How The World Works

Transdisciplinary Theme

'How The World Works'

Central Idea

Changes to the Earth’s surface and natural environment can impact on communities

As an International Baccalaureate world school, authorised to teach the Primary Year’s Programme, we explore six transdisciplinary themes each year.

Our next Unit is an inquiry into How the World Works. Students will be learning about the natural world and its laws, the interaction between the natural world and human communities. They will be learning about the impact of scientific and technological advances on society and on the environment.  Students will be encouraged to think critically and creatively with real world opportunities to solve problems that exist for Global communities, while also developing their skills to work independently and reflect on their performance when undertaking independent tasks.

We are aiming to cultivate the students’ curiosity as they investigate how geological changes occur and the development of extreme weather conditions- in order to broaden their understanding of the impact these have both globally and locally. The student’s learning in this Unit of Inquiry will enable them to develop a creative solution to a real-world problem which they will exhibit to the school community.  

Concepts

• Causation
• Change

Lines of Inquiry

• Sudden geological changes

• Extreme weather conditions
• Impact on human lives
• Impact on the environment

Action

We continue to encourage our students’ independent action inspired by our Units of Inquiry. It may be independently finding items that help them explore geological changes and extreme weather conditions that impact on the Earth’s surface and natural environment. This might be in the form of magazines, newspaper articles, books, photos or personal experience. Students are encouraged to initiate their own research, find answers to their questions and share their findings with the class. 

We celebrate our students’ ACTION every day in our classrooms. Please celebrate any action you see occurring in your home.

Approaches to Learning

• Research
• Communication
• Cooperation
• Organisation of time and resources
• Presenting

Learner Profile Focus

• Knowledgeable
• Thinker

Provocations Driving our Inquiry

• What is underneath us?
• What is around and above us?
• What do you know about natural geological and extreme weather events? Why/How do they occur?
• How do natural geological and extreme weather events impact on humans?
• What natural geological and extreme weather events impact Australia and Australians?
• What are the short term and long-term effects of natural geological and extreme weather events impact on humans?

The Year 5 Team

 Janelle Diggins, Angus Ross, Christine Gill & Jameel Marashli

The Year 5 Team

Miss Lauren Lowers/Mrs Kate Boston, Mrs Janelle Diggins, Mr Grant Rounsley and  Mrs Christine Gill