for each stage of the inquiry cycle, inquiry unit summative assessment activities, unit formative assessment and more.
