MYP Unit Planner Questions
Unit Question Samples
1. What can our school do to save endangered species?
2. What is sound and why is it important?
3. How are mountains made?
4. Am I really growing like a weed? What do plants need to grow? How do plants grow? How would you grow and big, strong beanstalk to reach the giant’s house?
5. Why do we need manners?
6. How does weather affect me? Can I go outside to play today? How is weather different in other places?
7. How can we change attitudes and behaviour within whole communities?
8. How are relationships built and maintained?
Task: Write a brief comment on 2 Unit Questions discussed today.
For each question state the ideal AOI SLE and the Significant Concept. Comment based on the following criteria:
| Is the unit question open ended? | |
| Doest the Unit Question allow for discussion? | |
| Does it provide a context for inquiry that leads back to the AOI? | |
| Is it judgmental/leading? | |
| Is it interesting/engaging? | |
| Does it lead to more questions or further inquiry? | |
| Does it promote higher order thinking? | |
| Is it succinct? | |
| Can it be used to make connections with diverse content? | |
| Is it timeless? | |
| Does it connect to the world? | |
| Is it too narrow or vague? | |
| Does it focus on the essence of the unit? | |
|
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2. What is sound and why is it important?
The question is too narrow and leading.
Significant concept could be something like:
The earth is wired for sound.
Human Ingenuity
For each question state the ideal AOI SLE and the Significant Concept.
Comment based on the following criteria:
1. What can our school do to save endangered species?
This question is too narrow. It would most likely fit into the CAS AOI but I think it needs to be extended beyond the school community. It is also would be better as a why or how question. The significant concept could be “Saving Endangered Animals: It’s Up to Us”.
How are relationships built and maintained?
I like this question because it’s open ended and could be used to explore many different types of relationships, both positive and negative. It would be obvious to place this in the HSE AOI but could also be in others.
‘How are mountains made?’ isn’t broad enough, unless the questions can have a metaphorical question.
. How can we change attitudes and behaviour within whole communities?
Human Ingenuity
How do people create connections and commonalities in their different environments?
How are relationships built and maintained?
Environments
How do people use design to organise each other?
This is not a great set of questions – but I hope it is something which can worked with.
Cheers,
Kerry
How are mountains made?
Too narrow. Speicific geological focus (unlsee some metaphysical mountain analogy is intended). Does not lend itself to conjecture. There is a scientifically accepted answer.
What can our school do to save endangered species? Too specific again. Not timeless although it is engaging and would prompt further discussion.
What can our school do to save endangered species? This seems too content specific. The concept is more about whether we can create change and how. It seems too narrow and does not include diverse content. It is judgemental as it assumes that endangered species need saving. So some discussion is negated.
How are relationships built and maintained? I like this question as it opens up discussion. Even maths can look at the relationships created. It is broad and lends itself to different interpretations. You could also use different AoI – human ingenuity, CAS. It is succinct and yet says a lot.
1) What can our school do to save endangered species?
It’s a interesting open ended question, very AOI could be used for science, english, art, human, tech classes. It certainly promotes higher order thinking or even inventing.
2) How are relationships built and maintained?
A good questions for AOI, closely connecting to real life. But it needs more detailed explanations or sub-questions, based on different topics.
Is the unit question open ended?
‘Why do we need manners?’ A question that can be investigated with reference to human culture and history. Also from the perspective of non human, ie animal instincts that have developed our behaviour.
Q. fits all criteria; allows for wide investigation; I can imagine it to be used in Art, Science, English literature..
Actually, Peter said that, sorry Andrew
Q2. I think that the “What is sound” part of the question isn’t needed. Obviously you will cover what sound is during the unit, but is it that open-ended? Maybe “How does sound affect our lives” or something like that. AOI – environments
Q4. There are too many questions! I think that just “how do plants grow” is enough, but maybe needs to be more student-centered and it is too subject specific.