This summer, we were blessed to have the chance to cruise to the Gulf of Mexico with our family. As I stepped onto the balcony early one morning, I glimpsed phenomena all around and my mind immediately went to inquiry-based learning. I leaned on the balcony railing and felt the salt that had crystallized from the concentrated ocean water in the atmosphere. Looking at the horizon, I saw the reflection of the sun. I watched energy transfer through the waves in the water behind the ship. And, I observed the flat bottoms of the clouds passing by as Carnival Paradise traveled at a constant speed towards Honduras.
"This is the age of the exploration," I thought. With phenomena all around us, no matter where we are in the world, exploring and discovering for our elementary and secondary students should be easy. And, it can be with these three examples of inquiry-based learning in the science classroom.
Before we discuss the examples, however, you might wonder what inquiry-based learning is, why it is important, and how it is effective. Inquiry-based learning is a teaching strategy where the teacher acts as a facilitator to spark curiosity in their students. The student's curiosity prompts them to inquire about the phenomenon. Inquiry-based learning is important because it encourages students to gather information independently or collaboratively while developing their problem-solving skills. It is effective because it involves the students in their own learning. With these three examples, inquiry-based learning is an ambitious, student-centered teaching strategy that is easy to implement in any science classroom. Inquiry-Based Learning is Easy. See the examples below.
Examples of Inquiry Based Learning | Show a Picture of Video
First, show a picture or video of a phenomenon associated with the standard/learning target. Next, ask your students, "OK, what questions do you have?" They come up with their questions and then research.
For example, show a picture or a short video clip of a big wave. Be sure that the image or video is interesting, like a tsunami as it enters a coastal town or a picture of a warning tsunami zone sign. After seeing the image or watching the video, someone will most likely ask what causes a tsunami or large wave. At this point, the door is open for exploration through research. The students will find answers such as earthquakes, man-made disturbances, and even rogue waves. Next, simply use these answers to guide conversations about the transfer of energy, constructive interference, and more. Notice how the lesson requires very little prep? All you did was act as a facilitator after showing a picture or video.
Examples of Inquiry Based Learning | Plan and Carry Out an Investigation
Likewise, many science standards challenge students to plan and carry out an investigation to explore a standard. For student exploration and discovery of these standards, read the standard aloud, dissect it with your students, provide materials and supplies, and say go!
Consider the following example: Standard 3 of the Georgia Standards of Excellence for Physical Science states that students should plan and carry out investigations to generate evidence supporting the claim that chemical reactions conserve mass. In this case, students need to understand how to investigate and do so safely, how to use mass as a measurement, what it means to be conserved, and what a chemical reaction is. Provide materials for a simple chemical reaction like baking soda, vinegar, or Alka-Seltzer tablets, and basic lab supplies like a digital balance, plastic bags, water, graduated cylinders, beakers, etc. State the claim that mass is conserved during a chemical reaction and tell them to prove it!
Examples of Inquiry Based Learning | Analyze and Interpret Data
Give the students data and ask them to make sense of it. For example, Standard 1 of the Georgia Physical Science Standards of Excellence states that students should analyze and interpret data to determine the number of valence electrons, types of ions, properties of metals, nonmetals, and metalloids, and phases of elements. How easy would it be to give students a periodic table with that information and have them look for patterns?
Coming up with other types of data may be a little more complicated. But we can help! Introducing Science from the South Discovery Docs. Let me explain. Have you ever noticed that clouds have flat bottoms? Check out the Youtube video above. You may have, but most likely, many of your students have not. The Clouds Discovery Docs activity directs your students to explore data and develop an understanding of states of matter, phase changes, dew points, and so much more. The activity guides students to learn about standards by exploring and discovering a phenomenon. Easy-peasy!
What is your best example of inquiry-based learning?
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