IB in TIS Classrooms
In our PYP preschool classrooms, students explore the central idea that “There are different families and everyone has a role in their family.” To investigate this idea, students in one class asked questions about each others’ families. They shared photographs from home and explained activities that their family does together. They interviewed their parents to learn more about parent roles at home and at work. Students surveyed their classmates to find out how many parents, siblings and animals each child has. Then they worked together to record their results on a bar graph. Through these activities, students began to understand that all families are different and each one is special. For the final steps, students created a book about their family which they presented to the class.
TIS 4th graders study a unit of inquiry with the central idea that “People move from one place to another looking for a better life.” To explore this concept, students in one class conducted an inquiry into why people move, the effect moving has on the environment, how immigrants can shape and change a new location, and the effect of moving on people and their families. As the students researched their questions, they looked at immigration patterns across the century and made graphs to record their findings. They debated the pros and cons of immigration on the economy, and reflected by writing narratives from a recent immigrant’s perspective. Thus, one unit of inquiry can incorporate lessons not only in science and social studies, but also in math, language arts, and tolerance.
