Where We are in Place & Time 2015/16

Central Idea:

Houses reflect people’s needs.

Lines of Inquiry:

  • Different materials can be used to build houses.
  • Houses are different for different reasons. 

Concepts: form, causation

Related Concepts: interdependence, habitat, structures

Story #1

What is a home?

We began the unit by talking about ‘homes’. The students shared their thinking about why we need a home and what we have in a home.

  • Eva: It is a house where you live in.
  • James: A place for family and a place to have your food and water.
  • Ethan: If you don’t have a home rain will go on you and you will get soaking wet.
  • Vincent: If you don’t have a home and there is a storm you will die.
  • Myrto: A home is a house where you have family altogether.
  • Coco: A home needs to be nice and steady so that the wind does not blow it down. My mum and dad like home because they make a fire and keep warm.
  • Vincent: When you buy a house you need a lot of money.
  • Yoonseo: My mummy likes my home.

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The students then drew pictures of their home.

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Story #2

What is a home?

The students watched the BrainPop video on ‘homes’. They shared what they thought they ‘need‘ and ‘want‘ in a home. We also discussed what we do in a home.

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Story #3

What do homes in Ethiopia and North America look like?

The students watched a video about two girls who live in two completely different environments. One lives in Ethiopia and the other in North Canada. Their houses are made out of materials found around them. Maza lives in Ethiopia and her house is made out of mud and sticks and Eva lives in North Canada and her house is made with snow and ice.

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There were some great observations and comments:

  • Noela: I think the igloo is warm inside because the snow makes it warm inside.
  • Avery: The house in Africa is cool inside even when its a hot place and the igloo is warm inside even when its so cold outside. Its like the other way around!
  • Ethan: The snow is not thick enough to make an igloo.
  • James: I think they do not have any money. They are poor.

And some interesting questions:

  • How do they get water?
  • How do they go to the bathroom?

Students recorded their thinking on paper.

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Story #4

What does your home look like?

The students took photographs of their own homes and made a mobile with their pictures. They shared why they had chosen the pictures. Including a sentence or label helped explain the significance of the pictures.

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Story #5

Field trip to two different houses. 

Why are homes different? 

We went on a field trip to two different homes. One was a house and the other an apartment.  We discussed how they were similar and different.

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Story #6

Comparing Homes

We gathered together, cut out and sorted the pictures we took on our field trip. We discussed the observations we made. One home was an apartment for one person and the other a house for a family of five. IMG_9912

 

We discussed the similarities and differences between the two homes and how the homes meet the needs of the people who live in them.
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Students had questions about homes. We have some answers but the students will now need to inquire further.

  • Joshua: How can you fill the gap between the bricks?
  • Alice: Which kinds of houses are there in the world?
  • James: Why do some houses have sticks at the floor?
  • Coco: How do you fit a big bed in the door?
    • Ethan: You can turn the bed sideways and then the bed ca go through the doors.
  • Vincent: What are houses made of?
    • Joshua: They are made of bricks and wood. I saw this in the books.
  • James: Why are there different homes?
  • Stephanie: How do you lock the doors?
  • Avery: How can we make the locks?
  • Stephanie: How can you glue the houses so strong?
  • Vincent: How can you build a house?
    • James: They use some tools.
  • William: How big are their homes? (the ones we visited)

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Story #7 

What else can we find out about houses and homes? 

The classroom library included many books on houses and homes. The students looked at the pictures, read the labels and text, and shared what they found out. They enjoyed discussing the information with their buddies.

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https://twitter.com/NISKinder2/status/695095126561939456

Story #8

The Tent 

Ms. Neila shared her tent with K2. The students had many observations and questions about the tent. The students drew pictures and wrote their ideas on a large paper.

  • Vincent: You have to put nails to make a tent. The nails go in the ground.
  • Ethan: We have to look after the tent when we use it.
  • Ceci: You should not hit the bamboo. Is it is real bamboo? When we put it up we saw the bamboo.
  • Juhyun: It was dark in the house (tent). It was just like a house. There was no stuff.
  • Luiza: We can get a flashlight and stick it on the top.
  • Jay: I have a tent that is smaller. We can put the flashlight.
  • Joshua: We can put a lantern on it.
  • Augusto: How can they eat in there?

https://twitter.com/NISKinder2/status/701605671972671488

Story #9

How do people live in the Indonesian jungles and the Malaysian waters?

The students watched a video on how people live in the Indonesian jungles. They were amazed at how they live in tree houses way above the forest floor and shared why that was a good idea. They watched a second video that explained how some people in Malaysia live on the ocean in houseboats.

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Some of our wonderings:

  • Stephanie: Where do they get water to drink? How do they go to school?
  • James: Where do they get clothes and money?
  • Vincent: Why do they live on boats?

Story #10

How do you build a mud hut?

The students watched a video on how to build a mud hut. They wanted to build their own hut using clay and sticks. The students discussed where you would get the materials needed and if the house met the needs of the person living in it.

Story #11

How do you build a house?

Students also wanted to know how bricks were laid. They watched a video and read some books to help them answer the questions. Here are some reflections:

  • “The cement is first a liquid and then becomes hard when it dries up”.
  • “When you put stones on the wall it makes it stronger”.
  • The stick thing is used to make sure that the stones are all straight”.
  • “Cement is made out of stones, and a paste”.

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The students brainstormed the different materials that can be used to build a house:

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Students wondered how houses were built. A group of students read a non-fiction book that explained how houses were made. Two students created a graphic organiser to record the different stages in sequence and shared this information with the class. They used the computer to make their own information poster.

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Story #11

Student Inquiry: What kinds of houses are there in the world?

Students drew pictures of all the houses they had explored through books, videos or their own experiences.

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Story #12

How can I make a  house? What materials would I need? Who is my house for?

The students began to explore a variety of materials. They made their own houses and shared their ideas with their peers. They asked for feedback and made improvements.

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Unit Reflections:

We gathered together to share our thoughts about what a home is.

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  • Stephanie: A home is an important place.
  • James: Homes are for people to live, eat and drink.
  • Eva: Homes are for people to rest when they have a long day.
  • Stephanie: It’s a place to keep your things.
  • William: A place to keep you warm.
  • Yoonseo: Its not cold inside an igloo.
  • Avery: It is cool inside a mud and stick hut. Some people live in school because their live far away.
  • Alice: A home is a place where you can do a lot of things like learning. You can also have fun at home. A home is a place where everyone feels comfortable.
  • Coco: You keep your clothes in your own room and get dressed at home. Some people live in a castle like in England. They are very rich.
  • Ethan: A place where you cook. This is the kitchen. There is dangerous stuff around so you need a home. Some people don’t even have a home. They don’t have much money so they make a home by themseslves with trees and bamboo and things that are around them.
  • Guilherme: A houseboat is a home.
  • Joshua: Animals have homes too. They don’t get dressed or cook in their homes. If its winter some animals could die so they hibernate at home.
  • Yoonseo: A crocodile’s home is in the water.
  • Vincent: There are different things to make homes around the world, so homes are different.
  • Myrto: A home has different rooms. Some people need more rooms.
  • William: Its because some people have big families.
  • James: The important thing about a home is for it to keep you safe.