Grade 2 is off to an exciting start of the year with the IB PYP transdisciplinary theme “Who We Are.” We started the theme with a project that has helped us ease into our central idea “Homes reflect personal identity and local culture.”
The project was called “Build a House With Specific Measurements.” In math class, we began learning about measurement. They had to use this knowledge during the project. Students were given specific measurements for the base, walls, and roof of the house. They were also given different materials such as straws, construction paper, and popsicle sticks. Students had to decide which material they would use for each part of the house. Once they decided on the materials they were going to use, they put their measurement skills to the test. It was a challenge, but it was also a lot of fun.
This project was just the beginning. For the next six weeks, we are going to keep exploring our theme and engage in various projects. We will inquire about different types of homes, what makes our homes special, and what influences where people live.
Another activity students engaged in was Gallery Walk of Homes. They were presented with different types of homes around the world and they wrote down anything they knew about them. Students also wrote down what they were wondering about different homes. Their wonderings are going to serve as a base for upcoming student inquiries.
