IB Inquirer 1

“All Write…” Express Yourself

Unit 3

Transdisciplinary Theme:
How We Express Ourselves - the ways in which we discover and express ideas,
feelings, nature, culture, beliefs and values

Central Idea:
People use written language as a form of expression to convey their personal
experiences.

A study into (lines of inquiry):

 How writers tell about their experiences (form)
 The characteristics that make a piece of writing entertaining (function)
 How writers choose what they will include in their writing (perspective)

Background:
Students will read stories about the personal experiences of different
characters, including stories from different generations. Through multiple
readings, students will notice techniques the authors use to entertain them
and keep their attention. Students will look at the different perspectives that
writers bring to their stories; and discuss possible motivations for the
authors’ writing choices.

Student Final Project:

Students will brainstorm a list of possible topics, and then choose one as the
basis for their own personal narrative. They will be able to tell the motivation
behind their choice, and will try to incorporate the techniques that real
authors use to capture and hold the attention of the reader.

Technology Tie-In:
During this unit, students will create their own books using “Photo Story”
and/or “Book Creator.”
Grade 1/January 2015 Unit 3/How We Express Ourselves “All Write…Express Yourself”
Classroom Visitors:
Grade 1 will invite family members/Charter Oak staff members in to share their
favorite stories. Students will speak to published author(s) about the writing
process and how writers tell about their experiences.

Learner Profiles & Attitudes:

During read-aloud time, students will listen to many stories. Students will be open-
minded when listening to stories, realizing that they need to be tolerant of the
viewpoints of others, and appreciating the differences in writing style and content.
They will be risk-takers as they independently brainstorm ideas and write their own
narratives. They will confidently share their stories with others.

Key Concepts:
Students will study the form of narrative writing. What are the essential elements?
They will look at the function of the various techniques authors use to capture and
entertain their audience. They will investigate the different perspectives authors
bring to their stories, and how they decide to what to write about.

Approaches to Learning:
Throughout the unit, students will use their thinking skills when they interpret the
author’s intention behind the writing and analyze the techniques the author uses to
create a great story. Then, students will apply this new knowledge in writing their own
personal narratives.

Students will use their communication skills when they listen to the read-aloud
stories. They will write lists of topics, and choose one that will make a great story.
Their writing will be organized and elaborated. When reading their stories, students
will speak clearly and use expression.
TRY THIS!
 Have a story-telling time at home. Each person takes a few minutes to tell about
something that happened during the day.
 Brainstorm a list of all the “family happenings” that might make great stories. “I
Remember The Time When…”
 Look through photo albums and tell stories about what was going on in the pictures.
 Play the story game. One person starts the story, and then chooses a place to stop.
The next person has to continue the story. Keep going until your story is complete.

Website: www.onemorestory.com user name: charter password: oak06110

Check out “Peter's Chair” by Ezra Jack Keats and “Sebastian's Roller Skates” by Joan de Prats.

PARENTS: Additionally, on the Media Center webpage, for each unit there will be suggested titles for more reading
on the topics and ideas in the units. These books are available in the school library.

Grade 1/January 2015 Unit 3/How We Express Ourselves “All Write…Express Yourself”
IB AT HOME Name ______________________

Teacher ____________________

Parents: please fill out any that apply and return to your child’s teacher.

My child is displaying the learner profiles from his/her IB unit

(risk-taker, open-minded). Here are some examples:

_____________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________

Here is how my child is showing the IB attitudes

(confidence, independence, tolerance, appreciation):

_____________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________

My child has been demonstrating the approaches to learning (thinking, communication) by:

_____________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________

My child has taken action (additional investigations, trying to make a difference,

reading more about the subject, doing an independent project, teaching others,
etc.) regarding this unit. Here’s how:

_____________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________

Grade 1/January 2015 Unit 3/How We Express Ourselves “All Write…Express Yourself”
IB Elements that Grade 1 students are focusing on during Unit 3/How We Express Ourselves:

Thinking Skills Communication Skills

Acquisition of Knowledge Listening

Approaches Comprehension
Application
Speaking
Reading
to Learning Analysis
Synthesis Writing
Evaluation Viewing
Dialectical Thought
(thinking about different points of view) Presenting
Metacognition
(thinking about how you think and learn)
Non-verbal Communication

Confidence Appreciation
We appreciate the wonder and beauty
We are confident in our abilities. We have the
courage to take risks, apply what we have of the world and its people.
learned, and make appropriate choices/decisions.

Attitudes

Independence
We think and act independently, making our own
Tolerance
We are sensitive towards differences and
judgments based on reasoned principles. We diversity in our world, and are responsive to
defend our judgments. the needs of others.

RISK-TAKER OPEN-MINDED
Learner I try new things. I accept other points of view.

Profiles I have the courage to try

something new. I’m not
I know that people are
different and may do
afraid to give it a go, different things. I
even if I feel shy. I am understand that not
resilient and determined. everyone will think like
I try to solve problems in me and that’s fine.
different ways. I stand I listen and try to
up for what I believe. understand others.

Key Concepts

What is it like? How does it work? What are the points of view?
Everything
Everything has a has
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Everything has
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Knowledgeisis not constructedonly
not constructed from thethe
from perspective
perspectiveof
features
can whichidentified,
be observed, can be described
observed, andidentified,
categorized. behaving which can can
which be investigated.
be investigated. one
ofparticular
a particulardiscipline,
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described and categorized.
What is…? How important is ________? Does _____ look the same if _____?
What are…? How do they work together? How do people of other cultures ______?
What kind of…? What do we use _________ for? What different ways can we look at ______?
What is it like? Why do we ________? Does anyone have a different way of
What patterns to you see? How do we use ________? explaining/doing __________?
How do you describe…? How or why does it ________? Can we agree/disagree respectfully?