1. Briargrove Elementary
Programme of Inquiry
Who we are
Where we are in place
and time
How we express
ourselves
An exploration of the nature of
the self, of our beliefs and
values; of personal, physical,
mental, social and spiritual
health; of our families, friends,
communities and cultures; of
our rights and responsibilities;
of what it means to be human.
An exploration of our
orientation in place and time;
of our personal histories; of
history and geography from
local and global perspectives;
of our homes and journeys; of
the discoveries, explorations
and migrations of humankind;
of the contributions of
individuals and civilizations.
An exploration of the ways in
which we discover and express
our nature, ideas, feelings,
beliefs and values through
language and the arts.
10-11
Central Idea: Human migration
produces economic, social, political,
and cultural change in the country of
origin and the receiving country.
Inquiry into:
Grade 5
Central Idea: People’s beliefs and
values impact societies.
Inquiry into:
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●
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Aspects of belief systems
Individual rights and
responsibilities within a
society
How to govern values and
beliefs
Key Concepts: Causation,
Function, Perspective
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How migration can be
represented geographically
The motivation behind why
people explored and
migrated
The point of view of the
immigrants and established
communities
Key Concepts: Perspective,
Causation, Form
Related Concepts: Migration,
Exploration, Geographical impact,
Borders
9-10
Central Idea
Grade 4
Identity is cultivated by changes,
choices, and values.
Central Idea: Progress is
determined by decisions, resources,
and roles.
Inquiry into:
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Inquiry into:
The diversity of economy
depends on supply,
demand, and available
Central Idea
Rituals, traditions, and artifacts
provide a window into the beliefs and
values of cultures.
How the world works
An exploration of the physical
and material world; of natural
and human-made phenomena;
of the world of science and
technology.
How we organize
ourselves
Sharing the planet
An exploration of human
systems and communities; of
the world of work, its nature
and its value; of employment
and unemployment and their
impact.
An exploration of our rights
and responsibilities as we try
to share finite resources with
other people, with other living
things; of communities and of
the relationships within and
between them.
WORK IN PROGRESS
WORK IN PROGRESS
WORK IN PROGRESS
WORK IN PROGRESS
Central Idea
Changes, improvements, and
processes can impact the
interdependence in a system.
Lines of Inquiry
●
Being responsible produces
reliable results.
●
Efficiency is the product of
improvement.
WORK IN PROGRESS
Lines of Inquiry
● Forming a colonization
● Significance of songs and stories
in culture
● The physical design of a colony
reflects its cultural beliefs
Key Concepts
Function, Perspective, Reflection
Related Concepts
Diversity, Beliefs
WORK IN PROGRESS
• Briargrove Elementary School • 6145 San Felipe Street • Houston, Texas • 2013-2014 • Update: 8/25/2013

2. ●
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Identity can be
interpreted by multiple
points of view
Voluntary change vs.
forced change
Values define order or
chaos of a system.
Key Concepts: Perspective,
Change, Function
8-9
WORK IN PROGRESS
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●
resources
Challenges have impacted
the growth of Texas
A community is defined by
the strength of its people
●
Key Concepts
Responsibility, Function, Reflection,
Key Concepts: Causation, Change,
Connection
Related Concepts: Challenges,
Decisions, Independence, Diversity
WORK IN PROGRESS
Grade 3
Related Concepts
Transition, Changes,
Interdependence, Connectivity,
Processes, Responsibilities,
Reliability
Central Idea:
Symbols and actions communicate
cultural identity.
Inquiry into:
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Importance of expression
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Culture as a community
●
Relationship between
personal and cultural
identity
Key Concepts: Causation,
Reflection, Connection
7-8
Grade 2
Central Idea:
Choices of citizens lead to change.
Inquiry into:
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Roles and responsibilities of
citizens
●
Identify characteristics of
citizenship
●
Recognition and influence
of contributions made by
historical citizens
Key Concepts: Responsibility,
Causation, Change
Government is accountable
for the welfare of its
people.
Central Idea: Systems in our
universe mold the environment.
Inquiry into:
●
Orderly changes to the
Earth’s surface
●
Differentiate the
operations of a system
●
Orderly changes impact
society
Key Concepts: Change, Function,
Connection
Central Idea
Organizations help citizens meet
their needs and wants.
Lines of Inquiry
● Our responsibilities as citizens.
● Economic trends affect the
quality of life.
● Levels of government work
together
WORK IN PROGRESS
Related Concepts: Geography,
Settlements, Ecosystems,
Dependence
Key Concepts
Central Idea
Earth’s cycles affect and connect
with one another.
Central Idea: Leaders and citizens’
decisions establish and maintain
order in the community.
Lines of Inquiry
● Changes in states of matter
WORK IN PROGRESS
WORK IN PROGRESS
Inquiry into:
● Steps of the water cycle and
connection to weather
● Patterns in the night sky
Key Concepts
Connection, Causation, Function
Related Concepts
Matter, Weather, Nature, Systems
(solar, water cycle, weather)
Responsibility, Connection, Function
Related Concepts
Needs and Wants, Supply and
Demand, Infrastructure
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Characteristics and roles
of leaders in our
government
Structure of communities
Organization and
structure of government
positions
Impact of government
decisions on
governed society
Key Concepts: Form, Function,
Causation
Related Concepts: Government,
Legislation, Production
• Briargrove Elementary School • 6145 San Felipe Street • Houston, Texas • 2013-2014 • Update: 8/25/2013
WORK IN PROGRESS

3. 6-7
Grade 1
Central Idea:
Group membership impacts who we
become.
WORK IN PROGRESS
WORK IN PROGRESS
Inquiry into:
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Groups we belong to
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Characteristics of the
groups
●
How groups influence who
we are
Central Idea: Changes in our
environment are interrelated and
can be measured.
Inquiry into:
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Reasons for change
●
Cause and Effect of
environmental change
●
Natural and physical
changes in our
environment
Key Concepts:Responsibility,
Causation, Connection
Key Concepts: Causation,
Connection, Change
Related Concepts: Cause/effect,
Physical Changes, Matter,
Interdependence, Climate
Central Idea
Individuals and organizations make
decisions based on wants and needs.
Lines of Inquiry
●
Compare and analyze
wants and needs
●
Producers and consumers
are dependent on each
other
●
Community leaders’
decisions influence
economic activities
WORK IN PROGRESS
Key Concepts
Responsibility, Perspective, Function
Related Concepts
Communication, Governments,
Interdependence
5-6
Grade K
Central Idea:
Others influence our understanding
of ourselves.
Inquiry into:
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Who we are, your beliefs,
your values
●
How communities work
together
●
Responsibility within your
roles and others
Key Concepts: Reflection,
Responsibility, Perspective
WORK IN PROGRESS
WORK IN PROGRESS
Central Idea: Patterns in the
environment influence the world.
Inquiry into:
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Patterns and cycles in the
world
●
Visible changes when
cycles occur
●
Effect patterns have on
the world we live in
Central Idea
Communities need people to fulfill
roles and provide resources.
Lines of Inquiry
● Roles in communities
● Responsible citizenship
● What makes a community
Key Concepts: Form, Change,
Connection
Related Concepts: Adaptation,
Plants, Seasons, Systems (solar
cycle/weather), Interdependence,
Climate
Key Concepts
Connection, Responsibility, Function
Related Concepts
Safety, Community, Citizenship,
Rules, Organization
• Briargrove Elementary School • 6145 San Felipe Street • Houston, Texas • 2013-2014 • Update: 8/25/2013
WORK IN PROGRESS