Randolph’s Programme of Inquiry

The Programme of Inquiry (POI) is an inquiry-based framework that outlines units for each grade level.  The units in this framework have been developed horizontally at the grade level, and vertically from one grade level to the next.  The goal of these units is to encourage inquiry-based learning where students ask questions, make connections to prior knowledge, learn new ideas and become critical thinkers. The POI at Randolph is developed through an on-going and extensive collaboration.  We revisit it regularly to ensure that it is relevant, engaging, challenging and significant.  The POI is built around six globally significant transdisciplinary themes.  Students in kindergarten through fifth grade study all six themes and students in pre-kindergarten study four themes a year.

The Transdisciplinary Themes:

Who We Are

An inquiry into the nature of the self; beliefs and values; personal, physical, mental, social and spiritual health; human relationships including families, friends, communities, and cultures; rights and responsibilities; what it means to be human.

Where We Are in Place and Time

An inquiry into orientation in place and time; personal histories; homes and journeys; the discoveries, explorations and migrations of humankind; the relationships between and the interconnectedness of individuals and civilizations, from local and global perspectives.

How We Express Ourselves

An inquiry into the ways in which we discover and express ideas, feelings, nature, culture, beliefs and values; the ways in which we reflect on, extend and enjoy our creativity; our appreciation of the aesthetic.

How the World Works

An inquiry into the natural world and its laws; the interaction between the natural world (physical and biological) and human societies; how humans use their understanding of scientific principles; the impact of scientific and technological advances on society and on the environment.

How We Organize Ourselves

An inquiry into the interconnectedness of human-made systems and communities; the structure and function of organizations; societal decision-making; economic activities and their impact on humankind and the environment.

Sharing the Planet

An inquiry into rights and responsibilities in the struggle to share finite resources with other people and with other living things; communities and the relationships within and between them; access to equal opportunities; peace and conflict resolution.