Principal's weekly update 09 How to support UOI Learning at home

Dear PYP Parents,

Following the Qing Ming holiday, the children have returned to school full of energy and curiosity. With that in mind, we’d like to share some simple but powerful ways you can support your child’s learning at home—especially in their Unit of Inquiry (UOI).

Understanding the Central Idea

Each UOI is guided by a Central Idea—a big-picture statement that gives direction and meaning to the unit.

For example, in K3 the current central idea is:

“Preserving the ocean’s ecosystem is essential to the balance of life.”

You can support your child at home by asking questions such as:

• “What did you learn today that connects to your central idea?”

• “How does learning about oil pollution help you understand the ocean ecosystem?”

These kinds of questions help your child make meaningful connections and think more deeply.

A Simple Process to Follow at Home

You don’t need special tools—just time, curiosity, and conversation. Here’s a process you can follow at home:

• Start with a question based on the central idea.

• Explore together. Read a book, search online (with supervision), or watch a short educational video.

• Talk about it. Ask your child to explain what they learned in their own words.

• Encourage action. Your child could:

• Draw a poster to raise awareness

• Change something at home (e.g. reduce plastic)

• Create something to show what they learned

• Share back at school. Children are always encouraged to bring their learning, questions, or actions back to the classroom.

Why This Matters

When school and home work together in this way, students develop:

• Confidence to express themselves

• Curiosity to explore deeply

• Responsibility to take meaningful action

These habits support academic growth and lifelong learning.

Thank you, as always, for your support. We can’t wait to see the creative questions, thoughtful actions, and new ideas your children will bring with them in the coming days!

Ian Barnes

Principal

Concordia International School Ningbo