December

Inquiry & Scientific Questioning

Field Investigations

If you have spent time with children you know that “Why?” and “How come?” are two questions that young children frequently ask. Young children are naturally curious and inquisitive – they engage in the world around them and try to make sense of what they observe and experience.

One way to direct young children’s natural curiosity is through field investigations. Field investigations are collecting in-depth information about a particular environment, wildlife species, or natural event. This can be as simple as observing a tree and taking note of what they see, hear, smell, and feel.

To make the most of a field investigation with young children:

·         Share the wonder of discovery - be right there observing along with children!

·         Practice observation skills before you start – what do you hear? What do you see?

·         Record what you observe – keeping records is an essential part of scientific inquiry.

·         Use open ended questions to encourage further investigation – What do you think lives here? Why is that hole there?

·         Be prepared to further your investigation – scientific inquiry and field investigations often lead to more questions to be explored!

·         Be okay with not having all the answers – you do not have to know every tree, plant, or insect. Look for answers together. The process of asking and discovering is often more important than a specific answer.

Suggested Activities

Growing Up WILD’s “Ants on Parade” – Children go outside to observe ant behavior and learn insect characteristics.

Growing Up WILD’s “Field Study Fun” – Children investigate a field study plot to observe plant and animal interactions over time.

Articles

Scholastic: Early Childhood Today - Group Time: Ants and Plants

http://www.scholastic.com/teachers/article/group-time-ants-and-plants

Scholastic: Early Childhood Today – How You Can Help Children Solve Problems

http://www.scholastic.com/teachers/article/how-you-can-help-children-solve-problems

Scholastic: Early Childhood Today – Discovering Science in Nature

http://www.scholastic.com/teachers/article/discovering-science-nature

December

Inquiry & Scientific Questioning

“Tell me and I forget, show me and I remember, involve me and I understand."

Inquiry in the Classroom
Inquiry is the act of asking questions and the seeking of knowledge. You have been using the process of inquiry since you were a baby, without knowing or labeling it as “inquiry”. From birth we use our senses to take in the world around us, ask questions and discover the answers. The process of inquiring begins with this gathering of information. Inquiry-based learning is active learning and involvement that leads to understanding.

Inquiry in the classroom looks different than a traditional teacher-lead lesson. Inquiry is student-lead not teacher-lead. Rather than leading the lesson, teachers take on the role of coach, guide, or facilitator and help guide the students to their own questions and discoveries.  When students choose the questions, they are motivated to learn and they develop a sense of ownership about the project. Your role is a teacher is to guide students in finding the answers to questions themselves and encourage them to ask new questions along the way. The best questions and discoveries are ones that stem from the students’ own lives, and experiences.

Inquiry plays on the natural inquisitive of children. It utilizes their natural curiosity to learn how the world “works”. Lessons embedded with inquiry provide students with opportunities to use their innate curiosity to engage in a variety of actions, including observing, explaining, concluding, sorting, classifying and predicting.

Thoughtful, open-ended questions are at the heart of inquiry. When students have to answer these types of questions, they are engaging in inquiry. Examples of such questions include:

·         How would you describe the function of __?

·         How would you compare ___ to ___?

·         What would result if __ happened?

·         Can you propose an alternative to __?

Links

Youth Learn - How to: Inquiry

http://www.youthlearn.org/learning/planning/lesson-planning/how-inquiry/how-inquiry

Concept to Classroom: What is Inquiry-based Learning?

http://www.thirteen.org/edonline/concept2class/inquiry/index.html

Science in Early Childhood Classrooms: Content and Process

http://ecrp.uiuc.edu/beyond/seed/worth.html

Science Inquiry in the PreK Classroom

http://serendip.brynmawr.edu/exchange/node/2846