O
ur progressive curriculum uses Essential Themes as its underlying core. Essential themes are powerful ideas, such as patterns or community, which generate overarching essential questions to shape and unify each grade level's curriculum. They provide a deep and rich context for inquiry and learning and encourage asking questions, discovering connections, and comparing, analyzing, and synthesizing.
These essential themes form a reliable and flexible foundation for integrative thinking, year after year.
Themes by Grade Level
Kindergarten's essential
theme is Patterns.
Essential questions explored:
What is a pattern?
How can patterns help us learn?
How do patterns help us make predictions?
How do people use patterns in their everyday lives?
1st Grade essential theme is Interdependence.
Essential questions explored:
How does where you live affect how you live?
How does what we do affect others- in both positive and negative ways?
What do living things need to survive and thrive in their environment?
2nd Grade essential theme is Adaptation.
Essential questions explored:
How do groups adapt to their natural surroundings?
What does oral tradition reveal about culture?
How does modernization and a changing environment present challenges to culture groups?
3rd Grade essential theme is Change.
Essential questions explored:
What is change?
What causes change?
What does change cause?
What is a change agent?
4th Grade essential theme is Systems.
Essential questions explored:
What is a system?
Where do we see systems?
How can we learn from systems?
5th Grade essential theme is Structures.
Essential questions explored:
What is a structure?
What happens when structures are altered?
What are the costs and benefits of structure?
What are the results when challenging existing structural norms?
6th grade essential theme is Diversity.
Essential questions explored:
What is diversity?
What is the value of diversity in the world?
What are the elements of culture?
What drives cultural change?
What happens when cultures collide?
How are diverse cultures shaped by the forces of nature?
7th grade essential theme: Identity
Essential questions explored:
How does identity shape an individual?
Why is it important to cultivate multiple perspectives?
How does society (cultures and communities) shape identity?
How do I maintain my identity in society?
How is the earth’s identity unique in our solar system?
What role does genetics play in creating our individual identities?
8th grade essential theme: Community
Essential questions explored:
What is community?
What are the characteristics of strong communities?
How are communities created?
What creates conflict between communities?
How do communities change over time?
What are positive or negative aspects of communities?
How does cultural identity affect how problems are solved within a community?
How do identity and diversity impact community?