What is Inquiry and how does it happen? PYP Learning in Action at RCHK Adrienne Jensen

PYP Inquiry PYP inquiry is structured, purposeful inquiry that engages students actively in their own learning.

The Teaching Continuum Discovery Learning Unguided Inquiry Guided Inquiry Didactic teaching Didactic Teaching 

Concept of fact? Fact: An event or thing known to have happened or existed. A truth verifiable from experience or observation. An inescapable truth A reality Concept An idea (esp. an abstract idea) Usually very broad Are timeless and universal Can be represented by different examples that share common attributes

Concepts A concept driven curriculum is a powerful vehicle for real learning, learning which promotes genuine understanding and which challenges the students to engage with important ideas.

Units of Inquiry The units of inquiry are set under ORGANIZING THEMES Who we are Where we are in place and time How we express ourselves How the world works How we organize ourselves Sharing the planet

Science and Technology Social Studies (Geography, History Society) Personal and Social Education Language Mathematics The Arts (Music, Drama, Visual Arts) Physical Education These subject areas are always covered within the units of inquiry These subject areas can be a part of the unit of inquiry and can be taught as stand alone subjects Units of Inquiry

Using Literature to stimulate Inquiry Teachers use a range of materials to provoke thinking with students. One of the most effective ways is by using picture story books. By using narrative, children are able to identify with characters, and their ‘journeys’ or discoveries. This is especially effective when demonstrating the Learner Profile attributes. The Dot is one such text.

Strategies used to promote thinking Teachers in all classes use a variety of strategies to develop deeper thinking on the central idea or enduring understanding, and lines of inquiry. Mostly these start with a question, which is open –ended – no defined answer is attached. This then encourages exploration of the multi layers of understanding.

Examples of strategies The workshop photos show questions and visual organisers of the information. On the RCHK website, at: You can see a varied range of strategies for each year level as they work through a unit of inquiry.

Developing Thinkers and Inquirers Some questions to provoke thinking about inquiry learning: Why is it important to develop in the ability to think and question? At home, what can we do to ensure that this happens?