Program of Inquiry

GEMS American Academy in Abu Dhabi: PROGRAMME OF INQUIRY 2013-2014
An Inquiry into: An Inquiry into: An Inquiry into: An Inquiry into: An Inquiry into: An Inquiry into:
Who We Are
Where We Are In Place & Time

An exploration of our orientation in place and time; of our personal histories; of history and geography from local and global perspectives; of our homes and journeys; of the discoveries, explorations and migrations of humankind; of the contributions of individuals and civilizations.
How We Express Ourselves
How The World Works
How We Organize Ourselves

An exploration of human systems and communities; of the world of work, its nature and its value; of employment and unemployment and their impact.
Sharing The Planet

An exploration of our rights and responsibilities as we try to share finite resources with other people, with other living things; of communities and of the relationships within and between them.
An exploration of the nature of the self; of our beliefs and values; of personal, physical, mental, social and spiritual health; of our families, friends, communities and cultures; of our rights and responsibilities; of what it means to be human.
An exploration of the ways in which we discover and express our nature, ideas, feelings, beliefs and values through language and the arts.
An exploration of the physical and material world; of natural and human-made phenomena; of the world of science and technology.
Concepts: Function &

Connection
Concepts: Form,
Function & Connection
Concepts: Form, Function, Connection &

Reflection
Concepts: Form,
Connection & Responsibility
Related Concepts:
Communications, Cooperation and Education
Related Concepts:
Interpretation & Characterization
Related Concepts:
Subject focus:
Subject focus:
Clothes, Community & Purpose
Related Concepts:
Classification & Growth
Social Studies & Visual Art
Language & Performing Arts
Subject focus:
Subject focus:
Science & Math
Math & Language
Central Idea: You are
Central Idea: Nursery

rhymes can be told in a number of creative ways.
Central Idea: The

clothes we wear have a purpose in our lives.
Central Idea: Plants and

trees are a resource for us and other living things.
KG3 3/4 year olds
you and I am me, but we learn to play together in harmony.
An Inquiry into:
An Inquiry into:
An Inquiry into:
*how we make friends (function) *games we play (function) *communicating through play (connection) *songs to sing and instruments to play (connection)
*how characters are presented (form) *sequencing of events (function) *the ways stories are told (connection)
An Inquiry into:
*clothes we wear inside and outside school (Function) *materials we use for our clothes (Form) *where our clothes come from (Connection) *clothes we can model (Reflection)
Focus Learner Profile:

Risk-Taker & Knowledgeable
*parts of a plant/ tree and what they do (form) *where plants/ trees live and who lives with them (connection) *conditions needed for growth (connection) *how we take care of plants/ trees (responsibility)

Thinkers & Caring
Focus Attitudes:

Principled & Inquirer
Communicators & Openminded
Creativity & Confidence
Focus Attitudes:
Focus Attitudes:
Curiosity & Independence
Appreciation & Respect
Focus Attitudes:
Cooperation & Enthusiasm
Concepts:
Responsibility, Connection & Causation
Concepts: Form,
Function & Connection
Concepts: Form,
Perspective & Reflection
Concepts: Connection,
Responsibility & change
Related Concepts:
Related Concepts:
Homes, family & purpose
Related Concepts:
Interconnectedness, Cooperation, Belonging & Behavior
Subject focus:
Visuals, Representations & Communication
Related Concepts:
Conservation, Consumption & Pollution
Subject focus:
Social Studies & Language
Subject focus:
Language & The Arts
Subject focus:
Science & Math
Central Idea: Our
KG4 4/5 year olds
Central Idea: Our
relationships with each other have an impact on everyones well-being.
family homes relate to where we live in the world.
Central Idea: Stories
can engage an audience and communicate meaning.
Central Idea: Children

worldwide help the Earth by reusing reducing and recycling materials.
An Inquiry into:
An Inquiry into:
An Inquiry into:
*personal use of materials (Connection) *ways materials can be reused, reduced and recycled (Responsibility) *choices we make that help the Earth (Change)
An Inquiry into:
*responsibility for ourselves (responsibility) *how we are connected to one another (connection) *how our choices and actions affect others (causation)
*the concept of home (function) *various family homes (form) *homes where we are (connection)
*ways in which stories can be told (form) *stories and how they make us feel (perspective) *what we can learn from stories (reflection)

Communicators & Open-minded

Caring & Inquirers
Risk-taker & Reflective
Focus Attitudes:
Confidence & Independence

Principled & Balanced
Focus Attitudes:
Focus Attitudes:
Respect & Appreciation
Enthusiasm & Tolerance
Focus Attitudes:
Integrity & Empathy

An Inquiry into: An Inquiry into: An Inquiry into: An Inquiry into: An Inquiry into: An Inquiry into:
Who We Are

How The World Works

Sharing The Planet

Concepts: Function,
Responsibility & Causation
Concepts: Causation,
Change & Reflection
Concepts: Form,
Perspective & Responsibility
Concepts: Change, Form & Connection Related Concepts:
Concepts: Function,
Connection & Change
Concepts: Form,
Function, Responsibility
Related Concepts:
Identity, Purpose & Diversity
Related Concepts:
History, Progress & Migration
Related Concepts: Visual

Language
Matter & Properties
Related Concepts:
Subject focus: Social

Studies & Language
Subject focus:
Social Studies & Math
Subject focus:
Subject focus:
Science & Language
Reusing, Properties of Materials, Transformation
Related Concepts: living

and Non-living things, Ocean Environment
Language & The Arts
Central Idea: Our family

and our community help shape our identity.
Central Idea: Exploring

diversity of people and animals enables us to understand differences and accept change.
Central Idea:
Central Idea: The
KG5 5/6 year olds
An Inquiry into:
We can express our uniqueness, abilities and feelings in many creative ways.
properties of materials can impact how people use them.
Subject focus: Science & Language Central Idea: We share

used materials with others to prolong their value.
Subject focus:
Science. Social Studies & Math
Central Idea: The

ocean and its populations are a vital element of our lives.
*my role within my family (function) *how friends are made and kept (responsibility) *similarities between myself and others in my community (causation)
An Inquiry into:
An Inquiry into:

Open-minded & Communicators
*everyday life in the past and present (causation) *our journeys (change) *the relationship between people and places (reflection)
An Inquiry into:

Knowledgeable & Reflective
*diverse ways people express themselves (perspective) *diverse ways of learning styles (form) *How our choices make a difference (responsibility)
*properties and uses of basic materials (form) *changing properties of materials (change) *manipulation of materials (connection)
An Inquiry into:
*how we value different materials (function) *how we use and change materials (connection) *managing materials with imagination (change)
An Inquiry into:
Inquirers & Risk-takers
Focus Attitudes:
Independent & Cooperation

Thinkers & Communicators
Focus Attitudes:

Balanced & Caring
Curiosity & Confidence
Focus Attitudes:
Focus Attitudes:
*characteristics of oceans (form) *living and non-living things in oceans (function) *plant and animal life in oceans (function) *how we can take care of our oceans (responsibility)
Empathy & Tolerance
Respect & Enthusiasm

Principled & Caring
Focus Attitudes:
Creativity & Commitments
Focus Attitudes: Concepts: Function, Concepts: Function,

Appreciation & Integrity
Concepts: Change &

Responsibility
Concepts: Form,
Perspective & Connection
Connection & Perspective
Connection & Causation
Concepts:
Related Concepts:
Growth, classification, living & non-living things
Related Concepts:
Homes, Structures & Climate
Related Concepts:
Artifacts, Celebrations & Representation
Related Concepts:
Responsibility, Reflection & Perspective
Movement & Use of materials
Related Concepts:
Subject focus:
Science & Social Studies
Subject focus:
Subject focus:
Subject focus:
Science & Math
Sustainability, Systems & Properties and uses of Materials
Related Concepts:
Citizenship, Values & Behavior
Central Idea:
Gr. 1 6/7 year olds
Living things change and need nourishment.
Central Idea: The
An Inquiry into: *how dietary choices

affect personal health and well-being (responsibility) *food chains (Change) *how living things get nourishment (change)
construction of homes reflect local conditions such as available resources and climate.
Central Idea:
Presentations are a powerful tool to describe artifacts and celebrations.
Central Idea: Forces

cause movement and changes in movement.
Subject focus:
Subject focus:
Social Studies & Science
Central Idea: Natural

water needs to be treated and transported to communities where it is used for various purposes.
Central Idea:
An Inquiry into:
People make choices to support animals.
An Inquiry into:
An Inquiry into:

Balanced & Caring
*types of homes (form) *building materials, climate and needs (connection) *ways homes reflect how we live and use spaces (perspective)
*the role of artifacts in our lives (perspective) *how we share our stories (connection) *how and why we celebrate in our community (causation)
*how things move (function) *forces that act or object (causation) *how we use our knowledge of forces to build moving objects (connection)
An Inquiry into:
An Inquiry into:
Focus Attitudes:



Inquirers & Reflective
*properties of water (function) *uses of water (connection) *distribution in communities (responsibility)
Confidence & Creativity
Focus Attitudes:

Thinkers & Inquirers
*challengers that animals face (reflection) *ways in which organizations work to protect animals from risk (responsibility) *ways in which community members can support animals (perspective)
Focus Attitudes:
Focus Attitudes:
Enthusiasm &Commitment

Risk-taker & Principled
Curiosity & Cooperation
Respect & Appreciation
Focus Attitudes:
Curiosity & Integrity
Focus Attitudes:
Empathy & Tolerance

Who We Are
An Inquiry into:

An Inquiry into:
An Inquiry into:
How The World Works
An Inquiry into:
An Inquiry into:
An Inquiry into:
Sharing The Planet

Concepts: Form,
Concepts: Perspective,
Responsibility & Reflection
Concepts:
Concepts: Function,
Change & Responsibility
Function, Change & Form
Related Concepts:
Identity, Peer Pressure & Opinions
Related Concepts:
Journeys, History and Artistic Creativity
Related Concepts:
Related Concepts:
Subject focus: Social Studies & Language Central Idea: Role
Subject focus:
Media, advertising & Propaganda
Growth, Animals & Plants, Life Cycles
Related Concepts:
Related Concepts:
Social Studies & Visual Arts
Subject focus: Language

& Visual Arts
Subject focus:
Geography, Regions & Symbols
Habitats, Interdependence, Behavioral Adaptations
Science, Social Studies and Math
Subject focus:
Subject focus:
Gr. 2 7/8 year olds
models reflect the beliefs and values of individuals and societies.
Central Idea: Exploring

the Arts around the world can lead to creative personal journeys.
Central Idea: People

design messages to target certain groups.
Central Idea: Given the

basics needed for survival, everything in life moves in cycles.
Central Idea: We use

mapping systems to broaden our understanding of the world.
Central Idea: When

interacting with natural habitats people make choices that have an impact on other living things.
An Inquiry into: *jobs we can do (form)
An Inquiry into:
An Inquiry into:
*people and their connections (connection) *hobbies and interests (connection) *role models (perspective)
*reasons why people move (causation) *artworks from home and host country (connection) *exploring personal creative interests (perspective)

Principled and Caring
*media messages and what they look and sound like (perspective) *categorizing messages (reflection) *decision making about the value of media messages (responsibility)
An Inquiry into:


Inquirers & Thinkers
*similarities and differences in plant and animal life cycles (change) *how fossils found provide information about plants and animals that lived many years ago (form) *basic elements needed for survival (function)
An Inquiry into:
*location and navigation (function) *how we interpret mapping symbols (connection) *elements of successful mapping (responsibility)
An Inquiry into:

Knowledgeable & Risktakers
*changes to the worlds habitats due to (change) *peoples choices that impact the Earth (connection) *conservation of natural habitats (responsibility)
Focus Attitudes:
Appreciation & Integrity
Focus Attitudes:
Focus Attitudes:
Creativity & Independence

Thinker & Inquirers

Balanced, Reflective & Responsibility
Tolerance & Respect
Focus Attitudes:
Focus Attitudes:
Enthusiasm & Confidence
Curiosity & Cooperation
Focus Attitudes:
Empathy & Commitments
Concepts:
Form, Connection & Responsibility
Concepts: Change &

Reflection
Concepts: Form,
Perspective & Connection
Function & Reflection
Concepts: Function,
Causation & Connection
Concepts: Function,
Causation & Responsibility
Related Concepts:
Related Concepts:
Identity, Diversity, Communication & Knowledgeable
Chronology, History & Tradition
Related Concepts:
Related Concepts:
Purpose, Creating & Sharing
Mechanics, Physics, Innovation & Progress
Related Concepts:
Cooperation & Employment
Related Concepts:
Subject focus:
Subject focus:
Subject focus:
Subject focus:
Language & The Arts
Subject focus:
Conservation, Man-made Disasters & Sustainability
Central Idea: Family

histories provide an insight into cultural identity.
Central Idea: People use

different forms of expressions to communicate their uniqueness.
Central Idea:
Central Idea:
Gr. 3 8/9 year olds
Knowledge and tolerance of cultures helps us to become responsible global citizens.
An Inquiry into:
An Inquiry into:
*Our traditions and culture (form) *similarities and differences in our community (connection) *building community spirit (responsibility)
*family ancestry (change) *heirlooms that have meaning in a family (reflection) *similarities and differences in generations (reflection)
An Inquiry into:
People apply their understanding of energy and forces to invent and improve machines to make life easier.
Central Idea: In a
Subject focus:
community people share responsibility towards a common purpose.
Science & Math
Central Idea: Our daily

choices may directly impact our planet.
An Inquiry into:

*characteristics of myths and legends (form) *the diverse ways in which people express themselves through myths and legends (perspective) *the sharing of cultural stories with future generations (connection)
An Inquiry into:
*Innovations that impact peoples lives and make work easier (connection) *the way simple machines and compound machines work (function) *change through time and implications for the future (reflection)
*the purpose of a community past and present (function) *interconnectedness of people in a community (connection) *the importance of a shared vision or common purpose (causation)
An Inquiry into:

Balanced & Reflective
*energy use and the effect on our planet (Causation) *how renewable and nonrenewable sources of energy work (Function) *actions that benefit or harm the environment (Responsibility)
Communicators & Openminded
Focus Attitudes:
Enthusiasm & Curiosity

Communicator & Principled

Thinkers & Caring
Inquirers & Risk-takers
Focus Attitudes:
Focus Attitudes:
Focus Attitudes:
Commitment & Confidence & Commitment
Respect & Tolerance
Focus Attitudes:
Cooperation, Commitment & Independence
Focus Attitudes:
Creativity & Integrity
Appreciation & Empathy

Who We Are
An Inquiry into:

An Inquiry into:
An Inquiry into:
How The World Works
An Inquiry into:
An Inquiry into:
An Inquiry into:
Sharing The Planet

Concepts: Reflection,
Responsibility & Form
Concepts: Form, Function & Causation Related Concepts: Impact, Settlement & Geography Subject focus: Social Studies & Science skills & Language Central Idea: Where people live affect peoples lifestyle and habits. An Inquiry into: *the relationship between location and settlement (function) *elements of a city (design of architecture, parks, bridges, mosques, churches etc.) (form) *how peoples behaviors and practices are influenced by their physical environment (causation) Focus Learner Profile: Communicator & Thinkers Focus Attitudes: Creativity & Cooperation
Concepts: Perspective, Connection & Reflection Related Concepts: Performance & Interpretation Subject focus: Social Studies, Language & The Arts Central Idea: People around the world use different forms of expression to convey their messages. An Inquiry into: *an interpretation of the Arts in a variety of countries (perspective) *the impact of the Arts on culture in various countries (connection) *diverse ways people communicate their uniqueness through the arts (reflection) Focus Learner Profile: Principled & Openminded Focus Attitudes: Enthusiasm & Confidence
Concepts:
Causation, Function & Form
Concepts: Change,
Concepts: Change,
Causation & Reflection
Causation & Connection
Related Concepts:
Balanced, Nutrition, Lifestyle
Related Concepts:
Properties, solar system, space, universe
Related Concepts:
Technology, Communication & Transport
Related Concepts:
Adaptation, Communities, Ecosystems & Survival
Subject focus:
Subject focus:
Science & Language
Subject focus:
Subject focus:
Science & SST
Central Idea: Making

balanced choices enables us to have a healthy lifestyle.
Central Idea: Earth is

part of an immense system called the universe.
Central Idea:
Central Idea: Over time,

living things need to adapt in order to survive.
Gr. 4
An Inquiry into:
An Inquiry into:
9/10 year olds
*daily habits and routines (form) *balanced choices (responsibility) *consequences of choices (reflection)
*properties of the solar system (form) *the impact of the Earths position in the solar system to life on Earth (causation) *principles & processes involved in scientific experimentation (function)
Transportation, technology and industries grow over time through economic development.
An Inquiry into:
An Inquiry into: *transport and

Principled & Balanced

Thinkers & Inquirers
Focus Attitudes:
Focus Attitudes:
Commitment & Empathy
Curiosity & Respect
the relationship to the growth of cities (causation) *transition from a rural society to a more urban, industrialized society (change) *advances in technology that contribute to prosperity and role in the global economy (reflection)
*lifecycles and food webs of animals and plants (causation) *the organization of plant and animal ecosystems (connection) *the ways animals and plants adapt to their environment (change)

Inquirers & Knowledgeable
Focus Attitudes:
Appreciation & Independence

Reflective & Risk-taker Focus Attitudes: Tolerance & Integrity
Concepts: Form,
Connection & Reflection
Form & Perspective
Concepts: Change, Function

& Responsibility
Concepts: Function,
Perspective & Responsibility
Function, Perspective & Causation
Related Concepts:
Related Concepts:
Related Concepts:
Related Concepts: Geology

& Tectonic Plate movement
Communities, Diversity and Motivation
Chronology, Exploration & Analysis
Structure, Subjectivity & Opinion
Related Concepts:
Subject focus:
Subject focus:
Subject focus:
Subject focus:
Interdependence, Inequity & Fair Trade
Related Concepts:
Conflict, Governments & Cooperation
Science, Social Studies & Language
Social studies & Math
Language & Performing Arts
Central Idea: Human

survival is connected to understanding the continual changing nature of the Earth.
Subject focus:
Subject focus:
Central Idea: By
Central Idea:
Gr. 5 10/11 year olds
Understanding the different ways of learning enables people to respond to their own learning needs as well as those of others.
exploring chronology we can analyze and make connections about the relationship between people and events.
Central Idea: People

use symbols to be expressive and to communicate.
Central Idea: Economic
Science, SST & Visual Arts
An Inquiry into:
An Inquiry into:
activity relies on systems of production, exchange and consumption of goods and services.
Central Idea: Individual

action and group strategies can inspire us to make ours a better world.
An Inquiry into:
An Inquiry into: *how people construct
knowledge (form & function of the brain) *learning communities (function) *Different learning styles (perspective) *how different learning styles impact the way we learn (causation)
*changes experienced because of the journeys through time (causation) *significant historical events (reflection) *the relationship of our location to other parts of the world (connection)
*symbolism (form) *why people use symbolism (causation) *how specific groups use symbolism (perspective)

Balanced & Reflective
*different components of the Earth (function) *how the Earth has changed and is changing (change) *humans response to the Earths changes (responsibility)
An Inquiry into:
Focus Attitudes:
Communicators & Caring
*the role of energy supply and demand (function) *sustainable distribution of goods and services (connection) *our responsibility as consumers (responsibility)
An Inquiry into:
*cause of conflict (causation) *human rights and equity (perspective) *strategies used to resolve conflict (responsibility) *how best to take action (responsibility)
Knowledgeable & Openminded
Appreciation, Enthusiasm & Integrity
Focus Attitudes:
Enthusiasm & Empathy
Inquirers, Knowledgeable & Open-minded

Thinkers & Risk-takers
Focus Attitudes:
Knowledgeable & Caring
Curiosity & Tolerance
Focus Attitudes:
Focus Attitudes:
Independence & Cooperation
Focus Attitudes:
Creativity, Commitment & Cooperation
Creativity & Respect

Program of Inquiry

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GEMS American Academy in Abu Dhabi: PROGRAMME OF INQUIRY 2013-2014

Where We Are In Place & Time

How We Express Ourselves

How The World Works

How We Organize Ourselves

Sharing The Planet

Concepts: Function &

Function & Connection

Concepts: Form, Function, Connection &

Clothes, Community & Purpose

Classification & Growth

Social Studies & Visual Art

Language & Performing Arts

Science & Math

Math & Language

Central Idea: You are

Central Idea: Nursery

Central Idea: The

Central Idea: Plants and

KG3 3/4 year olds

you and I am me, but we learn to play together in harmony.

Focus Learner Profile:

Focus Learner Profile:

Focus Learner Profile:

Focus Learner Profile:

Communicators & Openminded

Creativity & Confidence

Appreciation & Respect

Responsibility, Connection & Causation

Function & Connection

Perspective & Reflection

Responsibility & change

Homes, family & purpose

Interconnectedness, Cooperation, Belonging & Behavior

Visuals, Representations & Communication

Conservation, Consumption & Pollution

Social Studies & Language

Language & The Arts

Science & Math

Social Studies & Language

Central Idea: Our

KG4 4/5 year olds

Central Idea: Our

relationships with each other have an impact on everyones well-being.

family homes relate to where we live in the world.

Central Idea: Stories

can engage an audience and communicate meaning.

Central Idea: Children

Focus Learner Profile:

Focus Learner Profile:

Focus Learner Profile:

Risk-taker & Reflective

Focus Learner Profile:

Respect & Appreciation

Enthusiasm & Tolerance

Integrity & Empathy

GEMS American Academy in Abu Dhabi: PROGRAMME OF INQUIRY 2013-2014

Where We Are In Place & Time

How We Express Ourselves

How The World Works

How We Organize Ourselves

Sharing The Planet

Responsibility & Causation

properties of water (function) uses of water (connection) *distribution in communities (responsibility)