Grade/
Theme
4th
Who We Are
An inquiry into the nature
of the self; beliefs and
values; personal, physical,
mental, social and
spiritual health; human
relationships including
families, friends,
communities, and
cultures; rights and
responsibilities; what it
means to be human.
Where We Are In Place &
Time
An inquiry into orientation in
place and time; personal
histories; homes and journeys;
the discoveries, explorations
and migrations of humankind;
the relationships between and
then interconnectedness of
individuals and civilizations,
from local and global
perspectives.
How We Express Ourselves
An inquiry into the ways in
which we discover and express
ideas, feelings, nature, culture,
beliefs and values; the ways in
which we reflect on, extend
and enjoy our creativity; our
appreciation of the aesthetic.
Exhibition
Central Idea: Challenges and
opportunities drive
immigration and migration.
Central Idea:
Cultural beliefs and values
are expressed through
literature.
Central Idea: TBD
Key Concepts: Change,
perspective, causation
Related Concepts:
Exploration, consequences,
impact
Key Concepts: Form,
connection, causation
Related Concepts: Culture,
Values, Beliefs, Traditional,
Diversity
Lines of Inquiry:
*Conflict between groups of
people
*Reasons and ways people
relocate
* Effects of immigration and
migration
on communities, cultures,
and individuals
S, SS, ELA, A, Mu
3rd
4
6
Central Idea:
Cooperative innovation
solves problems.
Key Concepts:
Causation, perspective,
reflection, change
Related Concepts:
Behavior, sequencing the
action cycle, interpretation
Lines of Inquiry:
* Ways to pose and solve
problems
*Methods used by
significant individuals to
solve problems
*Ways people may solve
local, national and global
issues
S, SS, ELA, MML, PE, A,
Mu
Fernway School
SS, ELA, MML, PE
3
Lines of Inquiry:
* The difference between
forms
* The way literature details
support theme
* Comparing texts from
various cultures
ELA, SS, MML, Mu, A
How The World Works
An inquiry into the natural
world and its laws; the
interaction between the natural
world (physical and
biological) and human
societies; how humans use
their understanding of
scientific principles; the
impact of scientific and
technological advances on
society and on the
environment.
Central Idea:
People respond to the
shaping and reshaping of the
Earth’s surface.
Key Concepts: Form,
change, causation,
responsibility
Related Concepts:
Erosion, geography,
plate movement
Lines of Inquiry:
*Land forms
* The processes that shape and
reshape the Earth’s surface
*How changes on the Earth
are measured and addressed
1
S, ELA , M , MML
2
Central Idea: Cultures
exhibit change and continuity.
Central Idea: Digital media
connects people and ideas.
Central Idea: Traits and
behaviors optimize survival.
Key Concepts: Perspective,
change, form, function
Related Concepts: Opinion,
beliefs, differences, values,
change
Key Concepts: Function, reflection,
connection, responsibility
Related Concepts: Communication,
evidence, initiative
Lines of Inquiry:
Key concepts: Form, function,
causation, connection
Related concepts: Prediction,
interpretation, genetics
Lines of Inquiry:
*Cultural elements
* Comparing and contrasting
cultural elements across time
and place
*Locating different
cultures
*Digital media platforms and
tools
*Compelling visual images
* The narrative arc
2
SS, ELA, MML, Mu
Shaker Heights, OH
3
ELA, SS, MML, A, Mu
Lines of Inquiry:
*Ways external features and
behaviors help plants and
animals to survive
*How the particular details of
a life cycle affects a living
things ability to reproduce and
survive
*How external features are a
result of inheritance
S, ELA, MML
6
Planners are numbered in the order they will be done
How We Organize Ourselves
An inquiry into the
interconnectedness of
human-made systems and
communities; the structure
and function of
organizations; societal
decision-making; economic
activities and their impact on
humankind and the
environment.
Sharing The Planet
An inquiry into rights and
responsibilities in the struggle
to share finite resources with
other people and with other
living things; communities and
the relationships within and
between them; access to equal
opportunities; peace and
conflict resolution.
Central Idea: Decisions
promote or deny justice.
Central Idea:
Resources drive production
and consumption.
Key Concepts: Function,
change, reflection
Related Concepts: Justice,
roles, responsibilities
Lines of Inquiry:
*Form and purposes of
government
*Democratic processes
*The impact of decision
making on societies
SS, ELA, MML, A
Key Concepts: Causation,
responsibility
Related Concepts:
Natural resources,
consumption, wealth
distribution, production
Lines of Inquiry:
*Productive resources
*Entrepreneurship
*Economic decision making
4
SS, ELA, M, MML
5
Central Idea:
Collaborative systems
strengthen communities.
Central Idea: Renewable
energy promotes sustainable
living.
Key Concepts: Function,
responsibility, connection
Related Concepts:
Citizenship, values, roles,
systems
Key Concepts: Change,
form, causation
Related Concepts:
Transformation, structure,
evidence
Lines of Inquiry:
* Organization of systems
and roles within a community
*Function and structure of
government
*Use of power and
Authority
Lines of Inquiry:
*Composition of Earth’s crust
*Ways people convert Earth’s
resources to energy
*Preservation of natural
resources
SS, ELA, MML, PE
1
S, SS, ELA, MML, PE
POI revision December, 2015
5
Who We Are
2nd
Where We Are In
Place and Time
Central Idea: Innovative
thinkers shape society.
Central Idea:
Actions create
consequences.
Key Concepts:
Reflection, connection,
responsibility.
Related Concepts:
Behavior, consequences,
citizenship, initiative
Lines of Inquiry:
*Rules and laws
*Rights and
responsibilities
*Consequences and
accountability
1st
1
SS, ELA, MML, Mu
Central Idea: Learner
profile attributes help
people build
relationships.
Key Concepts: Function,
responsibility, perspective
Related Concepts:
Citizenship
Lines of Inquiry:
*Learner profile attributes
*Building relationships
*Interviewing
1
ELA, SS, Mu, MML, A
K
Central Idea: People
learn by trying new
things and making new
friends.
Key Concepts: Form,
responsibility, perspective
Related Concepts:
Communication,
citizenship, decision
making
Lines of Inquiry:
*Individual uniqueness
*The qualities of a learner
*Risk-taking and
making choices
1
SS, ELA, MML,PE
Fernway School
How We Express Ourselves
How The World Works
How We Organize Ourselves
Key Concepts: Causation,
change, perspective, reflection
Central Idea: The arts
inspire response and
opinion.
Key Concepts: Form,
perspective, responsibility
Central Idea: Scientific
principles are understood
through observing and
experimenting.
Related Concepts: Initiative,
identity, contributions
Related Concepts: Selfexpression, diversity, freedom
Lines of Inquiry:
* Action of significant
individuals and groups)
* Ways to document personal
histories
* Impact of innovation on daily
living
Lines of Inquiry:
*Forms of artistic expression
*Defending an opinion
*Writing for an audience
Key Concepts: Form,
causation, change,
responsibility
Related Concepts: Patterns,
sequences
SS, ELA, MML, A
Central Idea:
Mapping directs people to
locations.
6
Key Concepts: Form, function,
connection
Related Concepts:
Geography, locality, borders,
landforms
Lines of Inquiry:
* Mapping tools and techniques
*Ways to represent places
*Relationship of a location to
other places in
the world
3
SS, M, MML, A
Central Idea: Living things
move in different ways for
many reasons.
Key Concepts: Form, function,
causation, responsibility
Related Concepts:
Animals, shelter, location
Lines of Inquiry:
*Homes and shelters
*Why living things move
*How living things move
S, ELA, MML, A
Shaker Heights, OH
5
5
SS, ELA, MML, Mu, A
Central Idea:
Writers write to persuade,
inform, and entertain.
Key Concepts: Form,
perspective, reflection,
responsibility
Related Concept:
Interpretation Self- expression,
Culture
Lines of Inquiry:
*Story Elements
*Authors from world cultures
*The writing process
6
3
SS, ELA, MML, Mu, PE
Central Idea:
Living things survive only in
environments that meet their
needs.
Key Concepts: Function,
causation, responsibility
Related Concepts: Animals,
habitat, conservation
Lines of Inquiry:
*Needs of living things
*Ways that habitats provide
needs
*Protecting habitats
5
ELA, M, MML
Central Idea Feelings inspire
creativity.
S, ELA, A, MML
Central Idea: Cycles repeat
in nature.
Key Concepts: Perspective,
connection, reflection
Related Concepts:
Communication, interpretation
Key Concepts: Form,
Change, perspective
Related Concepts:
Observations, transformations,
sequences, patterns
Lines of Inquiry:
*Types of cycles in our
natural world and how they
work
* Impact of natural cycles
on daily life
Lines of Inquiry:
*Color and shape in art and
nature
*Symmetry and balance
* How art and music express
feeling
* Sound
4
ELA, MML, Mu, A
S, ELA, MML
Central Idea: Living things
function in and interact with
their environments.
Central Idea: Economic
choices create
consequences.
Lines of Inquiry:
*Forces
*Water and weather
*Experimentation and
observation
6
Planners are numbered in the order they will be done
Sharing The Planet
Key Concepts: Causation,
connection, responsibility
Related Concepts:
Consumption, production,
interdependence
Lines of Inquiry:
*Producers and consumers
*The chain of events that
occur before and after
spending money
*Using money and
resources to take action
2
SS, ELA, MML, Mu
Central Idea: Each
person gets his/her needs
and wants by choosing
different goods and
services.
Key Concepts: Perspective,
causation, responsibility
Related Concepts: Choice,
consumption,
Lines of Inquiry:
*Basic needs
*Ways that goods and
services help meet needs and
want
*How different people meet
basic needs
2
SS, ELA, MML
Central Idea:
Communities are organized
for safety.
Key Concepts: Form,
function, responsibility
Related Concepts:
Citizenship, relationships,
systems
Lines of Inquiry:
* Purposes for rules and
routines
* Symbols and signs
*Community leaders
and helpers
2
SS, ELA, MML
Key Concepts: Function,
connection, change
Related Concepts:
Interdependence, locality,
impact
Lines of Inquiry:
*Food chains and food webs
*Changing habitats as related
to endangerment
*Similarities between
life forms past and present
4
SS, ELA, MML, PE
Central Idea:
Water is a crucial resource.
Key Concepts: Form,
change, responsibility
Related Concepts: Changes
of state, properties and uses of
materials, conservation
Lines of Inquiry:
*How matter changes
*How water moves
*Water conservation
4
S, ELA, SS, M, MML
Central Idea: Conflicts can
be solved peacefully.
Key Concepts: Reflection,
causation, perspective
Related Concepts:
Communication,
consequences, cooperation
Lines of Inquiry:
* Expressing needs and wants
*Identifying choices in order
to make decisions
* Ways to cooperate and share
ELA, SS, MML
POI revision December, 2015
3
4
Fernway School
Shaker Heights, OH
Planners are numbered in the order they will be done
POI revision December, 2015