● Unit of inquiry resource
Maths in Who we are
This theme is about who we are as people and together: health, routines, growing and learning. The maths is the class itself as data: survey it, measure it, read a day on the clock, and decide the fair way to play.
Ameera Surekha, who built Explorisle at home for one child · 26 September 2026
The theme, in one paragraph
Who we are is one of the six transdisciplinary themes used by IB PYP schools. On the island it carries two units. A teacher sets one as the class goal and the children who join get it.
Unit one: Our class
Central idea (the island's own words): Who we are shapes how we learn and play together.
Lines of inquiry: what makes me me; our routines and health; fair play together. Concepts: form, connection, responsibility.
| Station | What the child does | The maths |
|---|---|---|
| Class survey | reads the chart of eye colours, pets, birthdays | Data handling |
| Measure yourself | reads height, hand span, foot length on a ruler | Measurement: length |
| Read your day | reads the clock through the school day | Measurement: time |
The decision post, Our rules: Everyone gets a turn, the winner chooses, or draw names from a hat? There is no wrong answer; the child gives a reason, and the reason lands on the class sheet.
The exhibit: finish the stations and the child earns a bench for their own plot.
Unit two: Healthy me
Central idea (the island's own words): What we eat, how we move and how we rest shape how we feel.
Lines of inquiry: food; movement; rest. Concepts: causation, responsibility, change.
| Station | What the child does | The maths |
|---|---|---|
| The fruit survey | reads the chart of the class's favourite fruit | Data handling |
| How tall, how far | measures a jump and a throw | Measurement: length |
| Sleep and the clock | works out hours of sleep from bedtime to waking | Measurement: time |
The decision post, One change: Drink water instead of juice, a walk after school, or bed half an hour earlier? There is no wrong answer; the child gives a reason, and the reason lands on the class sheet.
The exhibit: finish the stations and the child earns a bench for their own plot.
Tasks for the classroom without a screen
- Hand spans across the desk. Estimate, measure, chart. Whose is the median?
- A sleep diary for a week, bedtime and waking time, hours worked out each morning. Line graph.
- How should we pick teams? Three ways, one week each, then a class vote with a reason.
The evidence sheet
On the island, tap For teachers on the first screen, make a class (you get a six-character code and a teacher key), set the level for the class, and pick this unit as the class goal. Children join with the code and a seat number; no name, no email. The evidence sheet in the class view prints the central idea, the lines of inquiry, the concepts, what each station practised, and every seat's findings and reasons, ready to paste into your planner.
On the island
Not on the island yet: a unit on growing, with height over the year as a line graph. On the list.
Read next
Explorisle is an independent product of A Surekha (the registered business of Ameera Surekha). It is not endorsed by, affiliated with or licensed by the International Baccalaureate Organization. IB, PYP and International Baccalaureate are registered trademarks of the IBO.