Exploring issues
January 25, 2017
In past week the 4th grade students engaged in a collaborative brainstorming session around 'community issues' prompted by the guiding question 'If you could make a difference in your community, what would you do?'
The following 6 themes emerged from the group discussions;
-Home
-School Environment
-Classroom
-Self-Management
-Friendship
-Recess
Students were asked to 'problem pose' issues that might arise under each theme by writing them down in red on poster paper and then 'problem solve' those issues in blue through a 'heads together' learning strategy.
Students were then asked to take a 'gallery walk', carefully reading through all issues/solutions and pick the 3 that they feel most passionate about exploring further. Students came together and shared their choices and the reasons behind those choices.
Going forward we'll connect these issues to the descriptors of the transdisciplinary themes and form inquiry groups based on student interests around a common central idea 'Understanding global and local issues allows us to collaborate, take action, and make a difference.'
In past week the 4th grade students engaged in a collaborative brainstorming session around 'community issues' prompted by the guiding question 'If you could make a difference in your community, what would you do?'
The following 6 themes emerged from the group discussions;
-Home
-School Environment
-Classroom
-Self-Management
-Friendship
-Recess
Students were asked to 'problem pose' issues that might arise under each theme by writing them down in red on poster paper and then 'problem solve' those issues in blue through a 'heads together' learning strategy.
Students were then asked to take a 'gallery walk', carefully reading through all issues/solutions and pick the 3 that they feel most passionate about exploring further. Students came together and shared their choices and the reasons behind those choices.
Going forward we'll connect these issues to the descriptors of the transdisciplinary themes and form inquiry groups based on student interests around a common central idea 'Understanding global and local issues allows us to collaborate, take action, and make a difference.'
February 7 - 15
In an effort to help expose our students to local and global issues, and to reinforce the idea that meaningful action can take many forms, we reached out to the Whitby community to inspire our students about their own passions. Phil Lohmeyer, Bryan Nixon, Andy Greene, and Lindsay McQueen all accepted the challenge and spoke with the fourth graders.
In an effort to help expose our students to local and global issues, and to reinforce the idea that meaningful action can take many forms, we reached out to the Whitby community to inspire our students about their own passions. Phil Lohmeyer, Bryan Nixon, Andy Greene, and Lindsay McQueen all accepted the challenge and spoke with the fourth graders.
February 21, 2017
This week we finally revealed the central idea to the students; 'Understanding global and local issues allows us to collaborate, take action, and make a difference.
Reflecting on the meaning of the central idea, all the talks and previous experiences, students participated in a final brainstorm of possible areas to inquire into. They now have the task to choose 2 of the topics they are most passionate about. Their choices will be the basis for the inquiry groups.
This week we finally revealed the central idea to the students; 'Understanding global and local issues allows us to collaborate, take action, and make a difference.
Reflecting on the meaning of the central idea, all the talks and previous experiences, students participated in a final brainstorm of possible areas to inquire into. They now have the task to choose 2 of the topics they are most passionate about. Their choices will be the basis for the inquiry groups.
March 1, 2017
Today the students got together in their Exhibition groups to explore their chosen issue. They shared their specific interests and saw how those interests all tied together under the umbrella topic. Next, they brainstormed and charted ideas about their interests, wrote down questions they had, as well as possible action they could take. The group members got to know each other a little better and were very excited to work together for the first time!
Today the students got together in their Exhibition groups to explore their chosen issue. They shared their specific interests and saw how those interests all tied together under the umbrella topic. Next, they brainstormed and charted ideas about their interests, wrote down questions they had, as well as possible action they could take. The group members got to know each other a little better and were very excited to work together for the first time!