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4th Grade Units of Inquiry

Colorful, patterned letters spell out %22WILD%22 in the foreground, with %22about 4th Grade%22 written below in a different font and color, all against a plain white background.
Colorful, playful letters spelling %22Express Ourselves%22 are set against a pale yellow background with a striped border at the bottom.

An inquiry into systems, structures, and  networks through:

▪ inspiration, imagination, creativity ▪ personal, social, and cultural notes and practices of communication ▪ intentions, perceptions,  interpretations, and responses

Central Idea: Stories can support our thinking and challenge our views

Lines of Inquiry: 

  1. Why events occur
  2. Actions of others may affect us
  3. How stories have influenced our thinking

Specified Concepts: Connection, Perspective, Change

 

Colorful, playful letters spelling %22SPRING THE PLAY%22 are set against a light yellow background with a border of brown dots and a green wavy pattern.

An inquiry into the interdependence of  human and natural worlds through:

▪ rights, responsibilities, and dignity of all ▪ pathways to just, peaceful, and reimagined futures ▪ nature, complexity, coexistence, and wisdom

Central Idea: Coexistence within the human and natural world impacts our future

Lines of Inquiry: 

  1. Types and transfer of energy 
  2. Natural resources         
  3. Evolution of technology based on needs 

Specified Concepts: Form, Responsibility, Change

 

Colorful, playful letters spelling out %22WHERE WE ARE & THIS%22 are set against a dark, textured background with a subtle pattern.

 

An inquiry into histories and orientation in  place, space, and time through: 

▪ periods, events, and artifacts ▪ communities, heritage, culture, and environment ▪ natural and human drivers of movement, adaptation, and  transformation

Central Idea: Migration and pioneers impact the world

Lines of Inquiry: 

  1. Change creates adaptation             
  2. Causes for migration
  3. Discoveries influence our perspective 

Specified Concepts: Causation, Perspective, Change

 

A group of diverse hands are stacked together in the foreground, with a teal circle containing text in the background.

An inquiry into identity as individuals and as  part of a collective through:

▪ physical, emotional, social and spiritual health and well-being ▪ relationships and   belonging ▪ learning and growing

Central Idea: Our choices impact our lives

Lines of Inquiry: 

  1. Organisms are made of structures and systems 
  2. Our responsibility to ourselves
  3. Organisms meet their needs in different ways 

Specified Concepts: Function, Connection, Responsibility

Two cartoon children, a girl with blonde pigtails and a boy with dark curly hair, stand on a white background holding chalk and writing %22How We Organise Ourselves%22 on a blackboard.

An inquiry into systems, structures, and  networks through: 

▪ interactions with and between social and ecological systems▪ approaches to livelihoods and trade practices: intended and unintended  consequences ▪ representation, collaboration, and decision-making

Central Idea: Economic independence

Lines of Inquiry:  

  1. Cause and effect of the economy
  2. Motivations for trade  
  3. The cause and effect of an individual’s actions

Specified Concepts: Function, Connection, Causation

 

Bold black text reading %22HOW THE WORLD WORKS%22 is superimposed over a light blue background with faint circular diagrams, while the upper portion of the image features a cream background with intricate technical drawings and a black border at the very top.

An inquiry into the understandings of the  world and phenomena through:

▪ patterns, cycles, systems ▪ diverse practices, methods, and tools▪ discovery, design, innovation, possibilities, and impacts

Central idea:  Natural phenomenon transforms landscape

Lines of Inquiry:

  1. Natural Phenomenon 
  2. The effects of changes of landscapes 
  3. The impacts of natural earth processes on humans 

Specified Concepts: Function, Causation, Change