Hudson Prairie Happenings: Integrated Units of Inquiry

Integrated Units of Inquiry

Students in grades 2 – 5 engage in Integrated Units of Inquiry each trimester. (Second graders begin in the second trimester.) An integrated unit of inquiry is approximately a six week unit of study where students, together with their teacher, explore essential questions around a topic, think deeply about content, consider multiple perspectives, ask critical questions, and apply what they learn to authentic situations. This inquiry process integrates standards in reading, writing, science, social studies, and health in a researchers’ workshop format.

Whether focused on science, social studies, or health, students will engage in research to learn more about these BIG IDEA questions:

How do my choices impact me?

How is our world changing?

What are different points of view on these changes?

What connects us?

What will I do to make a positive change in our world?

While every grade level will be exploring answers to these BIG IDEA questions, students and teachers at each grade level will focus on these enduring understandings:

2nd Grade

Exploring balance and motion helps us understand how our bodies interact with energy.
Choices affect the environment.
Learning about others affects how we interact in our world.
Living things grow and change.
People change the world.

3rd Grade

Communities change over time.
Space is part of our past, present and future.
Water is a natural resource required for the survival of all living things
Government systems impact a society.
Discoveries cause changes in the world.

4th Grade

Things we do affect the environment and we can make choices to reduce the impact.
Geography influences people’s past, present, and future.
Immigrants face challenges and opportunities.
My personal decision making affects my health.

5th Grade

Differences in perspectives can lead to conflict.
Economic decisions are influenced by many factors.
Interactions within environmental systems affect the survival and quality of life for all living things.
The choices we make affect the health of our mind and body.
There are systematic processes to solving real-world problems.
Passion Project

Students’ research will include a variety of resources (books, websites, people and other educational resources). At the conclusion of each unit, students share their learning with an authentic audience - people who care about the topic / problem / issue. This may take a variety of forms and may include special events planned outside of our school day. An integrated and inquiry approach encourages students to take more responsibility for their learning, learn from each other and from experts, and use their learning to solve real world problems.

Resources:
K-5 Units linked to FOSS Units