Questioning the World in the Elementary School

Questions are a window into our world. Not the kinds of questions for which there are immediate, ready answers - such as "What is the capital of Japan?" or "What time does the bus leave?". We need those questions as they help us know where we are, and what we have to do. But, while these questions may help us to know our world, they have never - and will never - help us understand or shape our world. If the role of school is to help prepare our children to understand, shape and grow the world of tomorrow, then questions are the only way to do this. For, it is only when young minds start to puzzle, wonder, imagine and explore that children can begin to identify with the world around them and come to see themselves as an agent for change in that world. Explore with us some of the questions our NIS learners are wondering about, right now…..

How can we reduce the amount of trash and recycle more?

For their unit on Sharing the Planet which focused on human actions that impact the environment, the grade 2 students conducted a trash audit. The students discovered that most of the trash was actually recyclable.They wondered - what will happen to all these recyclable materials when they are taken away in the yellow trash bags that the school uses? Could we find a better way to do this?

Q: What human right is the most important to you?

The 3rd graders began looking at our rights as students and 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?