Sharing the Planet: Rules as Tools
Central Idea: Rules help people live and learn together
An Inquiry Into: Rules keep us safe, rules help us get along, rules keep things fair

How We Organize Ourselves: School as a Workplace
Central Idea: School is a place where people do many kinds of work
An Inquiry Into: The work people do in schools, contributions of work to educating students, the feelings people have about their work 

Who We Are: Families
Central Idea: People are members of families
An Inquiry Into: Family membership, family change, responsibilities of family members, needs met by families

How the World Works: It's a Small World
Central Idea: Human survival depends on coexistence with microbes.
An Inquiry Into:
-microbe characteristics
-the harmful and helpful effects of microbes
-staying healthy

How We Express Ourselves: Exploring Creativity
Central Idea: People express themselves through the visual arts
An Inquiry Into: Creating art based on imagination, personal interpretation of various themes, and activities or events; the use of visual elements of color, line, shape, and texture to create original art work; exploration of a variety of two- and three-dimensional art forms

Where We Are in Time and Place: Shelter
Central Idea: People have a basic need for shelter
An Inquiry Into: Needs for shelter; economic, environmental, and cultural influences on shelter choices; changes which have occurred in shelter over time