Curriculum - Inquiry Learning Program

At Warrnambool East P.S we have created an amazing Inquiry Learning Curriculum that captures the curiosity of our students. The rigorous inquiry process provides children with the framework to deepen their understandings, skills and knowledge about their world and their place in the world. Inquiry based learning is research-based and enables personalised learning through a collaborative inquiry model (Think, Plan, Do, Reflect). Planning reflects the pedagogies for deep learning. This includes the 6 Cs – Character, Citizenship, Collaboration, Critical Thinking, Collaboration and Creativity. This Inquiry model is based on teachers giving children opportunities to share their prior knowledge, then take children beyond what they know. Children organise new information learnt, investigate areas of personal interest, reflect on what they have learnt and then apply these ideas to real life. Teachers facilitate student centred learning, so the students can develop responsibility for learning. Each learning community will work around an essential question for Inquiry Learning. This question is taken directly from our Inquiry Learning Scope and Sequence document. Children work individually, in groups and pairs throughout the year working on open-ended investigations stemming from their personal questions and wonderings throughout their inquiry. All children in Years Prep – 6 participate in Inquiry Based Learning. (P-2 Discovery Learning). Positive education values are embedded throughout and these allow for the students to develop positive purpose and positive accomplishment. 

The following are examples of Inquiry Learning Units students will study for up to a term.

What is my 'story and how has it changed? 
Where does our food come from? 
What do living things need to survive? 
What are 'The Arts' and how do they help us express ourselves? 
Is life better now or in the olden days? 
What is Special about our community? 
What factors influence what and how we learn? 
What causes change in our world? 
How have machines changed work, leisure and lifestyles? 
How did early exploration and settlement in Australia shape our nation? 
How can we become active citizens who contribute to the global world? 
How can we, as Australians, build a just world?