inquiry, the scientific method and nature investigations
TRANSCRIPT
Inquiry, the Scientific Method and Nature Investigations
What is inquiry?
• Questions– Investigations
• Evidence– Data
• Explanations– Claims– Conclusions
• Content connections– To CA, math, SS, art, tech
• Communication
Fact or Fiction?
• T or F Hands on activities are inquiry.
• T or F Students will determine the content of my
lessons.
• T or F The entire science curriculum can be taught with
inquiry.
• T or F It will take more time for students to learn with
inquiry.
• T or F My classroom will be chaos with inquiry.
Inquiry Continuum
Learner Centered
Teacher Centered
Learner poses question
Learner selects among questions
Learner modifies teacher question
Teacher poses question
Learner determines which data to collect
Learner directed to collect certain data
Learner given data to analyze
Learner given data and told how to analyze
Learner summarizes evidence and formulates explanation
Learner guided to explanation
Learner given possible ways to use evidence for explanation
Learner given evidence
Tips for Full Inquiry• Provided a shared experience central to the
topic• Generate questions to investigate• Train students on how to use and care for
equipment• Create a plan that students compose and
understand• Use only as much time and resources as you are
willing to give• Keep questions focused on your topic• Don’t let fear of the unknown stop you
What is “the scientific method”?
• Steps• Experiment• Control• Independent and
dependent variable• Manipulated variable• Hypothesis
• Is this inquiry?• Is “the scientific
method” the only way scientists work?
Nature-based Inquiry (Investigations)
• Starts with observations/ gathering baseline data. (Descriptive)
• Observations can lead to collecting data under different conditions. (Comparative)
• Finally, measurements can lead to searching for relationships. (Correlative)
• Science process skills– Observation– Prediction– Classification– Measurement– Inference– Communication
Types of Questions
• Descriptive—What insects can be found in the forest?
• Comparative—Which habitat, prairie or forest, supports more insects?
• Correlative—How does temperature affect the number of insects you see?
• Book, internet, etc Research—What is the name of that insect?
• Why-Why do insects have 6 legs?• Essential—How do insects impact the forest?
WHAT IS THE QUESTION UNDER INVESTIGATION?