Our IB Candidacy Journey
Highland Park IB Units 2024-2025 School Year
At Highland Park, we completed our first year in candidacy as an International Baccalaureate (IB) World School during the 2024-2025 school year, marking an exciting new chapter for our school.
The IB program is designed to inspire curiosity, independence, and a global perspective. Through the program, our students engage in meaningful learning experiences that encourage them to ask questions, explore new ideas, and think critically.
From developing strong language skills to participating in global service projects, our students will not only learn about the world but actively contribute to it.
For further information about the IB and its programmes, visit international baccalaureate program.
Kindergarten:
How We Organize Ourselves: Communities are where we work, live and play.
The Kindergarten Community Fair allowed students the chance to ask questions about the various organizations and public utilities in our community.
HP Kindergarten students considered what humans need and want in our communities during their fall IB unit and created collaborative group representations in Art class with Ms. Hayden.
1st Grade:
How The World Works: All living things go through a process of change.
First Grade students took a field trip to the Indiana University Greenhouse to learn more about plant growth.
Students observed pumpkins decomposing in their classrooms, formulated questions, and discussed changes during their observations.
Sharing the Planet: People make choices to conserve Earth’s resources.
Our first graders examined the balance between meeting human needs while also preserving resources for other living things. As part of their unit, they were able to spend time in the HP nature center discussing natural habitats.
2nd Grade:
How We Express Ourselves: Celebrations and traditions are expressions of shared beliefs and values.
Our second grade students explored celebrations by focusing on winter holidays around the world. Their unit concluded with a musical performance of songs from various countries at Culture Fest.
Sharing the Planet: People understand the responsibility they have in connection to the habitats and conservation of endangered species.
HP second graders researched animals and made a physical representation of animal habitats during art class. They presented their research at an animal fair to teachers, students, and parents. They also visited the Indianapolis Zoo to see a variety of animals up close.
3rd Grade:
How the World Works: Economics includes systems of production, exchange and consumption of goods and services.
Third graders came up with their own ideas for new products and businesses. During the process, students were able to use the Highland Park 3D printer. They also took a field trip to some of Bloomington’s local businesses (badknees T’s and Vintage Phoenix Comic Books).
Where We Are In Place and Time: Interpretation of artifacts contribute to our understanding of the history of living things on Earth.
To learn about about life cycles and fossils, third grade students dissected owl pellets in their classrooms and were able to categorize dinosaur fossils at the Indianapolis Children’s Museum.
4th Grade:
Sharing the Planet: Human activities significantly alter the availability and sustainability of natural resources, requiring responsible management for future generations.
Using research skills, fourth graders studied topographical maps and stormwater management systems. From their findings, groups built cardboard prototypes of possible solutions for Highland Park’s stormwater runoff and presented their projects to Mr. Rockhill and Ms. Quigley.
5th Grade:
Where We Are In Place and Time: Revolutions stem from human desire to change and have consequences.
In the fall of 2025, fifth graders studied the American Revolution and created podcasts, skits, picture books, or videos in character as historical figures. These photos show the paper wigs they made to imitate the fashion of that time period.
Sharing the Planet: Conservation is a process that individuals have a responsibility to carry out at a local level to foster sustainable communities.
Fifth grade students started composting in small jars in the spring of 2025. They also created presentations to share with our second graders about conservation and responsibility.
6th Grade:
Where We Are in Place and Time: A country’s cultural and historical background has an impact on the beliefs, values, and actions.
Sixth grade students focused on various countries around the world during their fall IB unit. Students researched topics that interested them within that country and shared their findings at HP’s Culture Fest.
Sharing the Planet: Biodiversity relies on maintaining the interdependent balance of organisms within systems.
In the spring of 2025, our sixth graders researched invasive species and ways in which living things are interdependent. Their unit culminated with a visit from Sycamore Land Trust and a day of hard work in the HP Nature Center.
