January 2011

Dear Parents or Caregivers,

Year 1 has commenced an ongoing unit of inquiry into the transdisciplinary theme, ‘How The World Works’. Under
this theme, the students will inquire into the natural world and its laws.

Central idea
All living things go through a process of change.

An inquiry into...
 How living things change over their lifetime
 Living things change in different ways

Key concepts develop an understanding of the central idea

 Form: classification, plants and animals
 Change: growth, sequence

Teacher questions are designed to develop an understanding of the concepts and the central idea
 What is it like?
 How has it changed?

Learner Profile
 Inquirer & Knowledgeable

Attitudes
 Appreciation & Commitment

Transdisciplinary skills:
 Communication skills: Using language to explain, inquire and compare
 Research skills: Reading non-fiction texts for information. Observing and collecting data. Recording
observations/ information by drawing, using flow charts, keeping a journal or record, and writing reports.
 Thinking skills: Analysing and synthesising
 Mathematical skills (measurement and data handling):
o Applying measurement skills through non-standard units. For example, measuring the growth of
plants (height) and growth of crayfish (length).
o Applying data handling skills. For example, creating a table/chart to record growth of a person,
animal or plant.

How you can help at home

 Start with the family: talk about life cycles that are familiar (people, pets, butterflies)
 Discuss observations children have of how living things change
 Incorporate these vocabulary words into your discussion

birth, growth, change, male, female, mature, reproduction, death,

germination, flowering, fruit bearing, seed, seedling, living, non-living

Help your child develop their natural curiosity for living things in his/her environment and discover how they are
growing and changing.

If you feel you have a special talent or contribution to make to your son or daughter’s class concerning this unit of
inquiry, please contact the relevant teacher!

Thank you 
Year 1 Team