International School Hilversum “Alberdingk Thijm” Programme of Inquiry
Age     Grade	Who we are     An exploration of the nature of the self; of our beliefs and values; of personal health: physical, mental, social and spiritual; of our families, friends, communities and cultures; of our rights and responsibilities; of what it means to be human.	Where we are in place & 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 contribution 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 organise 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.
4 - 6   KG 1 & 2	All About Me	What Will I Wear Today?	Celebrate	As the Wheels Turn	The Dutch Way	Do You Have a Backbone?
6 - 9   Grade 1/2/3	Me and My Body	I Like to Move it..!	Cultural Festivities	Wonders of the World	Change in Industry	Living Wild
9 - 12   Grade 4/5/6	Human Rights and Responsibilities	Were They Civilised? And Are We?	How Can I Say That?	The Circle of Life	Discovered Something New Recently?	Water for Life

Kindergarten 1 & 2
Who we are	Where we are in place & time	How we express ourselves	How the world works	How we organise ourselves	Sharing the planet
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.	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 contribution of individuals and civilizations.	An exploration of the ways in which we discover and express our nature, ideas, feelings, beliefs and values through language and the arts.	An exploration of the physical and material world; of natural and human-made phenomena; of the world of science and technology.	An exploration of human systems and communities; of the world of work, its nature and its value; of employment and unemployment and their impact.	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.
TITLE: All About Me	TITLE: What Will I Wear Today?	TITLE: Celebrate	TITLE: As the Wheels Turn	TITLE: The Dutch Way	TITLE: Do You Have a Backbone?
PERIOD: 06/09-21/10	PERIOD: 06/06-12/07	PERIOD: 01/11-22/12	PERIOD: 09/01-16/02	PERIOD: 19/04-02/06	PERIOD: 27/02 – 12/04
SUBJECT FOCUS: PSE, Social Studies	SUBJECT FOCUS: Social Studies, the Arts	SUBJECT FOCUS: Social Studies, L.A., the Arts	SUBJECT FOCUS: Social Studies, L.A.	SUBJECT FOCUS: Social Studies, the Arts	SUBJECT FOCUS: Science, L.A., the Arts
CENTRAL IDEA: Everyday I learn more about who I am, what I can do and the people around me	CENTRAL IDEA: What I do and where I live affects the clothes I wear	CENTRAL IDEA: There are many celebrations to mark significant events in the lives of people	CENTRAL IDEA: When movement takes place, changes happen in our environment	CENTRAL IDEA: I will learn more about the country which I live in	CENTRAL IDEA: There are many different animals with different body structures
AN INQUIRY INTO: - who I am - what I like and dislike/my feelings - people who are special to me - my physical characteristics - how I am growing and changing - what I can do	AN INQUIRY INTO: - the kind of clothes we wear - how weather affects what we wear - how different situations require different clothes - traditional costumes	AN INQUIRY INTO: - why do we celebrate the things we do? - what we celebrate - how we celebrate - why the celebration is a significant event	AN INQUIRY INTO: - what moves? - how do we move/things move? - what happens when we/things move? - why do we need to move?	AN INQUIRY INTO: - the map of the country? - the landscape of the country - the food of the country - the culture of the country	AN INQUIRY INTO: - animals with a backbone (vertebrates) - animals with no backbone (invertebrates) - animal groups - similarities and differences between them

Grade 1/2/3
Who we are	Where we are in place & time	How we express ourselves	How the world works	How we organise ourselves	Sharing the planet
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.	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 contribution of individuals and civilizations.	An exploration of the ways in which we discover and express our nature, ideas, feelings, beliefs and values through language and the arts.	An exploration of the physical and material world; of natural and human-made phenomena; of the world of science and technology.	An exploration of human systems and communities; of the world of work, its nature and its value; of employment and unemployment and their impact.	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.
TITLE: Me and My Body	TITLE: I like to Move It…!	TITLE: Cultural Festivities	TITLE: Wonders of the World	TITLE: Change in Industry	TITLE: Living Wild
PERIOD: 06/09-21/10	PERIOD: 27/02-12/04	PERIOD: 01/11-22/12	PERIOD: 06/06-12/07	PERIOD: 19/04-02/06	PERIOD: 09/01-16/02
SUBJECT FOCUS: Maths, L.A., PSE	SUBJECT FOCUS: Social Studies, PSE, L.A.	SUBJECT FOCUS: Social Studies, PSE, L.A.	SUBJECT FOCUS: Science and Technology, Social Studies	SUBJECT FOCUS: Social Studies, PSE, Science	SUBJECT FOCUS: Social Studies, Geography, L.A.
CENTRAL IDEA: Exercise, well-balanced diet and recreation (i.e. hobbies) are essential to human beings	CENTRAL IDEA: Our journey through life is affected by our movements throughout the world	CENTRAL IDEA: Families all around the world recognise important personal and cultural events through celebrations and traditions	CENTRAL IDEA: Since early mankind, humans have created amazing constructions in their desire to create a legacy	CENTRAL IDEA: The effects of industrial change have local and global consequences	CENTRAL IDEA: The change in the relationship between animals and human beings has affected the environment
AN INQUIRY INTO: - types of exercise - purpose of exercise - healthy balanced diet - leisure time activities and hobbies	AN INQUIRY INTO: - the homes we have come from - the journeys we have made - our ancestors’ history - people and cultures we experience - who we are now	AN INQUIRY INTO: - reasons for celebrating - types of celebrations - the looks, sounds, smells, tastes and feelings of celebrations - similarities and differences between various celebrations	AN INQUIRY INTO: - the constructions of ancient civilisations - effects of these constructions on mankind - positive and negative effects of mankinds amazing constructions	AN INQUIRY INTO: - location of types of industry - factors that determine types of industry - conditions that influence change in industry - what effects does industrial change have on a community	AN INQUIRY INTO: - effects of human behaviour on animal habitat - how animals adapt to their changing environment - human influences on the environment - protecting and caring for animals

Grade 4/5/6
Who we are	Where we are in place & time	How we express ourselves	How the world works	How we organise ourselves	Sharing the planet
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.	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 contribution of individuals and civilizations.	An exploration of the ways in which we discover and express our nature, ideas, feelings, beliefs and values through language and the arts.	An exploration of the physical and material world; of natural and human-made phenomena; of the world of science and technology.	An exploration of human systems and communities; of the world of work, its nature and its value; of employment and unemployment and their impact.	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.
TITLE: Human Rights and Responsibilities	TITLE: Were they civilised? And are we?	TITLE: How Can I Say That?	TITLE: The Circle of Life	TITLE: Discovered Something New Recently?	TITLE: Water
PERIOD: 06/09-21/10	PERIOD: 09/01-16/02	PERIOD: 19/04-02/06	PERIOD: 27/02 – 12/04	PERIOD: 06/06-12/07	PERIOD: 01/11-22/12
SUBJECT FOCUS: PSE, Social Studies	SUBJECT FOCUS: Social Studies, the Arts	SUBJECT FOCUS: Social Studies, L.A.	SUBJECT FOCUS: Science, PSE	SUBJECT FOCUS: Science and Technology	SUBJECT FOCUS: Social Studies, Science, Earth & Space
CENTRAL IDEA: In an attempt to meet human needs, societies have determined human rights and responsibilities	CENTRAL IDEA: Many systems of past civilisations are linked to societies and cultures of our present day	CENTRAL IDEA: Advertising influences the choices we make	CENTRAL IDEA: All animals have life cycles characterized by physical change and changing roles	CENTRAL IDEA: Humans solve problems and make work easier through simple machines	CENTRAL IDEA: Water is an essential and vulnerable resource that is unevenly spread throughout the earth
AN INQUIRY INTO: - making our classroom work as a community - the connection between rules in a community - ways that decisions are made about rights and responsibilities - reasons why some people require more protection than others - ways that nations and int. organisations aim to protect human rights	AN INQUIRY INTO: - the time and place of Egyptian/Roman/Greek civilisations - the systems developed by Ancient Egypt/Romans/Greeks - how do these systems work? - the artefacts of above mentioned civilisations - the relevance of examining past civilisations	AN INQUIRY INTO: - the purpose of advertisements - techniques used in advertising - the effectiveness of these techniques	AN INQUIRY INTO: - the major phases in the life cycles of animals - the similarities and differences between life cycles in different animal species - the changes in our bodies as we grow, including those associated with puberty - how mammals reproduce and care for their young	AN INQUIRY INTO: - significant inventors and inventions of the last century - how machines make work easier - how people use design and technology to make work easier and solve problems	AN INQUIRY INTO: - water as an essential element of our lives - the distribution and availability of water - the impact of human activity on water - the interconnected nature of water systems (focus on Netherlands)