G3 UOI: Understanding Who We Are

During the first unit of this new school year, grade three learners at Kuei Shan inquired into how their family culture and values impact who they are. Students tuned in the unit by creating posters about their own culture by asking inquiry questions through the key concepts of causation and perspective. Using the metaphor of planting, the children realized that the “seeds” of love, kindness, care and hard work they and their parents “plant” today will bring blessings into their lives in the future.

Students described their family members and themselves by creating similes and using metaphorical thinking to understand the roles family members have.

Students learned interview skills and practiced interviewing each other at school, then interviewed their family and relatives. Through these interviews, the children understood the meanings of their English and Chinese names, learned about their family’s culture and values, and heard their family members share stories that shaped their family’s values.

Through a careful and meticulous step-by-step process, the grade three teachers guided the students to brainstorm through mind maps and answering guiding questions, write a shared piece of writing with the teacher, analyze a student exemplar through text mapping, write first drafts with clear success criterion and give and receive peer feedback. As a result, the students were able to write multi-paragraph essays. The children applied their learning about metaphorical thinking by designing a family shield and writing about each symbol meant, which they included in their My Family Culture and Values Booklet.

By studying their own families, analyzing our unit core book The Year of the Dog and reading stories from around the world, students became more open-minded and caring as they learned that every family and culture has their own set of values and traditions. Through lively class discussions where multiple perspectives were encouraged, our learners learned the importance of “intercultural understanding and respect” and realized that “other people, with their differences, may also be right” (IB mission statement).

They now understand that each person is special and unique because God created us and put us in different families so we can be loved. Many students reflected on how they plan to respect and appreciate their families more by being more thankful and helpful.