The World Works in Cycles

By: Anika Maheshwari

This past week, the first graders of French International have been studying the unit “The World Works in Cycles”. They have been doing many activities to understand what a cycle is, what different examples of cycles are, how to represent cycles and how cycles affect our lives and the world we live in. 

The classes have been doing this by studying the life cycles of ladybugs, slugs, and butterflies, as well as noticing the changes in their clothing and how it is affected by the season, and playing with a model of the sun and the earth. They have also looked at pictures and charts depicting the various different stages in cycles and making connections between them, as well as going to supermarkets and seeing how the local produce available changes in comparison to the seasons. In their final project, they will showcase their understanding of cycles by choosing an animal, researching its lifecycle, and creating a chart to depict it.

Throughout this unit, the first graders are also learning how to create hypotheses, make observations, and draw conclusions, as well as how to make connections between causes and effects from activities done in class. By the end of the unit they will also learn how to inquire about and explore the world around them, how to identify patterns, and how to research.

This unit, “The world works in cycles” contributes to our schools mission to to give its students the skills and perspectives they need to excel, both academically and in life. It also aligns with the IB values of being inquirers and thinkers. 

This article and photos are part of the eighth-grade communications class's media intern project, where students worked on a project for the French International Communications department.