Program of Inquiry

2020-2021

The Primary Years Program at Tessa is structured around six transdisciplinary themes (4 for Early Years through Kindergarten) that are developed into our Program of Inquiry (POI). Under the umbrella of these themes and integrated with standards from the French Ministry of Education as well as New Jersey State Standards, Tessa students are exposed to units of learning that promote inquiry, exploration, and investigation. These units integrate subject areas and provide meaningful learning experiences for students. The goal is to connect the students’ learning to the real world, both locally and globally. We want our students to develop a deep understanding of the concepts and topics being studied.

The transdisciplinary themes are:

Who we are
Where we are in place and time
How we express ourselves
How the world works
How we organize ourselves
Sharing the planet

Program of Inquiry 2020 – 2021

	Who we are	Where we are in Place and Time	How we Express Ourselves	How the World works	How we Organize Ourselves	Sharing the Planet
	An inquiry into the nature of the self; beliefs and values; personal, physical, mental, social and spiritual health; human relationships including families, friends, communities and cultures; rights and responsibilities; what it means to be human.	An inquiry into orientation in place and time; personal histories; homes and journeys; the discoveries, explorations and migrations of humankind; the relationships between and the interconnectedness of individuals and civilizations, from local and global perspectives.	An inquiry into the ways in which we discover and express ideas, feelings, nature, culture, beliefs and values; the ways in which we reflect on, extend and enjoy our creativity; our appreciation of the aesthetic.	An inquiry into the natural world and its laws; the interaction between the natural world (physical and biological) and human societies; how humans use their understanding of scientific principles; the impact of scientific and technological advances on society and on the environment.	An inquiry into the interconnectedness of human-made systems and communities; the structure and function of organizations; societal decision-making; economic activities and their impact on humankind and the environment.	An inquiry into rights and responsibilities in the struggle to share finite resources with other people and with other living things; communities and the relationships within and between them; access to equal opportunities; peace and conflict resolution.
PreK-2	Central Idea: Every day I learn more about who I am and what I can do Lines of Inquiry: Different aspects of myself What I can do and am learning to do		Central Idea: Nursery Rhymes and Stories of different forms Lines of Inquiry: Different Nursery Rhymes Various stories and ways to tell them	Central Idea: Modes of transportation and how they serve us Lines of Inquiry: Various types of Transportation Transportation and its uses		Central Idea: Living things around us are amazing Lines of Inquiry: Farm animals Zoo animals Pet animals Ocean animals
PreK-3	Central Idea: My body can do so many things. Lines of Inquiry: Parts of my body How am I changing Different ways I can care for my body		Central Idea: We have feelings and can express them in a variety of ways. Lines of Inquiry: Feelings and emotions People feel differently to things	Central Idea: All living things go through a process of change. Lines of Inquiry: Living and Non-living things What are cycles The cycles I See		Central Idea: We grow and use plants in many ways. Lines of Inquiry: The way plants grow The usefulness of plants Taking care of plants
PreK-4	Central Idea: Families and friends are part of who we are. Lines of Inquiry: Our families and friends Roles and responsibilities of family members Ways families and friends are similar and different		Central Idea: Wonder within us can make us communicate in different ways. Lines of Inquiry: Where wonder comes from Different ways to communicate The connection between wonder and feelings	Central Idea: Materials can be manipulated to serve a range of purposes. Lines of Inquiry: Range and types of materials Purposes and uses of materials Manipulation of materials		Central Idea: Living things have certain requirements in order to grow and survive. Lines of Inquiry: Characteristics of living things Living things need certain things to survive Reasons for extinction of some animals
KG	Central Idea: Celebrations and traditions are expressions of shared beliefs and values. Lines of Inquiry: Different kinds of celebrations and traditions Why people celebrate Symbolic representations of traditions and celebrations		Central Idea: Images come in different forms and communicate ideas and information. Lines of Inquiry: Different forms of images How we interpret images Conveying messages though creating images	Central Idea: We use our senses to perceive the world. Lines of Inquiry: Sense organs in the body How sense organs work People have different perceptions to stimuli		Central Idea: People can share habitats responsibly with plants and animals. Lines of Inquiry: How habitats work How human activity affect habitats Preservation of habitats
Grade 1	Central Idea: As responsible citizens we contribute to our community. Lines of Inquiry: What does citizen mean Rights and responsibilities of citizens Community helpers and their role in the well-being of our community	Central Idea: Knowing about our family histories enables us to discover our cultural origins. Lines of Inquiry: How family histories evolved through time Similarities and differences across the generations We learn to appreciate various family histories	Central Idea: We express ourselves through stories. Lines of Inquiry: Various types of stories and their features Different elements of stories How stories lead to various reactions		Central Idea: Keeping safe is a shared responsibility. Lines of Inquiry: What safety means Safety in different places and scenarios Roles in safety keeping	Central Idea: Animals and people interact in different ways and contexts. Lines of Inquiry: Ways various animals are classified Purpose of animals in our environments Our responsibility in conservation of animals
Grade 2	Central idea: The choices we make affect our health and well-being. Lines of inquiry: Structure and function of body systems Food groups and a balanced diet Requirements to maintain a healthy mind and body	Central Idea: Physical and virtual public spaces serve the community in various ways. Lines of inquiry: Characteristics of different public space Functions or purposes of public spaces How people maintain public spaces	Central Idea: Books educate, entertain and give flight to our imagination. Lines of Inquiry: Teaching embedded into stories Feelings and emotions that stories evoke Perspectives/opinions/ pictorials teach us about different cultures	Central Idea: Our Solar System is part of a larger universe which affects life on Earth. Lines of Inquiry: The characteristics of a planet (a body in space) Lunar cycles Earth’s Atmosphere	Central Idea: The needs and wants of people are satisfied by resources. Lines of inquiry: How people earn an income Differences between needs and wants Types of goods and services	Central Idea: Organisms change and react to their environment. Lines of Inquiry: Characteristics of living things Behavioural and physical adaptations

Join us at Tessa International School

Discover why our bilingual curriculum is recognized as one of the best. Learn how we combine academic excellence with engaging, interactive experiences that foster global awareness.

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Join us at Tessa International School

Discover why our bilingual curriculum is recognized as one of the best. Learn how we combine academic excellence with engaging, interactive experiences that foster global awareness.

Tessa International School

Office: (201) 755-5585 | Location: 720 Monroe St. Hoboken, NJ 07030