This inquiry engages students in expanding their understandings of families in general and the idea that families can be both similar and different. Although much of family life may be shared—language, religion, culture, and traditions—there are important differences across these elements. The compelling question “How can families be the same and different?” offers students opportunities to explore a range of family dimensions— structure, activities, and traditions. By doing so, students can see how their family and their classmates’ families share commonalities and differences. In any inquiry around students’ families, however, teachers should use their professional judgment and demonstrate sensitivity regarding the varied family structures of their students and the availability of information.
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