1st Grade
Who We Are
Central Idea: Geographical location influences lifestyles.
Driving Question: How do we, as meteorologists, design and plan a way to educate a community so they are prepared for various weather events?
1st grade students will investigate how geographical location influences lifestyles. Students will learn about the naturally observed patterns, structure of our world, and how their personal growth and understanding impacts decisions. During the unit, Hurricane Dorian occurred. As students worked to educate the community to be prepared for weather events they realized that instead of being prepared, we needed to help the Bahamian people. Students researched their needs, how to send goods to the people, created commercials to explain their drive on our WTJ morning news, and designed collection bins. After collecting supplies, students boxed and prepared the supplies that were delivered to the Bahamian Consulate in Atlanta.
How We Organize Ourselves
Central Idea: Everyday activities are impacted by interconnected systems.
Driving Question: How can we, as consumers, earn and save money towards decorating gingerbread cookies?
1st grade students will investigate how everyday activities are impacted by interconnected systems. Students will inquiry how spending choices are connected to needs and wants, how we impact of choices, the function of our economic system, and how connection of roles within a system are supported. While inquiring about the economic principles, students will keep track of their earnings and calculate their budget for creating gingerbread cookies. Students will budget their spending to determine what toppings they can select to create their gingerbread cookies!
How We Express Ourselves
Central Idea: Communication allows people to discover and express ideas.
Driving Question: How can we, as electrical engineers, create an emergency signal that can be heard through our walls?
1st grade students will investigate how communication allows people to discover and express ideas. Students will inquire the impact of our communication, the messages sent by varying sounds , the appreciation of other individuals’ ideas. Students will be challenged to create alarms emergency signal alarms that can be heard through our walls. With guidance from our head custodian, students will learn how the emergency alarm system works at WTJ. Students will take this knowledge to work with peers in creating emergency alarm systems that can be heard through the walls at school.
Where We Are in Place & Time
Central Idea: Exploration leads to new discoveries.
Driving Question: How can we, as cartographers, create a 3-dimensional map to teach others about landforms around the world?
1st grade students make connections to how exploration leads to new discoveries. Students learn the causes and effects of exploration, basic needs of plants, and the formation and creation of landforms in their natural environments. Students will be challenged to create 3-D topographical maps to teach others about landforms around the world.