Since August, our Grade 1s have taken on many roles: mathematicians, authors, and even artists. But as we wrapped up our How We Organize Ourselves PYP unit of inquiry, they proudly added a brand- new title to their growing list: city planners!
Throughout the unit, students explored the central idea: “Communities provide services to meet people’s needs.”
They learned to distinguish between wants and needs, examined how different services support a community, and looked closely at how places are organized to help people live safe and happy lives.
With this knowledge in hand, students stepped into the role of city planners to improve a fictional community. Their mission was to identify what needs were not being met and decide which additional services would best support the residents. With limited space and a set budget, students used their thinking skills to make creative and responsible decisions, choosing services that would benefit the community the most.
As part of the design process, students were encouraged to explain their thinking. When suggesting a new service, they needed to justify why it was important and how it would help the people who lived there. They learned that there is often more than one good way to solve a problem, and that sharing ideas and listening to others helps everyone make better decisions.
Collaboration was key. Working in teams, students practiced valuable social skills such as sharing ideas, encouraging others, compromising, and making decisions together. Every group worked toward the shared goal of creating a community where people could thrive.
After thoughtful planning, the designs were brought to life. In Art class, students transformed their ideas into vibrant three-dimensional models. For the final touch, they created brochures to showcase their improved communities and persuade others to come live there.
Our G1 city planners demonstrated curiosity, creativity, and strong teamwork. We cannot wait to see what roles they take on next!
