Our new Inquiry Unit in Grade 1 EWU is all about Community. We are understanding the people around us and the important roles they play. This unit is guided by the Inquiry Cycle, which encourages curiosity, questioning, and reflection. Rather than simply being told what to learn, our students’ own questions drive the learning, giving them a real sense of agency and ownership.
We began by exploring our personal communities, sharing where we live, who is important to us, and what makes each community special. After presenting our communities, students asked thoughtful questions to their classmates, helping them make connections and notice similarities and differences between their experiences.
From there, we shifted our focus to our school community.Together, we brainstormed a list of people we would like to interview within the school: from teachers, office staff to our chefs, cleaners, and our leadership team. The students worked collaboratively to create their own interview questions in English, which they practiced in pairs before meeting our first guest.
Our first interview was with the Head Chef, who shared insights into his daily work and the delicious meals he prepares for our school. We then reflected on what we learned which was not just about cooking and why he wore a white hat, but about teamwork, responsibility, and care within a community.
Next week, our inquiry will continue as we interview more members of our school community. The pinnacle of this journey will be interviewing our wonderful principal, Mr. Daniel Grover, and discovering his role in leading and supporting our community.
Through this Inquiry Unit, our students are learning that every community is made up of people who help, care, and connect — and that their own questions can lead to meaningful discoveries.