1. Briargrove Elementary
Programme of Inquiry (2014-2015)
Who we are
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.
Where we are in place and
time
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.
How we express ourselves
An exploration of the ways in which
we discover and express our nature,
ideas, feelings, beliefs and values
through language and the arts.
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
An exploration of human systems
and communities; of the world of
work, its nature and its value; of
employment and unemployment and
their impact.
Sharing the planet
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.
Grade K
Ages 5-6
Central Idea:
Others influence our understanding of
ourselves.
Inquiry into:
● Who we are, your beliefs,
your values
● How communities work
together
● Responsibility within your
roles and others
Key Concepts: ​Reflection,
Responsibility, Perspective
①
Central Idea:
The Earth’s physical geography affects
our daily lives.
Inquiry into:
● Composition of the Earth
● Properties of soil and water
● Use of Earth’s materials
● Relationship between
geographic locations and
materials
Key Concepts: ​Form, Causation,
Connection
Related Concepts:​Geography,
Resources
②
Central Idea:
People use a variety of mediums to
communicate their thoughts, customs
and mind-set.
Inquiry into:
● Forms of communication
● Representing feelings and
ideas
● Different ways that thoughts
are presented
● Similarities and difference of
beliefs
Key Concepts:​Form, Perspective,
Connection
Related Concepts:​Similarities,
Differences, Relationships, Beliefs
Central Idea:
Patterns in the environment influence
the world.
Inquiry into:
● Patterns and cycles in the
world
● Visible changes when cycles
occur
● Effect patterns have on the
world we live in
Key Concepts: ​​Form, Change,
Connection
Related Concepts: ​Adaptation, Plants,
Seasons, Systems (solar
cycle/weather), Interdependence,
Climate
④
Central Idea:
Communities need people to fulfill
roles and provide resources.
Inquiry into:
● Roles in communities
● Responsible citizenship
● What makes a community
Key Concepts: ​Connection,
Responsibility, Function
Related Concepts: ​Safety, Community,
Citizenship, Rules, Organization
③
Central Idea:
Living and nonliving things share the
planet’s resources.
Inquiry into:
● Recognize differences
between living organisms and
nonliving materials
● Group plants according their
observable features such as
appearance and size, etc.
● Methods for conserving Earth’s
resources
Key Concepts: ​​Function, connection,
form
Related Concepts: ​Consequences,
structure, initiative
⑤
Grade 1
Ages 6-7
C​entral Idea:
Culture reflects our beliefs and
traditions.
Inquiry into:
● Communities change over
time.
● People from the past
influence our future.
● We celebrate our past
through holidays and
customs.​s
Key Concepts:​Responsibility,
Causation, Connection
Related Concepts: ​Citizenship,
Reasons for holidays and customs,
Time and Sequence.
Central Idea
People depend on land and water for
life.
Inquiry into:
● People depend on natural
resources.
● People obtain information on
landforms through maps.
● Timelines show past, present
and future.
Key Concepts: ​Connection, Form
Related Concepts: ​Resources,
Conservation, Location, Structure
②
Central Idea:
Citizens’ choices affect the
community.
Inquiry into:
● Citizens make choices and
decisions
● Diversity of communities
● Roles of community members
Key Concepts:​Responsibility,
Causation, Connection
Related Concepts: ​Choices, Decisions,
Roles
①
Central Idea:
Changes in our environment are
interrelated and can be measured.
Inquiry into:
● Reasons for change
● Cause and Effect of
environmental change
● Natural and physical changes
in our environment
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.
Inquiry into:
● Compare and analyze wants
and needs
● Producers and consumers are
dependent on each other
● Community leaders’ decisions
influence economic activities
​Key Concepts: ​Responsibility,
Perspective, Function
Related Concepts: ​Communication,
Governments, Interdependence
Central Idea
All plants and animals have life cycles
and characteristics within their
environment.
Inquiry into:
● Unique parts in animals and
plants
● Life Cycles of animals and
plants
● Dependence within animal and
plant lives
Key Concepts: ​Form, change,
connection
Related Concepts: ​Animals, plants,
habitats, interaction, cycles
⑥
• Briargrove Elementary School • 6145 San Felipe Street • Houston, Texas • 2014-2015 • Update:1/29/2014

2. ③ ④ ⑤
Grade 2
Ages 7-8
Central Idea:
Choices of citizens lead to change.
Inquiry into:
● Roles and responsibilities of
citizens
● Identify characteristics of
citizenship
● Recognition and influence of
contributions made by
historical citizens
Key Concepts:​Responsibility,
Causation, Change
④
Central Idea
People use maps and globes to explore
communities and the world around
them.
Inquiry into:
● Types of communities in our
world
● Landforms around and within
communities
● Maps and globes as resources
Key Concepts: ​Change, Form,
Reflection
Related Concepts: ​Map features, Types
of communities, Navigation
②
Central Idea:
Culture is represented by symbols and
celebrations that express diversity
within our global community.
Inquiry into:
● Significance of national, state
and local symbols and
landmarks.
● Significance of national, state
and local holidays and
celebrations.
● Connections between
celebrations across cultures
Key Concepts:​Perspective,
Connection, and Reflection
Related Concepts​: Culture, Diversity,
Symbols
①
Central Idea:
Earth’s cycles affect and connect with
one another.
Inquiry into:
● Changes in states of matter
● 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)
③
Central Idea:
Leaders and citizens’ decisions
establish and maintain order in the
community.
Inquiry into:
● 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
⑤
Central Idea:
All living things evolve and adapt with
a changing environment.
Inquiry into:
● Basic needs of living things
● Adaptations of living things
● Human impact on environment
● Food chains
Key Concepts: ​Responsibility, change,
perspective
Related Concepts: ​Living things,
adaptations, natural resources
⑥
Grade 3
Ages 8-9
Central Idea
Cultures are defined by beliefs, human
relationships and resources.
Inquiry into:
● Cultures shape our
communities
● Culture are affected by the
resources around us.
● Cultural heritage is grown
through artists, writers and
poets around the world.
Key Concepts: ​Form, Causation,
Perspective
Related Concepts
Heritage, Creativity, Resources,
Influence
②
Central Idea:
Explorations lead to discoveries,
opportunities, communities, and
develop new understandings.
Inquiry into:
● Navigation resulted in the
development of maps.
● Consequences of explorations
leads to new development
● Communities establish systems
Key Concepts:​Form, Causation,
Connection
Related Concepts:​Geography,
Landforms, Population
①
Central Idea:
Through a variety of mediums, we
express our feelings and ideas. .
Inquiry into:
● Importance of creativity
● Incorporating voice through
expression
● How our expressions affect
others
Key Concepts: ​Perspective, Form,
Connection
Related Concepts:
④
Central Idea:
When faced with a challenge,
innovative thinking leads to change.
Inquiry into:
● Technology has impacted
society.
● Scientist learn about the world
through innovative thinking.
● Scientific laws describe how
and why movement occurs. y
Key Concepts: Change, function,
Connection
Related Concepts: History,
Consequences, Impact, Behavior
③
Central Idea:
Organizations help citizens meet their
needs and wants.
Inquiry into:
● Our responsibilities as
citizens.
● Economic trends affect the
quality of life.
● Levels of government work
together
Key Concepts: ​Responsibility,
Connection, Function
Related Concepts: ​Needs and Wants,
Supply and Demand, Infrastructure
⑥
Central Idea:
Living things are connected within their
place on Earth.
Inquiry into:
● Animal communication.
● Interdependence of energy
flows.
● How organisms adapt to
change
Key Concepts: ​Function, Connection,
Change
Related Concepts: ​Research,
Adaptation
⑤
Grade 4
Ages 9-10
Central Idea:
Identity is cultivated by changes,
choices, and values.
Inquiry into:
● 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
Central Idea:
Progress is determined by decisions,
resources, and roles.
Inquiry into:
● The diversity of economy
depends on supply, demand,
and available resources
● Challenges have impacted the
growth of Texas
● A community is defined by the
strength of its people
Key Concepts: ​Causation, Change,
Connection
Related Concepts: ​Challenges,
Decisions, Independence, Diversity
Central Idea:
Expression of identity can be
represented through culture, action,
and citizenship.
Inquiry into:
● Traditions of a place define its
culture
● Passion leads to
self-expression
● Effective leadership should
consider public opinion
Key Concepts: ​Connection,
Perspective, Reflection
Related Concepts: ​Loyalty, Courage,
Citizenship, Patriotism, Research
Central Idea:
Cyclical relationships are continued by
force, circumstances, and change.
Inquiry into:
● Environment in the natural
world
● Causes of patterned change on
our planet
● Impact on human life
Key Concepts: ​Function, Change,
Causation
Related Concepts:​Cycles, Rotation
and Revolution
Central Idea:
Changes, improvements, and processes
can impact the interdependence in a
system.
Inquiry into:
● Being responsible produces
reliable results.
● Efficiency is the product of
improvement.
● Government is accountable for
the welfare of its people.
Key Concepts: ​Responsibility,
Function, Reflection,
Related Concepts: ​Transition,
Changes, Interdependence,
Central Idea
People adapt to the changes of their
environment based on their needs.
Inquiry into:
● Effects of weathering,
erosion, and deposition on
types of soil
● Adaptations of inhabitants
based on climate and
topography
● Conservation of renewable
and nonrenewable resources
Key Concepts: ​Change, Connection,
Responsibility
Related Concepts: ​Resources, Time,
Conservation
• Briargrove Elementary School • 6145 San Felipe Street • Houston, Texas • 2014-2015 • Update:1/29/2014

3. ③ ④
⑥
①
Connectivity, Processes,
Responsibilities, Reliability
⑤
②
Grade 5
Ages 10-11
Central Idea:
Societal values aid in the organization
of governments.
Inquiry into:
● Individual rights and
responsibilities within a
society(leadership)
● Ownership and
responsibilities affect the
citizens lives
● Societies organize themselves
using governing documents
Key Concepts: Responsibility,
Function, Connection
Related Concepts: Define Various
Forms of Government, Rights and
Responsibilities, Civics
⑤
Central Idea:
Revolutionary ideas and actions change
and influence society.
Inquiry into:
● Cause of revolution
● Authority figures and rebels
● ​Impacts of revolution
Key Concepts: ​Perspective, Causation,
Change
Related Concepts: ​Cost of war, Just
cause, Colonization, Republic, Current
revolution, Cause and Effect
③
Central Idea:
Science innovations affect the way
people interact in their natural
world.
Inquiry into:
● Research and the scientific
method
● Types of science innovations
● Impacts of science innovations
Key Concepts:All
Related Concepts:
⑥
Central Idea:
Individuals impact the natural world
through explorations.
Inquiry into:
● Locations and pattern of
settlement
● Reasons people choose to
explore new worlds
● Impact of exploration on
development of societies
Key Concepts:​Form, Causation,
Connection
Related Concepts:​Migration,
Exploration, Settlements
①
Central Idea
Energy stewardship influences how
societies make decisions.
Inquiry into:
● Impacts of fossil fuel and
alternative energy on society
and environment
● Advantages/disadvantages of
natural resources
● Types of natural resources
Key Concepts: ​Responsibility,
Reflection, Perspective
Related Concepts: ​Stewardship,
Effects on the Earth, Scarcity of
resources
②
Central Idea:
Abiotic and biotic things in an
ecosystem are interconnected
through systems and cycles within the
environment.​.
Inquiry into:
● Components of an ecosystem
● Interactions within the
ecosystem
● Human effects on an
ecosystem
Key Concepts: ​Function, connection,
form
Related Concepts: ​Exploration,
prediction, process, context, culture,
metamorphosis
④
• Briargrove Elementary School • 6145 San Felipe Street • Houston, Texas • 2014-2015 • Update:1/29/2014