Mark Twain Elementary School
Houston Independent School District
7500 Braes Boulevard
Houston, TX 77025

713-295-5230
713-295-5283-Fax
Joyce Dauber, Principal

H.I.S.D.

Central Region

Mark Twain Elementary School Information
Staff Programs School Calendar Primary Years Programme
Parent/Teacher Organization

Program of Inquiry

An Inquiry into...

Who We Are:  An inquiry into the nature of the self; beliefs and values; personal, physical, mental, social and spiritual health; human relations including families, friends, communities and cultures; rights and responsibilities; what it means to be human.
Kindergarten First Grade Second Grade

All About Me

Language & Social Studies

Central Idea:  People think about themselves and learn about others.

Lines of inquiry: 
-Impact or individual choices
-Rights & responsibilities within a group
-Belonging to a group vs. being part of a group

August – September

What the World Needs Now

Social Studies & Language Arts

Central Idea: Attitudes and actions affect the world in which we live.

Lines of inquiry:
-The ways attitudes affect our social behavior
-Relationships within our community and beyond
-Connecting kindness, responsibility & manners

August - September

What's a Body to Do?

Science, Social Studies

Central Idea: The way we care for our bodies impacts our well-being.

Lines of inquiry:
-The parts of the human body and how they work
-Human body systems
-Nutrition
-Relationship between mental & physical wellness

 October - November

Third Grade Fourth Grade Fifth Grade

Have a Voice, Make a Difference

Social Studies

Central Idea: Human rights need to be protected.

Lines of inquiry:
-Types of human rights: civil rights, women’s rights, workers’ rights
-The connection between    rights & responsibilities
-The process of civil & political action

February – March

Stand Up & Be Counted!

Social Studies & Language Arts

Central Idea: People who take a stand influence action throughout the world.

Lines of inquiry:
-Taking a stand
-Causes of revolution
-Influence of actions & beliefs

April - May

Who's the Boss?

Social Studies & Language Arts

Central Idea: The structures of government that societies develop impact human rights.

Lines of inquiry:
-Societies' views of human rights
-Forms of government
-Rights and responsibilities of citizens

April - May

Where We are in Time and Place:  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.

Kindergarten First Grade Second Grade

Where in the World Are We From?

Language Arts & Social Studies

Central Idea: Everyone has a personal history.

Lines of inquiry :
-Aspects of personal history
-Similarities of personal histories
-Where we live now
-Awareness of different cultures 

February

Goodbye Yellow Brick Road

Social Studies

Central Idea:  Pictures & symbols help people make sense of the world around them.

Lines of inquiry:
-The use of pictures and symbols
-The way maps explain characteristics of a place
-Using maps to organize physical spaces
-How & why maps change 

January - early February

Ordinary People, Extraordinary Lives

Social Studies & Language Arts

Central Idea: People change the world with the choices they make. 

Lines of inquiry:
-The contributions of historical figures.
-Qualities that make people extraordinary.
-Actions citizens take that impact the world.

January – February

Third Grade Fourth Grade Fifth Grade

Habitats Around the World

Science & Social Studies

Central Idea: Habitats affect the people who live there over time.  

Lines of inquiry:
-Characterstics of habitats around the world
-People’s lives in habitats
-How people change habitats over  time
-Preservation & destruction of world habitats

April - May

The Source of It All

Language Arts, Social Studies & Science

 Central Idea: The resources of a region affect the way people live and interact in the world.

Lines of inquiry:
-The impact of resources on people’s lives
-The relationship of geography & resources
-Using & sharing resources around the world.

October - November

Movin’ & Groovin’

Social Studies & Language Arts

Central Idea: People migrate and assimilate to new situations.

Lines of inquiry:
-Reasons for migration
-Migrations of ancestors
-The assimilations new groups make
-Cultural effects of migrations

September - October

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.

Kindergarten First Grade Second Grade

Tell Me a Story

Language Arts

Central Idea: Stories Ignite our imagination by informing, provoking and giving us pleasure.

Lines of inquiry:
-The need to tell stories
-Author's impact on emotions to create connections
-Creating and presenting stories

December - January

Express Yourself

Fine Arts

Central Idea:  People express themselves through art.

Lines of inquiry:
-Different types of art
-The work of well known artists
-Our own artistic expressions

October – November

STOMP!

Language Arts & Fine Arts

Central Idea: The performing arts express our feelings & ideas.

Lines of inquiry:
-Performance narrative (poetry, drama, storytelling)
-Forms of communication (kinesthetic, music, verbal)
-Opinion and supporting evidence

April - May

Third Grade Fourth Grade Fifth Grade

Building Our World

Social Studies

Central Idea:  Social structures, culture and the built environment have a direct influence on one another.

Lines of inquiry:
-The purpose of built environment/function
-Cultural expression of architecture
-Planning, design & construction process

November – December

Power of the Pen!

Language Arts, Art & Music

Central Idea: Writing is a developing  social tool that communicates what we see, think & feel.

Lines of inquiry:
-Uses of literary elements
-Purposes of written communication
-The authoring process 

January - February

News & Views

Social Studies & Language Arts

Central Idea: Communication expresses identity:  points of view, biases, beliefs and values.

Lines of inquiry:
-Types & structure of media
-Rhetoric--the art of effective communication
-The influence of the media on us 

August - September

How the World Works:  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.

Kindergarten First Grade Second Grade

What Goes Around Comes Around

Science, Math & Social Studies

Central Idea: All living things have life cycles.

Lines of inquiry:
-The major phases in life cycles of animals.
-The differences in plant & animal life cycles.
-The interdependence of plant & animal life cycles 

March – April

Ch-Cch-Changes

Language Arts, Social Studies & Science.

Central Idea: When matter changes, it affects the world around us.

Lines of inquiry:
-The properties of solids, liquids, and gases
-The changes in the properties of matter
-The impact of changes in matter

November - December

Earth, Wind & Fire

Science & Social Studies

Central Idea: The forces of nature affect the environment and people’s lives.

Lines of inquiry:
-The different types of weather
-How weather works
-Weather affecting people’s lives 

March - April

Third Grade Fourth Grade Fifth Grade

The Final Frontier

Science & Language Arts

Central Idea: The sun, as the center of the solar system, affects the physical laws of our planet.

Lines of inquiry:
-How the solar system works
-Living & working in space
-Our solar system as part of a vast universe 

January – February

Matter Matters!

Science & Social Studies

Central Idea: The properties of matter help us know and understand our environment in order to make decisions.

Lines of inquiry:
-What matter is
-Physical properties of matter
-How the properties of matter help us make decisions

August - September

Keeps Going & Going & Going

Science & Language Arts

Central Idea: The ways in which we harness, use, and change energy affects our quality of life and the future of the planet.

Lines of inquiry:
-Different  types of energy & their  uses
-Pros & cons of different types of energy
-Responsible use of energy

February - mid April

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.
Kindergarten First Grade Second Grade

The Big O

Language Arts, Social Studies & Science

Central Idea: Humans organize personally and within systems for comfort and connection.

Lines of inquiry:
-Efficiency
-Equilibrium
-Productivity 

October - November

Working 9 to 5

Social Studies

Central Idea: People with different jobs work together to organize a community.

Lines of inquiry:
-Different types of jobs
-Goods & services
-The interdependent nature of jobs in a community

 February  - early March

Law and Order

Social Studies & Language Arts

Central Idea: Rules structure the way communities interact.

Lines of inquiry:
-Making, accepting & following rules
-Providing limits & standards for communities
-How rules and laws change over time

August - September

Third Grade Fourth Grade Fifth Grade

Attention, Shoppers!

Social Studies, Economics, Math & Language Arts

Central Idea: Economic systems vary from simple to complex.

Lines of inquiry:
-Producers and consumers
-Supply & demand
-Barter to business
-Development of a business

October – November

Dash-Flash!

Social Studies, Language Arts & Science

Central Idea: How we create and use electricity-a system and form of energy-impacts our environment.

Lines of inquiry:
-Generation of electricity
-Electricity as a system
-Its use and impact as a resource

March - April

Earth's Balancing Act

Science & Language Arts

Central Idea: Earth’s bio-diversity is affected by human interaction with all eco-systems. 

Lines of inquiry:
-Significance and relevance of biodiversity
-Natural & unnatural changes to biodiversity
-Human action towards preservation of biodiversity

November - December

How We Share the Planet:  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.
Kindergarten First Grade Second Grade

Commotion in the Ocean

Language Arts & Science

Central Idea:  The condition of the ocean affects our planet.

Lines of inquiry:
-How creatures live in the ocean.
-What we can do to help our oceans
-The co-existence of living things in the ocean. 

April - May

The Whole World’s in Our Hands

Science & Social Studies

Central Idea: We are connected to the natural world and our actions affect it. 

Lines of inquiry:
-The natural resources of our planet
-Sharing & using the earth's natural resources
-Our "backyard" as part of the planet

April – May

Animal Planet

Science

Central Idea: Animals' characteristics help them survive in their environment.

Lines of inquiry:
-Interactions of  species
-Food webs
-Population 

November - December

Third Grade Fourth Grade Fifth Grade

Water World

Science & Language Arts

Central Idea: Water is a inexhaustible resource that sustains our planet and all living things.

Lines of inquiry:
-The effects of water on our environment.
-How living things depend on water
-Water use & distribution around the world

August – September

Soil is Essential

Science & Social Studies

Central Idea: Soil is a renewable resource that is the product of organic and inorganic cycles.

Lines of inquiry:
-Natural process that creates soil
-Natural forces that change soil
-Human action that affect soil

November - December

Why Can't We Be Friends?

Social Studies & Language Arts

Central Idea: How we deal with conflict affects our relationships with others.

Lines of inquiry:
-Causes & effects of conflict
-Points of view influence one's perspective of right and wrong
-
Personal responsibility in a conflict

January - February


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