How exciting it is to embark on our first unit of inquiry within the PYP model! We have spent the last week and a half immersing ourselves with symbols. This inquiry centers on the idea that all kindergarteners are learning tons of new symbols everyday in school. We have identified four categories of symbols so far. They are: letters, numbers, signs, and flags. As we discover more about these symbols, what their jobs are, how they are useful, how they can communicate universally, etc. we will start to design and create our own symbols.
Just recently, we have started playing "Airport" in class. The idea behind this is many fold; the children are encouraged to use this familiar yet novel place as a vehicle to discover the need and usefulness of signs and symbols. During this imaginative play time children naturally utilize many of the learner attitudes; cooperation and creativity, as well as the learner attributes; communicator, thinkers, and reflective. Working together we have already created the interior of an airplane, a restaurant, and a shop within our airport. While we all play together we often pause to notice things others are doing to further our own thinking or to share ideas with the hopes of helping others.
As we continue on this journey, I would encourage you to participate in your child's learning by pointing out symbols and signs while you're out and about. You can also further your child's learning by helping them to think of and create a new sign that could be useful in the world. If you do find a unique or unusual symbol please be sure to send it to school with your child. If the symbol is not the traveling sort, just take a picture and email it! I will print out any pictures and we can add them to our classroom collection of symbols.
Happy Symbol Hunting!
Just recently, we have started playing "Airport" in class. The idea behind this is many fold; the children are encouraged to use this familiar yet novel place as a vehicle to discover the need and usefulness of signs and symbols. During this imaginative play time children naturally utilize many of the learner attitudes; cooperation and creativity, as well as the learner attributes; communicator, thinkers, and reflective. Working together we have already created the interior of an airplane, a restaurant, and a shop within our airport. While we all play together we often pause to notice things others are doing to further our own thinking or to share ideas with the hopes of helping others.
As we continue on this journey, I would encourage you to participate in your child's learning by pointing out symbols and signs while you're out and about. You can also further your child's learning by helping them to think of and create a new sign that could be useful in the world. If you do find a unique or unusual symbol please be sure to send it to school with your child. If the symbol is not the traveling sort, just take a picture and email it! I will print out any pictures and we can add them to our classroom collection of symbols.
Happy Symbol Hunting!