Content Embedded Inquiry Inspiration by

Kindergarten Units

saumi_bonds — 2024-11-15 21:59:28 UTC

Science

Color Exploration
Weather
Force and Motion
Plants and Animals
Environment

Social Science

How should we take care of each other?
How should we appreciate each other's differences?
What should we do if people don’t have what they need to survive and thrive?

1st Grade Units

angela_vargas — 2024-11-15 22:03:39 UTC

Science

Bubbles
Patterns in the sky
Animals interactions
Light and Shadows
Plants

Social Science
How can we make our classroom a community?
How can we improve the community? (in my neighborhood)
Who am I? What communities do I belong to?

2nd Grade Units

angela_vargas — 2024-11-15 22:05:12 UTC

Science

Science Practices
States of Matter
Landscapes and Erosion
Habitats
Plants
Animals

Social Science

How should we express ourselves? (in the classroom)
How do we want to express our cultural heritage?
What concerns us about inequity and inequality in our community? What ideas do we have for taking action?

3rd Grade Units

angela_vargas — 2024-11-15 22:06:05 UTC

Science

Science Practices
Force and motion
Weather conditions, climates, and hazardous conditions around the world
Plants, animals and the environment
Environmental problem design solutions and action taking

Social Science
How can we care for classroom and school resources?
What does it mean to care for the Earth and Oregon’s other resources?
How should we value people(’s labor)?

4th Grade Units

angela_vargas — 2024-11-15 22:06:55 UTC

Science

Science Practices
Weathering and Erosion
Earth’s Process and Patterns
Produce and Transfer Energy
Structures, Process and Waves

Social Science
What makes a safe and healthy classroom? How should we recognize and repair harm in our classroom?
What should be done to repair harm by settlement in Oregon?
What should be done to repair harm caused by racism and xenophobia in Oregon?

5th Grade Units

angela_vargas — 2024-11-15 22:07:26 UTC

Science

Science Practices
Space and Gravity
States of Matter
Energy and Matter in the Ecosystem
Earth’s Systems

Social Science
How should we live well together in our classroom? What rules rights and responsibilities govern our classroom?
Who founded the USA? When and where?
What will make our government better?

Color exploration, how should we appreciate each other's differences?

saumi_bonds — 2024-11-16 22:18:16 UTC

Getting to know myself so we can appreciate each other's differences and learn how to take care of each other:

What do I look like? Students studied their facial features and drew self portraits at the beginning of the year.

Color study: Then they mixed shades of tempera paint to represent their skin color to complete their self portrait.

We hang the the completed portraits on our wall and connect learning to them throughout the year.

How should we take care of each other?

saumi_bonds — 2024-11-16 22:37:46 UTC

We begin the year with this discussion: What/how do we want to feel when we are together?

We brainstorm, make notes, and come up with sentiments that we all want to feel. Then we anchor everything we do to this statement. From time to time, we check in with one another to see if this statement still rings true.

Color Exploration, How should we take care of each other?

angela_vargas — 2024-11-19 20:18:33 UTC

What color connects to your authentic or aspirational self?

Children were offered an ice cube tray with primary water colors in three places and shallow water in the others for color mixing with pipettes. They also had containers with lids to collect the color(s) that represented their identity and aspirations. A literacy component is added when children name and label their colors to share.

Communicating the Earth Processes and Patterns

angela_vargas — 2024-11-19 20:35:59 UTC

How can you use loose part to demonstrate how earthquakes happen and plate tectonics work?

Digital Lesson Plan on Seesaw

https://docs.google.com/presentation/d/1RdjASiC9vaNQG44NR2y5vScZwUJLtwxhQOKeRR0-LgI/edit?usp=sharing

How should we live well together in a classroom? What rules, rights and responsibilities govern our classroom.

angela_vargas — 2024-11-19 20:46:57 UTC

Create a Constitution and Government

Through discourse children determined a class constitution and government. They wrote out their constitution, distressed the paper and all signed it in agreement. They then shared out who they would like to invite to the Constitution Ceremony. Some people the children insisted on being there were the custodian and their guest (sub) teacher they always have, as their community could not be what it is without them.

Force and Motion, What does it mean to care the the Earth and Oregon's other Resources

angela_vargas — 2024-11-19 23:00:32 UTC

How will you use what you know about force and motion and resources to solve an issue or a problem?

Slide deck of Guidance through the unit

https://docs.google.com/presentation/d/1_XUnXUxVQW8V9u0fwoCaIJCWBCFG9vrkCbopz4tdASM/edit?usp=sharing

Landscapes and Erosion, How do we want to express our cultural heritage?

angela_vargas — 2024-11-19 23:14:53 UTC

How can you make a model of land forms and bodies of water using salt dough? How can we use what we know about the geography of the cities, states and countries to express our cultural heritage?

Video of Simona Storytelling about the landscape unit in connection to social science and literacy.

https://drive.google.com/file/d/13bBeB1ajOLy2-yDuvdiS4qCfFVV2yOfn/view?usp=sharing

Animal Interactions

angela_vargas — 2024-11-20 03:01:39 UTC

How do you communicate through your habitat?

Animal Interactions

angela_vargas — 2024-11-20 03:06:59 UTC

How do animals communicate through pattern, color and size?

Animal Interactions

angela_vargas — 2024-11-20 03:18:50 UTC

How do animals communicate through their body?

Courtney Elliot, 1st Grade

saumi_bonds — 2025-01-22 17:04:09 UTC

How do animals interact with one another?

How do we interact with one another?

Video of Courtney's story https://drive.google.com/file/d/1cHNL7qpdDmgzyI5B6LsTVBpstBYC37N6/view?usp=drive_link

Author Visits

saumi_bonds — 2025-01-23 21:16:19 UTC

Young Vo is an animator, author and illustrator. He was six years old when his family fled Vietnam as refugees and settled in Spokane, Washington. In Gibberish, he tells his experience of going to school here as a newcomer to the country. His 2nd book, Makers is an insightful story of two boat makers who were unsuccessful on their own, and learn that when they collaborate, they can create something extraordinary.

Here's the link to Young Vo's website: https://www.youngvoart.com/

Animal Interactions

saumi_bonds — 2025-01-23 22:36:01 UTC

How do animals interact with one another?

How do we interact with one another?

Video of Courtney's story https://drive.google.com/file/d/1cHNL7qpdDmgzyI5B6LsTVBpstBYC37N6/view?usp=drive_link

Courtney Elliot shares about her 1st graders engaging in the Animal Interactions unit and how she was able to weave in other content connections including our new ELA curriculum, HMH.

TOSA Visits

saumi_bonds — 2025-01-25 23:29:45 UTC

Jen and Jenny who are TOSAs at BSD, bring a wealth of knowledge that can enrich our SB13 Tribal History/Shared History lessons.

Jenny Sanchez
American Indian/Alaska Native Facilitator
Confederated Tribes Of Grand Ronde/Siletz

jenny_sanchez@beaverton.k12.or.us

Jen Anderson

TOSA, Vose

jennifer_m_anderson@beaverton.k12.or.us

How do we appreciate others differences

2025-02-19 23:33:35 UTC

Sarah Gooding, Kindergarten

saumi_bonds — 2025-02-21 01:59:09 UTC

Why can the ball knock something over it does not touch?

video of Sarah's story https://drive.google.com/file/d/1FZfxRkrQv9heM8bq765eZlt24k8S2TQ2/view?usp=sharing

Rebeca Armas - Kindergarten

saumi_bonds — 2025-02-21 23:32:50 UTC

Rebeca Armas speaks of how the study that began with the idea Es hermoso ser tu mismo porque eres unico (that it's beautiful to be yourself because you are unique) took them on a journey through a study of what's our community and how it led to a student initiated protest, which then led to a study of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. The class ended up with a deeper understanding of the term community heroes: EVERYONE's role in the community is essential for the community to thrive.

S.S. Unit 2: How do we appreciate each other's differences? ¿Cómo apreciamos las diferencias entre nosotr@s?

What are our needs?

How might we express our needs?

How might we make sure our needs are met?

Video of Rebecca's Story https://drive.google.com/file/d/1sWIeRaVUSB0coiMFec1vGCfqhi9rLbf0/view?usp=sharing

The Whole Brain Child - Book

saumi_bonds — 2025-04-04 16:21:38 UTC

https://drdansiegel.com/book/the-whole-brain-child/

Taproots Substack

saumi_bonds — 2025-04-04 16:34:44 UTC

Kristi Mraz and Christine Hertz Hausman partner in an effort to support teachers and humans in whole child, playful, joyful teaching in what feels like a messy, challenging time in education.

https://substack.com/@taproots

Light and Shadow by Cassidy Griswold

saumi_bonds — 2025-04-04 17:22:08 UTC

Cassidy Griswold shared her story of how the study of light and shadows unfolded in within her community of 1st grade learners. She shares how her planning process took place, her planning tools and how she guided the study staying true to students and their interests while staying true to the standards, navigating the science and HMH curriculum.

Here's the link to the story: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1AdZCA0aOL07_mNVD_HaKNwgVZ0Knu9xq/view?usp=sharing

The Bird Study - Plants and Animals

saumi_bonds — 2025-04-04 18:53:58 UTC

Chloe Evans shares her story of the Kindergarten Bird Study that was inspired by the Live Eagle Nest Cam https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B4-L2nfGcuE

She talks about how her students drove the unit even when she had to sit in discomfort and learn how to address the topics, even when the conversations about reproduction came about.

Here's the link to her story: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1ZyRC1u80oYiAAvdhrlqjPU2EIUVRF6mF/view?usp=sharing

Possible Layout - 5th Grade

saumi_bonds — 2025-08-26 22:36:58 UTC

Laurel is a 5th grade, DL teacher at Barnes who is a member of the Content Embedded Inquiry (CEI) Cohort. After working tirelessly throughout the summer to complete the cards, she was excited to set up her classroom to welcome her students, as she launches the cards. Please note that at the time the video was recorded, her room was still a work in progress and she was courageously vulnerable let us document her process.

https://photos.app.goo.gl/NgBKHCs9ho31DYjBA

Possible Layout - 2nd Grade

saumi_bonds — 2025-08-26 22:47:09 UTC

Kelsey is another DL teacher who is also one of our wonderful cohort members representing 2nd grade. Like Laurel, Kelsey also allowed us to step in while she was forming her vision of how to set up the room to be welcoming, responsive and accessible to all of her students. Please note that this video was recorded during pre-service week, and is intended to help gather ideas on how to think about different spaces in the room. https://photos.app.goo.gl/SVMYYkLvGEVreHKm7

Possible Layout - 1st Grade

saumi_bonds — 2025-08-26 22:55:27 UTC

Courtney, an amazingly thoughtful and reflective member of our Content Embedded Inquiry Cohort was courageously vulnerable to let us take a look into her classroom. She explained how she decided to set up certain areas in specific spaces, being mindful of what each space can offer to what students will be able to access there. Please know that this video was filmed during the pre-service week and does not show you what her room looks like now.

https://photos.app.goo.gl/nwYjgMfXEwBJjrqq7

saumi_bonds — 2025-08-27 16:41:57 UTC

Madiha is a 5th grade teacher and often expresses how she feel new to Content Embedded Inquiry, and knows she has a lot to learn. However, every time she's leaned into the work, she has seen evidence of how children shows up with incredible gifts, when they have the space to think through open-ended materials. This video was recorded during the pre-service week of the 2025-2026 school year, as Madiha set up her space for her 5th graders. Please know that this is a work in progress. Thank you Madiha for being courageously vulnerable to share her space with us so we can share this with everyone who's working on wrapping their minds around how to set up the materials and the cards.

https://photos.app.goo.gl/Qf8zymecRrLXjzp88

Possible Layout - 3rd Grade

saumi_bonds — 2025-08-27 20:20:27 UTC

Lyzett is a 3rd grade DL teacher at Vose who is also a valued member of our Content Embedded Inquiry team. She talks about how she envision materials being used by students as needed, and she is creating spaces where they are accessible to them. She is thinking about the standards coming up at the beginning of the year and how students might use the materials to process the content. She has re-purposed items that she could find from around the school as well. Please note that this video was recorded during pre-service week and that Lyzett is being courageously vulnerable in sharing her space with us while it's still being formed.

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1AOpNvGjGvxNBkbwYv2OFHa47QKcWhpTy/view?usp=sharing

Democracy in Action in 5th Grade

saumi_bonds — 2025-09-04 18:57:55 UTC

After listening to Leticia's story, our High School Social Science TOSA. Jessica Voodre reflected:

“What a beautiful way to introduce the very concept of a democratic process by asking the students about the space, then incorporating their ideas into the redesign. A literal microcosm of "by the people, for the people". Perfect alignment to 5th grade Social Science learning standards.”

Link to the story: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1cDgGkxqFoNiQINmoLi0odkQ4nGtR3GQx/view?usp=drive_link

Teacher Reflection and Next Steps

saumi_bonds — 2025-09-04 20:00:54 UTC

Jordan Crownover talks about how she used a question from the CEI cards on the 1st week of school, even though she didn't have them printed and on the tables. Then she thought through what's coming up for her students. This is an intentional teacher move. Reflection helped her evaluate how the previous session went, identify what's relevant to her students, analyze all the information she gathered and plan her next steps.

Link to the video: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1-I-Dz_5hX2gyghouAOADVS0JtexrPWfM/view?usp=sharing

1st Week of School

saumi_bonds — 2025-09-11 16:36:17 UTC

Diane Hall at McKay invited me into their Kindergarten community on the 2nd day of being together with so much vulnerability. What I was able to capture showed how valued all humans in that space felt and how they could function as a cohesive collective, even when they are just beginning to get to know one another. Diane is truly living the standards that she's exploring with the students. Here's the link to our Inquiry Zoom where we took a peak into her practice https://drive.google.com/file/d/1yrvR6r_EaY51rprFb9ANCZJhzFIX0q0x/view?usp=drive_link

Habits of Mind: What You Need to Know

saumi_bonds — 2025-09-11 17:55:11 UTC

This document is part of a series of 3, curated by Angela Vargas to create the big picture that you might be looking for, in order to anchor yourself as you lean into developing an inquiry stance. This page will give you an overall idea of how centering Habits of Mind helps us focus on the humans in our community and elevate their gifts that will ultimately create the conditions for everyone to thrive.

**The 10 practices that are referred to here are explained in detail on the document titled "Playful Inquiry/Equity"

Playful Inquiry/Equity

saumi_bonds — 2025-09-11 18:05:07 UTC

Content Embedded Inquiry is equity in action. Why? How? What do I need to do so I can ground myself in equity and create the space for EVERY student to see themselves as a gift to their communities?

"Leveling Up"

saumi_bonds — 2025-09-24 18:06:33 UTC

On one of our Wednesday Inquiry Zoom sessions we pondered how we might elevate student interest in a modality and making content connections. Here's what we learned from Courtney and her 1st graders. Here's the link to the story: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1-FN-FSloOZ-z0bg6Iz_F2PGCv8hu5MYM/view?usp=sharing

How does leaning into challenges, responding empathetically, and facilitating intentionally create the practice in which you authentically experience science, social science and more?

saumi_bonds — 2025-09-25 16:28:21 UTC

This is a story from the 2nd week of school and is part 1 of 2 where Angela Vargas shares the story of Laurel and her community of brilliantly skilled, deeply caring 5th graders. She walks us through how naming challenges in the moment, and coming back to them later, can help us see the opportunities that lies within those same moments we initially perceived as challenges.

Here's the link to Part 1 https://drive.google.com/file/d/136FEz1Dk8wHBe1bz3FqX175uZalGrsCf/view?usp=drive_link

Here's the link to Part 2

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1oSji4HpBrLrsxJxd5djOif3r7lV5aU9a/view?usp=sharing

Exploring Food Coloring

saumi_bonds — 2025-10-10 21:55:16 UTC

The Kindergarteners at Raleigh Park explore food coloring as their teacher, Diane Hall created opportunities for them to do so. She had the 3 primary colors out in the middle, dropper for every student at the table, a place for them to experiment and for the opportunity to collaborate, communicate and thing strategically to create different shades/colors. Here's a video snippet of their exploration: https://drive.google.com/file/d/19FWgUs0CM2NfJCSKuAIVI79FNPjqbj6h/view?usp=sharing

Habits of Mind and Parent Teacher Conferences

saumi_bonds — 2025-10-20 17:55:03 UTC

In this Zoom session we begin with a short story from Jenn Tonge's 1st Grade community at Springville Elementary where she intentionally integrates Science and Social Science provocations and examine the benefits of naming the human element that naturally exist in a community at any given time. We then take what we noticed into a conversation on Habits of Mind Traits, taking a look at observations that could be made day-to-day and seeing what the HoM Rubric can offer for parent-teacher conversations as well as grading.

Here's the link to the session: https://drive.google.com/file/d/18WhexbOsgVZVMrYpx3wR7ic4P9k8ehyS/view?usp=drive_link

Spatial Proficiency with Emma Graves

saumi_bonds — 2025-11-20 21:39:47 UTC

Emma speaks about the science behind movement, and the idea of thinking of space and how we set up our environment is a part of the pedagogy of centering students, and their needs. Freedom of posture creates a space where every student feels like they belong, and in turn are able to be successful. Watch the video here: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1OYDm5LLe9qwHSdZLJ2IaW7IltpFqkgwV/view?usp=drive_link

Content Embedded Inquiry Planner

saumi_bonds — 2025-12-02 18:18:59 UTC

Here's a document that we created with the hopes of offering guiding questions as navigate planning while using the Content Embedded Inquiry Cards, and engaging in the Inquiry Cycle. There's value to taking the the time to write out answers to every section as this will help you track and reflect on your thinking.

Reimagining Classroom Environments to Foster Inquiry

saumi_bonds — 2025-12-11 20:43:29 UTC

In this Zoom session, we pondered the idea of freedom of posture inspired by the research and ideas Emma Graves shared with us last week. This session was a gallery walk of classroom spaces that encourage curiosity, agency and the freedom of posture.

Here's the link: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1PyOhnwEq64p9HujH06M_AOLgKRYeUHYM/view?usp=sharing

Making Learning Public

saumi_bonds — 2026-01-14 18:09:10 UTC

In this Zoom session the 1st grade team at Springville Elementary explored ways to make student learning public. Here's the link to the recording of the session: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1s3j4EUZdKjOR0cYinHJGpzNnPLl902Vg/view?usp=sharing

saumi_bonds — 2026-01-14 18:24:33 UTC

Link https://padlet.com/saumi_bonds/content-embedded-inquiry-inspiration-v29y81taeqyod2xa/wish/MbejW17xjOooQNkG

saumi_bonds — 2026-01-14 18:30:31 UTC

Link: https://padlet.com/saumi_bonds/content-embedded-inquiry-inspiration-v29y81taeqyod2xa/wish/E1P8aX1AXP15QwA9

saumi_bonds — 2026-01-14 18:33:04 UTC

Link: https://padlet.com/saumi_bonds/content-embedded-inquiry-inspiration-v29y81taeqyod2xa/wish/XGyBQbDoPKLPWL6K

saumi_bonds — 2026-01-14 18:37:35 UTC

Link: https://padlet.com/saumi_bonds/content-embedded-inquiry-inspiration-v29y81taeqyod2xa/wish/v3w8Zwg0YOrxZN52

Habits of Mind and Parent Teacher Conferences

saumi_bonds — 2026-01-14 18:40:31 UTC

Link: https://padlet.com/saumi_bonds/content-embedded-inquiry-inspiration-v29y81taeqyod2xa/wish/jpoxaj2bzG09abPE

Spatial Proficiency with Emma Graves

saumi_bonds — 2026-01-14 18:50:27 UTC

Link: https://padlet.com/saumi_bonds/content-embedded-inquiry-inspiration-v29y81taeqyod2xa/wish/x5A7arGLxnDPQwr6

Reimagining Classroom Environments to Foster Inquiry

saumi_bonds — 2026-01-14 18:54:32 UTC

Link: https://padlet.com/saumi_bonds/content-embedded-inquiry-inspiration-v29y81taeqyod2xa/wish/XGyBQbXYE68nWL6K

Flexible Seating in the Whole Group

saumi_bonds — 2026-01-14 20:24:31 UTC

Link: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1KsGRE85S5PKVoaj1qA4D95qcX3QNrWVb/view?usp=sharing

Making Learning Public

saumi_bonds — 2026-01-14 20:25:53 UTC

Link: https://padlet.com/saumi_bonds/content-embedded-inquiry-inspiration-v29y81taeqyod2xa/wish/L8KjW9qo3vboWJbv

Grading Day Conversation - Habits of Mind Rubric - Making Observations

saumi_bonds — 2026-01-23 17:39:43 UTC

After the session, Jenn Tonges, a participant of the Zoom courageously reflected, inspiring us all to be vulnerable, and metacognitive in our practice: "I would NEVER have looked at a child's experience of painting their hand in this way. NEVER. I am thinking about how such a simple act can tell so much. In the past, I probably would have simply told this child to go wash their hands and then made an announcement to the whole class about how paint stays on the paper! I am reframing my thinking."

Here's the link to the recording: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1Kr5wV7QiOJB_QsXq4qYThGzn_caSN2jZ/view?usp=drive_link

Grading Day Conversation - Habits of Mind Rubric - Making Observations

saumi_bonds — 2026-01-23 17:40:53 UTC

Here's the link to the recording: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1Kr5wV7QiOJB_QsXq4qYThGzn_caSN2jZ/view?usp=drive_link

Observation as Assessment

saumi_bonds — 2026-02-23 21:53:25 UTC

During this Inquiry Zoom which took place right after the 1st grading period of the school year, we discussed how to make observations as assessment. We grounded our conversation on two sources:

- Key Steps to Using Observations as Assessment by Angela Vargas

and

-Documenting Learning with Habits of Mind by Teaching Preschool Partners

Here's the link to the recording of the Zoom: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1tQxB1u8k1OzFCD9KRuC9dWBJ4WHFLPCV/view?usp=sharing

Student making Mayan Hieroglyphs

sarah_gooding — 2026-02-25 18:09:56 UTC

Transformative SEL (TSEL), Habits of Mind and Content Embedded Inquiry

saumi_bonds — 2026-03-12 18:07:43 UTC

This session was inspired by a reflection in a past session around student Habits of Mind: "What tools might we use to help students become reflective practitioners and think about their own habits of mind? How might we help students communicate with their families how they are using the habits of mind?"

Here's the link to the Zoom recording

Habits of Mind, Observation, Reflection and Planning

saumi_bonds — 2026-04-15 17:55:22 UTC

1st grade teacher Cassidy Griswold at Greenway reflects on her "way of being" as a co-researcher and how Habits of Mind comes into play as she nurtures a community that thrives together.

Recently, she discovered observation, reflection, and planning tools from @theunhurriedclassroom. Their strong overlap with the Content Embedded Inquiry Planning and Reflection Tool highlights a shared process of slowing down to observe closely, reflect deeply, and plan to center the humans in a classroom community. Cassidy invites you to follow @theunhurriedclassroom for further connections and inspiration.