Revised for
2014-2015
Who We Are
Where We Are in Place and Time
How We Express Ourselves
5th
Central Idea: Beliefs and values influence who we
are in our communities.
Key Concepts: Reflection, causation, perspective
Related Concepts: Diversity, community, culture,
connection
Lines of Inquiry:

Beliefs and values influence behaviors

The influence of friends, families, cultures
and communities on who we are

Impacts of decision-making

The influence of early civilizations on our
lives today
Central Idea: The continual change of the earth’s
cycle is interrelated as to how we live and behave.
Key Concepts: connection, form, change
Related Concepts: patterns, systems, cycle
Lines of inquiry:

Human adaptability to environmental
conditions

The impact of the solar system on life

The effects of motions and patterns
between earth and sun
Central Idea: Explorations lead to discovery and new
understandings.
Key Concepts: Reflection, causation, function
Related Concepts: Exploration, variance/variables,
discovery
Lines of Inquiry:

Investigations unlock new knowledge

Learning in multiple ways through
exploration

Scientific inquiry

The demonstration of knowledge is
expressed in multiple ways
4th
Central Idea: People explore the connections and the
responsibilities of various cultures.
Key Concepts:
Related Concepts:
Lines of Inquiry:

Connecting and evaluating people’s
responsibilities in various cultures

Impact of various cultures on roles in a
community

Analyzing different and shared
characteristics of cultures
Central Idea: Human migration is a response to
challenges, changes, risks, opportunity for survival
of a community.
Key Concepts: Function, reflection, change
Related Concepts: survival, cooperation, community
Lines of Inquiry:

The impact of human migration can be
positive and negative

The effects of immigration/migration on
personal histories and communities
Central Idea: Emotions and beliefs can be expressed
through writing, art, music and actions impacting
others.
Key Concepts: Reflection, form, perspective
Related Concepts: Rhythm, mood,
harmony/evolution
Lines of Inquiry:

Customs and traditions stimulate
expression

The impact of customs and traditions on
economics
3rd
Central Idea: People develop problem solving
strategies with the community for the environment.
Key Concepts: connection, change, function
Related Concepts: citizenship, consequences and
behavior
Lines of Inquiry:

Establish and model responsibilities for
classroom, families, communities

Solve problems to promote for the
common good and environment

Coordinate and collaborate the
involvement of the community
Central Idea: Cultures exhibit both change and
continuity across time and place.
Key Concepts: Connection, change, function
Related Concepts: Sequences, transformation
Lines of Inquiry:

Compare/contrast different cultures

Research different people/places over
time

Family diversity and evolution
Central Idea: A variety of signs and symbols
facilitates local and global communication.
Key Concepts: Perspective, reflection, connection
Related Concepts: Communication, creativity,
friendship
Lines of Inquiry:

Signs and symbols

Reasons for development of
communication systems

Specialized systems of communication
REVISED AS OF OCTOBER 2014
How the World Works
Central Idea: Energy is present in many forms
and is continually changing in response to
variables.
Key Concepts: causation, connection, form,
function
Related Concepts: change/continuity, variable,
production
Lines of Inquiry:

There are many different forms of
energy

The effects of laws upon our lives

Human interaction with nature
improves life
Central Idea: The human impact on the various
natural processes that shape our Earth.
Key Concepts: change, causation, connection
Related Concepts: human impact, natural
processes
Lines of Inquiry:

Exploring human impact upon the
natural processes

Exploring natural processes of Earth’s
surface

Human appreciation for the
environment
Central Idea: Human survival connects to
changes in the environment and the
community.
Key Concepts: Connection, change, causation
Related Concepts: Impact, relationships,
adaptation
Lines of Inquiry:

Why the environment changes

How the community and
environment are interrelated

Human reaction and responsibility to
changes
How We Organize Ourselves
Sharing the Planet
Central Idea: People’s economic survival needs
harmonize between production and
consumption.
Key Concepts: connection, function, perspective
Related Concepts: production, harmony, survival
Lines of inquiry:

Relationships between markets

Connections between human relations
to supply and demand

Reasons for economic change
Central Idea: Organisms perform a variety of
roles.
Key Concepts: function, responsibility
Related Concepts: balance, interaction,
connection
Lines of Inquiry:

Interdependence within ecosystems
and communities

Human interactions on environment
and the balance of systems

Humans’ responsibilities to living
things
Central Idea: Citizens can promote the common
good and influence their government.
Key Concepts: connection, function, responsibility
Related Concepts: justice, adaptation, diversity
Lines of Inquiry:

Impact of rights and responsibilities

Rules protect rights and assess
responsibilities

Affective participants in democratic
society and engage in compromise
Central Idea: Boundaries create conflict,
challenges and risks when a diverse population
shares the region.
Key Concepts: connection, change,
responsibility
Related Concepts: adaptation, conflict,
environment, perspective
Lines of Inquiry:

The actions of a diverse population
has consequences

Human actions reflect the conditions
of the environment
Central Idea: People can establish practices in
order to sustain and maintain resources.
Key Concepts: Responsibility, reflection, change
Related Concepts: causation, connections,
interdependence
Lines of Inquiry:

Limited resources (renewable and
non-renewable resources)

Personal choices to help sustain the
environment

Reusing and recycling different
materials

Reducing waste
Central Idea: People’s choices and behaviors can
influence the local/global economy.
Key Concepts: Function, change, form
Related Concepts: Systems, properties, cycles
Lines of Inquiry:

Factors of production

Different types of food

Role of producers and consumers

Monetary systems
Revised for
2014-2015
2nd
1st
K
Who We Are
Central Idea: Productive citizens demonstrate
personal accountability including making responsible
choices, taking responsibility for personal actions and
respecting others.
Key Concepts: responsibility and causation
Related Concepts: community and character
Lines of Inquiry:

Personal and communal responsibilities

Relative choices determine rewards and
consequences

The role of citizenship
Central Idea: The relationships between individuals
determine the roles within the community.
Key Concepts: function, responsibility
Related Concepts: community, aging/maturity
Lines of Inquiry:

Social interaction

Acknowledging others, roles, perspectives

Recognizing similarities and differences
between others within my community
Central Idea: Individuals are unique but have many
similarities.
Key Concepts: form, function
Related Concepts: similarities, differences, function
Lines of Inquiry:

Our attributes and characteristics

Role in the family

Comparison with others
REVISED AS OF OCTOBER 2014
Where We Are in Place and Time
Central Idea: Time can be shown graphically on
calendars. Change over time can be shown with
artifacts, maps and photographs that reflect
diversity.
Key Concepts: change, connection
Related Concepts: change, continuity, diversity
Lines of Inquiry:

Effects and causes of change

Diversity throughout the world

Connections create continuity and
diversity
Central Idea: Physical properties and journeys
determine perspective and connections.
Key Concepts: causation, form
Related Concepts: properties, structure
Lines of Inquiry:

Changes experienced because of
journeys

Choices and decisions involved in making
a journey

Where we live influences our perspective
of the world
Central Idea: Communities are where we interact
and work together safely.
Key Concepts: form, function
Related Concepts: similarities, differences, function
Lines of Inquiry:

There are different types of communities.

Communities have rules and authority
figures.

Rules keep people safe and in order.

People in communities have roles.
How We Express Ourselves
How the World Works
How We Organize Ourselves
Sharing the Planet
Central Idea: Interactions among cultures lead to an
understanding of perspective and interdependence.
Key Concepts: connection, perspective
Related Concepts: creativity, interdependence,
friendship
Lines of Inquiry:

Explore Hispanic culture

Research historical figures from diverse
backgrounds

Exchange of communication across
familiar and unfamiliar borders
Central Idea: Relationships demonstrate a variety of
connections and interactions among classroom
families and families.
Key Concepts: Connection, perspective
Related Concepts: Beliefs, relationships
Lines of Inquiry:

Individual as a member of a
family/community

How families lived long ago and today

How families live in other cultures
Central Idea: Changes in the environment
impact organisms
Key Concepts: Form, function
Related Concepts: Adaptation, reaction
Lines of Inquiry:

Common recycling process

Animal adaptation to environment

Technological advances relative to
environment
Central Idea: People’s actions determine the
production and distribution within a community.
Key Concepts: function, responsibility
Related Concepts: wealth, production
Lines of inquiry:

Buying and selling goods

Needs and wants

People earn an income by work
Central Idea: Communities interact and share
environments to demonstrate responsibilities to
meet their survival needs.
Key Concepts: reflection, responsibility
Related Concepts: environment,
abundance/scarcity
Lines of Inquiry:

Resources can be used in a variety of
ways

Production and distribution of goods
Central Idea: Properties of things can change.
Key Concepts: Reflection, causation
Related Concepts: impact, exploration
Lines of Inquiry:

Life cycles

Developmental stages of various
properties

How properties change over time
Central Idea: Communities are impacted by rules,
routines and relationships within the society.
Key Concepts: connection, causation
Related Concepts: relationships, impact
Lines of Inquiry:

Interconnectedness of people

Shared vision and a common purpose

Shared responsibilities
Central Idea: All life on earth is dependent on
the sun.
Key Concepts: Function, causation, change
Related Concepts: Values, impact, weather
Lines of Inquiry:

Air, water and land

Sun is a source of energy that causes
change

Relationships to the sun in the
environment
Central Idea: We can explore how sound changes
through sequences and patterns.
Key Concepts: change, causation
Related Concepts: sequences, patterns
Lines of Inquiry:

Various sounds

Sounds change

Vibration

Properties of sound
Central Idea: Weather changes impact everyday
life.
Key Concepts: change, causation, connection
Related Concepts: relationships, cycles, impact
Lines of Inquiry:

What weather is

Weather can change

Changes can be quick or slow

Weather has an impact
Central Idea: Sorting and classifying objects by
their properties is a guide for structuring.
Key Concepts: connection, form, function
Related Concepts: systems, structure, role
Lines of Inquiry:

5 steps help us classify

Attributes

Rules of sorting and classifying

The world is organized
Central Idea: Rules provide order and safety for
all people in the community.
Key Concepts: responsibility, perspective
Related Concepts: prejudice, values, justice,
rights
Lines of Inquiry:

Traits and needs of living things

Living things depend on one another

Living things are all over the world