Grade 3

Unit Introductory Latter

From the PYP Coordinator’s desk
Developing student led inquiry
The biggest catastrophe that can happen to a teacher embarking on inquiry for
the first time is to implement an open inquiry without fully understanding the
level of their students’ independent inquiry skills. There aren’t many children
who are new to the IB PYP that have been formally guided through the skills
necessary for independent inquiry. This can result in confusion at best and
frustration at the worst. Not to mention that moment when you just have to
abandon the lesson and re-group.

We want to ensure that our inquiries are structured in such a way that will
introduce strategies and guide and support the children as they experience
and develop those independent inquiry skills. We want the child to actively
participate rather than feel intimidated, unenthusiastic or even bored. By
selecting a level of inquiry that will offer that necessary support, you are
setting the students up for greater success with their learning.
Different ways of leading inquiry in the class are as below:

Structured inquiry: This is used more frequently when a class is new to inquiry

based learning. You can identify students who are less confident and less
inclined to take initiative. They are unsure of higher level questioning and tend
to stick with the fundamental questions – who is, how does, what is? Few are
prepared to take risks with uncertain answers or answers that may not have a
definite solution.

Guided Inquiry: This level of inquiry is used when a class is relatively new to

inquiry or has carried out inquiries before and they are beginning to suggest
their own direction, demonstrate higher levels of creative thinking and
developing their own questions. Or if the class contains a group of students
who demonstrate higher levels of curiosity, generate ideas willingly and
confidently and offer conjectures. Guided inquiry is great to use if this group is
able to carry their class mates if grouped within small collaborative groups.
Open Inquiry: This is used with students who are experienced in inquiry and
can direct their own process and learning entirely independently or using the
posters and cards to support themselves. They are able to take a line of inquiry
or a prompt and develop it further using their knowledge of multiple skills and
strategies. They may suggest changing the line of inquiry in order to explore a
direction they are more curious about.  They take initiative in group
discussions, delegating tasks and commitment to finding sources and
strategies, offering opinions and recognizing their mistakes as a step closer to
success.

Source: https://www.pypteachingtools.com/
Introduction to the Unit

Dear Parents and Guardians, we are pleased to inform you all that Grade 3 is
heading towards the unit of inquiry on Organization under the
Transdisciplinary Theme- ‘How we Organized Ourselves’.

In this unit students will inquire in depth into:

 How decisions are made and how an organization functions to help

people and collaborate for the larger good of the community.
 Different reasons for establishing organizations.
 Responsibilities of individuals within and outside organizations.

Unit details are as follows:

Central Idea- Actions of Individuals and organizations can contribute to society

Lines of Inquiry-

 Organizations and their purpose

 Ways in which individuals and organizations contribute to the society
 Our social responsibility 
Key concepts-
 Function,
 Causation,
 Responsibility

Related concepts-
 System,
 Consequences,
 citizenship
ATL- Social skills, Research Skills
Learner Profile –

 Communicator,
 Thinker,
 Principled

Subject Integration- English

We also look forward to the help from you in making these learning more
relevant, interesting, concrete and fun at the same time by taking some
initiatives at home. We request you to have a discussion about the
organizations, and their functions, social responsibility towards society.
Encourage the kids to research and find out if such similar practices were
followed in any organization. Kindly encourage the child to record his findings
and present it to you and in the class as well. You are also welcome to suggest
the ideas or resources which you feel will be relevant to the unit. You can also
share the articles or items that can be shown in the classroom which will help
students to make connections and enhance their learning. Also, encourage
your ward to complete the assignments/ H.W.`s on time, sit with your ward
while they are involved in research or homework tasks and have a
conversation on the research work / homework they are doing to help them
understand better, we are open to your suggestions on any unit related books
That you might want to share that can enhance their understanding.

Warm
Regards,
PYP- 3
Team,

Wockhardt Global School