Defining the Central Idea

What is it?

Central Idea

The central idea should be:The central idea should be:

A complete sentenceA complete sentence

True in every part of the worldTrue in every part of the world

Interesting and engagingInteresting and engaging

Concept driven (focus on responsibility, perspective, Concept driven (focus on responsibility, perspective, causation, form, change, etc)causation, form, change, etc)

Linked to the Transdisciplinary ThemeLinked to the Transdisciplinary Theme

Related to the 7 topics of the Global ThemeRelated to the 7 topics of the Global Theme

Focused on the problem without giving a solutionFocused on the problem without giving a solution

Central Idea

Transdisciplinary Theme

Sharing the Planet: An inquiry into Sharing the Planet: An inquiry into rightsrights and and responsibilities responsibilities in the struggle to in the struggle to shareshare finite finite resources with other people and with other resources with other people and with other living things; living things; communitiescommunities and the and the relationshipsrelationships within and between them; within and between them; accessaccess to to equalequal opportunitiesopportunities; peace and conflict ; peace and conflict resolutionresolution..

Concepts

Form (what is it like?)Form (what is it like?)

Responsibility (What is Responsibility (What is our responsibility?)our responsibility?)

Function (How does it Function (How does it work?)work?)

Causation (Why is it like Causation (Why is it like it is?)it is?)

Perspective (What are Perspective (What are the points of view?)the points of view?)

Connection (How is it Connection (How is it connected to other connected to other things?)things?)

Reflection (How do we Reflection (How do we know?)know?)

Change (How is it Change (How is it changing?)changing?)

What is the problem?

Remember that your problem has to be Remember that your problem has to be specific.specific.

The problem has to be localThe problem has to be local

It has to be related to the 7 themes.It has to be related to the 7 themes.

Developing the CI

Think about the Transdisciplinary Theme and write Think about the Transdisciplinary Theme and write down the key words.down the key words.

Think about the problem and write down the key words.Think about the problem and write down the key words.

Think about the concepts. Which are the most Think about the concepts. Which are the most important to convey the MAIN IDEA (What you want important to convey the MAIN IDEA (What you want people to remember).people to remember).

Now write a TRUE, UNIVERSAL, RELEVANT, COMPLETE Now write a TRUE, UNIVERSAL, RELEVANT, COMPLETE Central Idea. Central Idea.

Examples of CI: EC-3

Central Idea: “Every day I can learn more about who Central Idea: “Every day I can learn more about who am I and all the things that I can do”am I and all the things that I can do”

An Inquiry Into:An Inquiry Into:

* Physical characteristics* Physical characteristics

* What I can do* What I can do

* My feelings, likes and dislikes* My feelings, likes and dislikes

* How I am growing and changing* How I am growing and changing

Examples: Grade 1

Central Idea: “We share the planet with many Central Idea: “We share the planet with many animals and our actions can affect their survival”animals and our actions can affect their survival”

An inquiry into:An inquiry into:

* How people or nature impact animal habitats* How people or nature impact animal habitats

* How animals become endangered* How animals become endangered

* Our responsibility towards animals and nature* Our responsibility towards animals and nature

Examples: Grade 4

Central Idea: “Through inventions people have contributed to the Central Idea: “Through inventions people have contributed to the changes in society”changes in society”

An inquiry into:An inquiry into:

* What inventions and technologies are* What inventions and technologies are

* How inventors think, work, and solve problems* How inventors think, work, and solve problems

* How inventions impact our lives* How inventions impact our lives

* Social circumstances in history that led to specific inventions* Social circumstances in history that led to specific inventions

YOUR CENTRAL IDEAS

Group 1Group 1

Group 2Group 2

Group 3Group 3

Group 4Group 4

Group 5Group 5

Group 6Group 6

Lines of Inquiry

What about the Central Idea do we want to What about the Central Idea do we want to investigate?investigate?

Only 3Only 3

They have to be concept driven.They have to be concept driven.

Take us to the Central Idea within the researchTake us to the Central Idea within the research

Be interesting and engagingBe interesting and engaging

Examples

Why people migrateWhy people migrate

How advertising influences our choicesHow advertising influences our choices

Characteristics of spaceCharacteristics of space

Our questions: What do we want to know?

Our Lines of Inquiry