March 12th, 2012 Dear Parents, We are now commencing our Unit of Inquiry under the transdisciplinary theme:

Sharing the Planet

Central idea: The environment responds to our choices and actions.

Lines of inquiry The choices we make and the actions we take The consequences of our choices and actions Our responsibility towards the environment

Key Concepts
Responsibility: actions, consequences Causation: causes and effects Connection: how we are connected to the environment

During this unit the children will explore how the environment responds to the actions of people, both positively and negatively. They will inquire into the causes of environmental changes and the effects that can result from these. The children will have opportunities to inquire into their own choices and consider the personal action they can take to care for their environment. They will share their understandings and action in a variety of ways to encourage others to also develop greater awareness and responsibility.

Transdisciplinary Skills Thinking Skills: o making judgments based on facts, standards or criteria Self-management Skills: o making informed choices, planning and carrying out activities appropriately Social Skills: o taking on and assuming a share of the responsibility Mathematical skills - Data Handling, Problem Solving and Shape and Space:
o

Applying data handling skills: collecting, creating and representing data in different kinds of graphs

o Representing the relationship between sets of objects o Solving maths problems by applying different strategies o Identifying and comparing characteristics of 2D & 3D shapes

Language Skills: o Attending to visual information and presenting visual texts o Reading, listening and responding to a variety of fiction and non-fiction texts that are related to the inquiry o Interacting with peers and adults to share and exchange information o Exploring and creating persuasive texts, posters, advertisements and messages

How you can help at home

Start with the family: look at the actions you take in your daily life and discuss how the environment responds to them.

Questions that might guide your inquiry: * How do we get rid of our garbage? * What do we do in terms of consuming/saving energy? (turning lights off during the day, using rechargeable batteries, etc.) * What kind of transportation do we use? How does it affect the environment? Identify behaviours that make you an environmentally responsible person Support ideas and/or actions which your child may wish to pursue such as, reusing shopping bags, conserving water, recycling cans, taking a shower instead of a bath, etc.

Explain the vocabulary listed below to your child in their mother tongue reduce, re-use, recycle, energy, action, causes, effects, consequences, environment, responsibility, commitment, pollution, litter, waste, sustain,

Thank you for supporting your child in; developing their responsibility towards their immediate environment, discovering how their choices and actions can impact the

environment and understanding that by making informed choices they can make a positive change.

During this unit, we plan to take the children out to explore a neighbourhood, a park or an area where we could help take action to protect the environment and make a positive change. If you have ideas regarding the above or you could contribute in this unit in any way, please contact your childs teacher.

Kind regards, The Year One Team