UNIT OF INQUIRY FIRST GRADE TITLE: How do we show who we are?
Enduring Understanding: People use symbols to express their values, beliefs and create a sense of identity and belonging.
ESSENTIAL QUESTIONS
1. What is a symbol?
2. Why do we have symbols?
3. What stories do symbols tell?
4. What does it mean to belong?
5. How do I show I belong here?
Part One: TUNING IN “ How do we show who we are?”
a. Send the question home. Students discuss and record the answer (digitally or hard copy) b. Collect the answers for the first discussion. If no statements mention flags or crests, add a couple that do. Have an alternative plan for those without internet/computer
c. Look at the statements and discuss them and find ways to sort them. (include symbols)
d. Ask… “What is a symbol?” Use "Think-Pair-Share". Record their answers
Individually draw the symbols they know (think about how to record this)
e. Research other symbols. Use a search with instructions (screen cast) for them to to search online for symbols. Children choose one or two symbols to share and record what they think they represent.
f. Children take pictures of symbols at home and send/bring digitally. Use these in a symbol museum and maybe to add to their learning log.
Part Two: FINDING OUT: “Why do we have symbols?” EQ2
a. Review what we have done already then ask the question. Think-Pair-Share. Record their answers. Lead the discussion towards our countries and flags.
b. Research other symbols. Use a search with instructions (screen cast) for them to to search online for their flags/crests. Come together and share. Each child keeps their flag and crest etc to add to their learning log.
c. “What stories do symbols tell?”
Share a book or story of a flag that is not represented in the class. During this time, read lots of stories which feature symbols and stories in cultures.
d. Children use the same search as in part 2b but go deeper to find out the stories behind their flags etc. Maybe talk about what it means to them in a video for their learning log.
Perhaps do this investigation at home? –screencast instructions
e. “What does it mean to belong?”
Think pair share the question, “What groups do you belong to?” -then record the answers
Think pair share the question, “How do you know you belong to them?” -record the answers
Lead the discussion towards the symbols that they wear on their uniforms etc
f. If it hasn’t been done already, ask children to take pictures of symbols at home/work and send/bring digitally. Or choose a set number and discuss the following questions with the parents “What do these symbols stand for?” “Are these symbols important?” “What do these symbols mean to you?” “How do you feel when you see these symbols?”
Use these in a symbol museum and maybe to add to their learning log. (collage?)
g. Children present their symbols to the class and why they are important
h. “What does it mean to belong?” Show the JIS SYMBOL Think-Pair-Share. "What is this and what do you know about it?" Share the JIS Batik story (share with parents as well) http://www.jisedu.or.id/data/files/gallery/contentgallery/index.swf
After the slideshow discuss, "Why do we have this batik?" "What does it stand for?" "How do we feel when we see it?". Lead the discussion to conclude with “When we look at the batik we know that we belong to JIS”
i. Use a search with instructions (screen cast) to search online for batik. They can do this at home as well as bring pictures of batik they found at home. Use these questions to guide their thinking. "Can you see any symbols?" "What do you think that they mean?" "Why are they important?" "Can you find the story behind it?".
Part Three : FINAL ACTION “How do we show that we belong?”
a. Review the idea of how we know we belong to JIS then ask “So, how do we know we belong to PEL or First Grade or Our Class ?” Think-Pair-Share then collate examples
b. "What is our story?" "How do we tell our story?"
-Identify what is important to us (our Beliefs- prior lessons)
-Practice and play with symbols that demonstrate our beliefs/passions
-Design individual/class symbols to go on the batik
Part Four CELEBRATION OF LEARNING. (TBA) (assessment)
Final entry in Learning log. Students explain their journey & the story of their batik?
NOTES
The final Batik creation can be used on class t-shirt, class door, webpage,
The art teacher can use the design in printing unit?
During the unit
· Look for authentic places to add learning log/eportfolio/glogster entries
· Include the word passions whenever possible to focus on what are we passionate about?
· Create a symbols museum
Enduring Understanding: People use symbols to express their values, beliefs and create a sense of identity and belonging.
ESSENTIAL QUESTIONS
1. What is a symbol?
2. Why do we have symbols?
3. What stories do symbols tell?
4. What does it mean to belong?
5. How do I show I belong here?
Part One: TUNING IN “ How do we show who we are?”
a. Send the question home. Students discuss and record the answer (digitally or hard copy) b. Collect the answers for the first discussion. If no statements mention flags or crests, add a couple that do. Have an alternative plan for those without internet/computer
c. Look at the statements and discuss them and find ways to sort them. (include symbols)
d. Ask… “What is a symbol?” Use "Think-Pair-Share". Record their answers
Individually draw the symbols they know (think about how to record this)
e. Research other symbols. Use a search with instructions (screen cast) for them to to search online for symbols. Children choose one or two symbols to share and record what they think they represent.
f. Children take pictures of symbols at home and send/bring digitally. Use these in a symbol museum and maybe to add to their learning log.
Part Two: FINDING OUT: “Why do we have symbols?” EQ2
a. Review what we have done already then ask the question. Think-Pair-Share. Record their answers. Lead the discussion towards our countries and flags.
b. Research other symbols. Use a search with instructions (screen cast) for them to to search online for their flags/crests. Come together and share. Each child keeps their flag and crest etc to add to their learning log.
c. “What stories do symbols tell?”
Share a book or story of a flag that is not represented in the class. During this time, read lots of stories which feature symbols and stories in cultures.
d. Children use the same search as in part 2b but go deeper to find out the stories behind their flags etc. Maybe talk about what it means to them in a video for their learning log.
Perhaps do this investigation at home? –screencast instructions
e. “What does it mean to belong?”
Think pair share the question, “What groups do you belong to?” -then record the answers
Think pair share the question, “How do you know you belong to them?” -record the answers
Lead the discussion towards the symbols that they wear on their uniforms etc
f. If it hasn’t been done already, ask children to take pictures of symbols at home/work and send/bring digitally. Or choose a set number and discuss the following questions with the parents “What do these symbols stand for?” “Are these symbols important?” “What do these symbols mean to you?” “How do you feel when you see these symbols?”
Use these in a symbol museum and maybe to add to their learning log. (collage?)
g. Children present their symbols to the class and why they are important
h. “What does it mean to belong?” Show the JIS SYMBOL Think-Pair-Share. "What is this and what do you know about it?" Share the JIS Batik story (share with parents as well) http://www.jisedu.or.id/data/files/gallery/contentgallery/index.swf
After the slideshow discuss, "Why do we have this batik?" "What does it stand for?" "How do we feel when we see it?". Lead the discussion to conclude with “When we look at the batik we know that we belong to JIS”
i. Use a search with instructions (screen cast) to search online for batik. They can do this at home as well as bring pictures of batik they found at home. Use these questions to guide their thinking. "Can you see any symbols?" "What do you think that they mean?" "Why are they important?" "Can you find the story behind it?".
Part Three : FINAL ACTION “How do we show that we belong?”
a. Review the idea of how we know we belong to JIS then ask “So, how do we know we belong to PEL or First Grade or Our Class ?” Think-Pair-Share then collate examples
b. "What is our story?" "How do we tell our story?"
-Identify what is important to us (our Beliefs- prior lessons)
-Practice and play with symbols that demonstrate our beliefs/passions
-Design individual/class symbols to go on the batik
Part Four CELEBRATION OF LEARNING. (TBA) (assessment)
Final entry in Learning log. Students explain their journey & the story of their batik?
NOTES
The final Batik creation can be used on class t-shirt, class door, webpage,
The art teacher can use the design in printing unit?
During the unit
· Look for authentic places to add learning log/eportfolio/glogster entries
· Include the word passions whenever possible to focus on what are we passionate about?
· Create a symbols museum