Elementary Inquiry Questions

During third grade in our 6th unit third graders explored the rights of children around the world. We worked to explore the opportunities and challenges within communities that can shape children's lives. Many students were unaware that children and adults are afforded rights and that on some occasions people struggle to see that their rights are respected.

We began by looking at our rights as students and looked at the responsibilities that come with these rights. If we have the right to not be bullied, then don't we also have the responsibility to stand up to bullies, to not bully others and to ensure that others are not bullied?

Next students looked at the UN and the UN charter of human rights. Students inquired into why each right was important, why the UN outlined our rights and the history of human rights. We explored the story of Malala and how she fought for her right to receive an education and we used Haiti as a case study looking at how after a devastating earthquake communities were struggling to ensure the rights of their citizens.

We then began our Humans of NIS project in which students interviewed members of the NIS community asking questions such as what right is most important to you? What responsibilities do you have that come with your rights? What challenges or opportunities do you have in your daily life and at school? What does it mean to be a citizen to you? What does it mean to be a member of the NIS community?

Students then took the responses from their interviews and wrote about their findings in our Humans of NIS project. We posted our findings on our bulletin board in the hallway outside the grade 3 classroom.  Students then chose the right they thought was the most important and made a short video teaching the NIS community about this right, explaining why they felt it is important and encouraging the community to stand up for this right for themselves and for others.

Action which the students took as a result of their inquiry was on the last week of school to sell small crafts that students made to raise money for Haiti.