Grade 1 Units of Inquiry

Kensington Grade 1 have been learning all about the climate.

The students learnt about the climate in London, their home countries, and other places around the world. They developed their social and communication skills through work in partners and small groups. They were enthusiastic researchers using several resources to learn more about a chosen climate.

"The children adopted the role of Travel Agents as they shared their knowledge of a particular climate and advised their classmates on future holidays. They developed an understanding of climate's impact on a country's clothes, activities, houses and food; and focused on writing to explain by making brochures to support their presentations," explained teacher Linda Crosbie.

The students also reviewed the days of the week, months of the year and seasons. They used Venn diagrams to compare their home country's climate with the climate in London.

"The students were enthusiastic inquirers throughout the unit and should be proud of their efforts in both research and presentation," added teacher Laura Steacy.

Grade 1's next unit of inquiry is Tell Me a Picture, which falls under the theme How We Express Ourselves - 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.

The students will look at how ideas and feelings are expressed through the arts; the effect of the arts on our emotions; using different media to express emotions. The Learner profile attributes relevant to this unit are: Reflective, Balanced and Communicators.

The unit will relate to language as students will read and write poetry to express their feelings, and it will relate to mathematics as students will explore symmetry through art.