We have begun our year long social studies investigation on Families & Homes. Through picture books, family shares, systems thinking and essential questions, we hope to guide our little ones to understand how families and homes are inherently similar, while celebrating the unique differences of everyone’s family and home.
The three essential questions guiding our discussions are:
- How can families be the same and different?
- What systems does a family use to work together?
- What does a home give a family?
When asked, “What is something that you do with your family that warms your heart?”, students eagerly listed various activities particular to their families. Using their ideas, students created their own alphabet cards that will be posted in the classroom. Their ABC cards nicely link their use of systems thinking to their personal lives, their school and the learnings around Families and Homes. They are also adorable and extremely creative!
We are only four weeks into our year long investigation, but our little ones have already concluded that the most important part of a family and home is love. Another recent comment is that family members aren’t necessarily those that you are born to.
I am looking forward to what I will learn from their conversations and how their wonderings will steer our investigation.
I sustain myself with the love of family. –Maya Angelou
Gladys Elizabeth 