CONCEPTS

Seven fundamental concepts, expressed as key questions, propel the process of inquiry. They are broad in scope and are intended to define clusters of ideas. These powerful ideas drive the Units of Inquiry which are designed by teachers and students and lie at the heart of the curriculum model. By attaching various key concepts to each Unit of Inquiry, we allow children to make meaningful connections with the body of human knowledge and its applications and relevance in today’s world.

THESE KEY QUESTIONS ARE:

Form

Function

Causation

Change

Connection

Perspective

Responsibility What is it like?

How does it work?

Why is it like it is?

How is it changing?

How is it connected to other things?

What are the points of view?

What is our responsibility?

Related concepts derived from the key concepts and from the subject areas can also be inquired into throughout Units of Inquiry. They deepen students’ understanding of the subject areas while providing further opportunities to make connections throughout the learning, from one subject to another, and between disciplinary and transdisciplinary learning.

Examples: