On December 12, 2023, Carpenter Elementary School was invited to share its units of study in the IB programme with the Downey Unified School Board. Carpenter students from second and fourth grade presented the IB mission statements, the central idea, and lines of inquiry that they explored and investigated in the last two units they had completed.
The second graders shared about their experience learning about heroes and the characteristics that make up heroes. The students shared how they discovered that the perspective of what makes a hero can vary locally and globally and how actions can ignite change in the world. In addition, the second graders discussed how they explored timelines and how histories are shaped by the changes that occur over time. They looked at their lives and those of their elders and how histories have transformed throughout the time of their elders and their lives. They analyzed how changes have evolved from the existence and use of electronics to how people traveled to school.
The fourth graders shared about the last two units they completed. The students shared how exciting it was to experience firsthand what the gold rush migration was like for many people. They washed clothes by hand, mined for gold, built tents, made wanted posters and built carts. The students learned how migration can lead to new opportunities for both individuals and animals. They connected the many stories of human migration to that of the monarch butterfly.
Additionally, the fourth grader students shared about their second unit where they experienced having to build a Lego set in a group, with a twist. While some groups had instructions with visuals, others did not, some had instructions with colored visuals while others only had black and white, and some groups did not get any instructions at all! This project showed the students how the lack of resources and particular information can impact how a group organizes their work. The students learned that structure and resources affect the function of an organization.
The School Board and everyone in attendance were very impressed with our young students. We are extremely proud of our Explorers!
