The Planning Process
Planners + Resources | Unit Plans (subject) | Unit Plans (grade)
Big Ideas | Concepts | Curricular Competencies
*indicates new content that has been added since June 2020.
Unit Plans by Big Ideas
Big Ideas by Grade
Kindergarten
Grade 1
Applied Design, Skills and Technology
- Skills can be developed through play.
- Technologies are tools that extend human capabilities.
- Designs grow out natural curiosity
- Skills can be developed through play (2)
Arts Education
- People connect to others and share ideas through the arts.
- People connect to story through the arts
- Engagement in the arts creates opportunity for inquiry through purposeful play
English Language Arts
- Language and story can be a source of creativity and joy
- Curiosity and wonder lead us to new discoveries about ourselves and the world around us
Math
- Objects and shapes have attributes that can be described, measured and compared (Math Gr 1-2)
- Designs develop out of natural curiosity (ADST 1-3)
- Skills can be developed through play (ADST 1-3)
Science
Social Studies
Grade 2
Applied Design, Skills and Technology
- Skills can be developed through play.
- Technologies are tools that extend human capabilities.
- Designs grow out natural curiosity
- Skills can be developed through play (2)
Arts Education
English Language Arts
- Language and story can be a source of creativity and joy
- Curiosity and wonder lead us to new discoveries about ourselves and the world around us
Science
Social Studies
Grade 4
Applied Design, Skills and Technologies
English Language Arts
- Texts can be understood from different perspectives.
- Texts can be understood from different perspectives.
- Using language in creative and playful ways helps us understand how language works.
- Using language in creative and playful ways helps us understand how language works. (2)
Mathematics
- Developing computational fluency comes from a strong sense of number.
- Number represents and describes quantity: Part of wholes can be represented by fractions and decimals.
Physical and Health Education
Science
- Matter has mass, takes up space, and can change phase.
- Living things sense and respond to their environment – Birds
- Living things sense and respond to their environment – Farm
- Living things sense and respond to their environment – Forest
- Living things sense and respond to their environment – Pond
Social Studies
- Interactions between First Peoples and Europeans lead to conflict and cooperation, which continues to shape Canada’s identity.
- British Columbia followed a unique path in becoming a part of Canada.
- The pursuit of valuable natural resources played a key role in changing the land, people and communities of Canada.
Grade 5
Applied Design, Skills and Technologies
English Language Arts
- Texts can be understood from different perspectives.
- Using language in creative and playful ways helps us understand how language works.
Mathematics
- Developing computational fluency comes from a strong sense of number.
- Number represents and describes quantity: Part of wholes can be represented by fractions and decimals.
Physical and Health Education
Social Studies
Grade 6
Applied Design, Skills and Technologies
English Language Arts
Mathematics
- Developing computational fluency comes from a strong sense of number.
- Number represents and describes quantity: Part of wholes can be represented by fractions and decimals.
Physical and Health Education
Science
- Everyday material are often mixtures.
- Multi-cellular organisms rely on internal systems to survive, reproduce, and interact with their environment. – Birds
- Multi-cellular organisms rely on internal systems to survive, reproduce, and interact with their environment. – Farm
- Multi-cellular organisms rely on internal systems to survive, reproduce, and interact with their environment – Forest
- Multi-cellular organisms rely on internal systems to survive, reproduce, and interact with their environment – Pond
Social Studies
Grade 7
Applied Design, Skills and Technologies
English Language Arts
Mathematics
- Developing computational fluency comes from a strong sense of number.
- Number represents and describes quantity: Part of wholes can be represented by fractions and decimals.
- Computational fluency and flexibility with numbers extend to operations with integers and decimals.
- Data from circle graphs can be used to illustrate proportion and to compare and interpret.
- The constant ratio between the circumference and diameter of circles can be used to describe, measure and compare spatial relationships.
- Linear relations can be represented in many connected ways to identify regularities and make generalizations.
- Computational fluency and flexibility with numbers extend to operations with integers and decimals.
Physical and Health Education
Science
- The electromagnetic force produces both electricity and magnetism.
- Evolution by natural selection provides an explanation for the diversity and survival of living things.
- Earth and its climate have changed over geological time.
- Elements consist of one type of atom, and compounds consist of atoms of different elements chemically combined.
Grade 8
Mathematics
Science
Social Studies
Grade 12
Comparative Cultures
- Understanding the diversity and complexity of cultural expressions in one culture enhances our understanding of other cultures.
- Interactions between belief systems, social organization, and language influence artistic expressions of culture.
- Understanding the diversity and complexity of cultural expressions in one culture enhances our understanding of other cultures. (2)
- Interactions between belief systems, social organization, and language influence artistic expressions of culture. (2)
BC First Peoples
- The impact of contact and colonialism continues to affect the political, social, and economic lives of BC First Peoples.
- The impact of contact and colonialism continues to affect the political, social, and economic lives of BC First Peoples. (2)
- The identities, worldviews, and language of BC First Peoples are renewed, sustained, and transformed through their connection to the land.
- Cultural expressions convey the richness, diversity, and resiliency of BC First Peoples.
Download Complete lists of Big Ideas for Planning Purposes
- Big Ideas by Grade – ALL GRADES
- Big Ideas Kindergarten
- Big Ideas Grade 1
- Big Ideas Grade 2
- Big Ideas Grade 3
- Big Ideas Grade 4
- Big Ideas Grade 5
- Big Ideas Grade 6
- Big Ideas Grade 7
- Big Ideas Grade 8
- Big Ideas Grade 9
- Combined Grades Big Ideas – ALL GRADES
- Combined Grades Big Ideas – K-1
- Combined Grades Big Ideas – Grades 1-2
- Combined Grades Big Ideas – Grades 2-3
- Combined Grades Big Ideas – Grades 3-4
- Combined Grades Big Ideas – Grades 4-5
- Combined Grades Big Ideas – Grades 5-6
- Combined Grades Big Ideas – Grades 6-7
Big Ideas by Subject
Applied Design, Skills and Technologies
- Skills can be developed through play. (Grade 1-2)
- Technologies are tools that extend human capabilities. (Grade 1-2)
- Designs grow out natural curiosity (Grade 1-2)
- Skills can be developed through play (2) (Grade 1-2)
- Skills are developed through practice, effort, and action. (Grade 4-5)
- Design can be responsive to identified needs. (Grade 6-7)
Arts Education
- People connect to others and share ideas through the arts. (Grade K-1)
- People connect to story through the arts (Grade 1)
- Engagement in the arts creates opportunity for inquiry through purposeful play (Grade 1)
- Inquiry through the arts creates opportunities for risk-taking (Grade 2)
- Creative expression is a means to explore and share one’s identity within a community. (Grade 4-5)
- Engaging in creative expression and experiences expands people’s sense of identity and belonging. (Grade 4-5)
BC First Peoples
- The impact of contact and colonialism continues to affect the political, social, and economic lives of BC First Peoples. (Grade 12)
- The identities, worldviews, and language of BC First Peoples are renewed, sustained, and transformed through their connection to the land. (Grade 12)
- The impact of contact and colonialism continues to affect the political, social, and economic lives of BC First Peoples. (2) (Grade 12)
- Cultural expressions convey the richness, diversity, and resiliency of BC First Peoples. (Grade 12)
Comparative Cultures
- Understanding the diversity and complexity of cultural expressions in one culture enhances our understanding of other cultures (Grade 12)
- Interactions between belief systems, social organization, and language influence artistic expressions of culture. (Grade 12)
- Understanding the diversity and complexity of cultural expressions in one culture enhances our understanding of other cultures. (2) (Grade 12)
- Interactions between belief systems, social organization, and language influence artistic expressions of culture. (2) (Grade 12)
Contemporary Indigenous Studies
- Indigenous peoples are reclaiming mental, emotional, physical, and spiritual well-being despite the continuing effects of colonialism.
- Indigenous peoples continue to advocate and assert rights to self-determination.
- The identities, worldviews, and language of indigenous peoples are renewed, sustained, and transformed through the connection to the land.
- Indigenous peoples are reclaiming mental, emotional, physical, and spiritual well-being despite the continuing effects of colonialism.
- Indigenous peoples continue to advocate and assert rights to self-determination. (2)
English Language Arts
- Language and story can be a source of creativity and joy. (Grade 1-2)
- Curiosity and wonder lead us to new discoveries about ourselves and the world around us. (Grade 1-2)
- Texts can be understood from different perspectives.(Grade 4)
- Using language in creative and playful ways helps us understand how language works.(Grade 4)
- Using language in creative and playful ways helps us understand how language works. (2) (Grade 4-5)
- Texts can be understood from different perspectives. (Grade 4-7)
- Texts can be understood from different perspectives. (2) (Grade 4-7)
- Exploring and sharing multiple perspectives extends our thinking. (Grade 4-7)
Law Studies
- Understanding legal rights and responsibilities allows citizens to participate more fully in society.
- Understanding legal rights and responsibilities allows citizens to participate more fully in society. (2)
- Laws can maintain the status quo and can also be a force for change.
- Laws can maintain the status quo and can also be a force for change. (2)
- A society’s laws and legal framework affects many aspects of people’s daily lives.
- A society’s laws and legal framework affects many aspects of people’s daily lives. (2)
Mathematics
- Objects and shapes have attributes that can be described, measured and compared (Math Gr 1-2)
- Designs develop out of natural curiosity (ADST 1-3)
- Skills can be developed through play (ADST 1-3)
- Developing computational fluency comes from a strong sense of number. (Grade 4-7)
- Number represents and describes quantity: Part of wholes can be represented by fractions and decimals. (Grade 4-7)
- Computational fluency and flexibility with numbers extend to operations with integers and decimals. (Grade 7)
- Data from circle graphs can be used to illustrate proportion and to compare and interpret. (Grade 7)
- The constant ratio between the circumference and diameter of circles can be used to describe, measure and compare spatial relationships. (Grade 7)
- Linear relations can be represented in many connected ways to identify regularities and make generalizations. (Grade 7)
- Computational fluency and flexibility with numbers extend to operations with integers and decimals. (Grade 7)
- Number represents, describes, and compares the quantities of ratios, rates, and percents. (Grade 8)
Science
- The motion of objects depends on their properties. (Grade K)
- Living things have features and behaviours that help them survive in their environment. (Grade 1)
- Living things have life cycles adapted to their environment. (Grade 2)
- Water is essential to all living things. (Grade 2)
- Matter has mass, takes up space, and can change phase. (Grade 4)
- Everyday materials are often mixtures. (Grade 6)
- Multi-cellular organisms rely on internal systems to survive, reproduce, and interact with their environment. (Grade 6)
- Multi-cellular organisms rely on internal systems to survive, reproduce, and interact with their environment. (2) (Grade 6)
- Multi-cellular organisms rely on internal systems to survive, reproduce, and interact with their environment (3) (Grade 6).
- The electromagnetic force produces both electricity and magnetism. (Grade 7)
- Earth and its climate have changed over geological time. (Grade 7)
- Evolution by natural selection provides an explanation for the diversity and survival of living things. (Grade 7)
- Elements consist of one type of atom, and compounds consist of atoms of different elements chemically combined. (Grade 7)
- The theory of plate tectonics is the unifying theory that explains Earth’s geological processes.(Grade 8)
- Living things sense and respond to their environment – Birds (Grade 4)
- Living things sense and respond to their environment – Farm (Grade 4)
- Living things sense and respond to their environment – Forest (Grade 4)
- Living things sense and respond to their environment – Pond (Grade 4)
Social Justice
Social Studies
- Stories and traditions about ourselves and our families reflect who we are and where we are from. (Kindergarten)
- Our rights, roles, and responsibilities are important for building strong communities. (Grade 1)
- Local actions have global consequences, and global actions have local consequences. (Grade 2)
- Local actions have global consequences, and global actions have local consequences. (2) (Grade 2)
- Canada is made up of many diverse regions and communities. (Grade 2)
- Learning about indigenous peoples nurtures multicultural awareness and respect for diversity. (Grade 3)
- British Columbia followed a unique path in becoming a part of Canada. (Grade 4)
- The pursuit of valuable natural resources played a key role in changing the land, people and communities of Canada. (Grade 4)
- Interactions between First Peoples and Europeans lead to conflict and cooperation, which continues to shape Canada’s identity. (Grade 5)
- Canada’s policies and treatment of minority peoples have negative and positive legacies. (Grade 5)
- Canada’s policies and treatment of minority peoples have negative and positive legacies. (2) (Grade 5)
- Systems of government vary in their respect for human rights and freedoms. (Grade 6)
- Contacts and conflicts between peoples stimulated significant cultural, social, political change. (Grade 8)
- Exploration, expansion, and colonization had varying consequences for different groups. (Grade 8)
- Disparities in power alter the balance of relationships between individuals and between societies. (Grade 9)
- Worldviews lead to different perspectives and ideas about developments in Canadian society. (Grade 10)
- Worldviews lead to different perspectives and ideas about developments in Canadian society. (2) (Grade 10)
Big Ideas
“Big Ideas are statements that are central to one’s understanding in an area of learning. A Big Idea is broad and abstract. It contains key concepts that generally are timeless and transferable to other situations. Big Ideas are the key concepts, principles, and theories that are used to organize knowledge within an area of learning. A Big Idea is a statement of an idea that is central to an area of learning or across disciplines and that links numerous understandings into a coherent whole.”
from The BC Ministry of Education’s New Curriculum
