The Transdisciplinary Themes

  • Our teachers develop Units of Inquiry that focus on a strand from each of the following Transdisciplinary Themes.  The Units of Inquiry are aligned with Common Core State Standards and are taught in an inquiry-based model, where students are encouraged to ask questions about their learning, seek answers to their questions and take action upon their learning.  It is this philosophy of learning that allows a child to invest in their own education with the hope of becoming a lifelong learner.  

    1. Who We Are: 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.  
    2. Where We Are in Place and Time: An inquiry into orientation in place and time; personal histories; homes and journeys; the discoveries, exploration, and migrations of humankind; the relationships between and the interconnectedness of individuals and civilizations, from local and global perspectives.  
    3. How We Express Ourselves:  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.
    4. How The World Works:  An inquiry into the natural world and it's 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.
    5. How We Organize Ourselves:  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.
    6. Sharing the Planet:  An inquiry into the 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.