Science Inquiry Resources

Talk about a can of worms! The idea of teaching science inquiry in the classroom can result in a heated discussion. It may involve teachers talking with other teachers, teachers and school administrators, or teachers and state administrators. The main concept of science inquiry is to help students to ask thoughtful and meaningful questions and then follow through with an experiment or activity to find the answer. Teacher involvement can vary, but teaching the steps of science inquiry is integral to student understanding.

Some school districts have embraced science inquiry in the classroom, while others continue to discount its proven success. In the current education climate, choosing the best way to teach students is becoming a highly contested concept. Science inquiry is a form of active learning and can lead to everlasting knowledge.

So, here are some ideas and resources that have supported my teaching of science inquiry in the classroom. Check them out and share some of your favorites!

Local Resources

-State Fish and Wildlife education programs (I have taken 2 classes: The Ecology of Fire, and Project WET/WILD)

-Science Center Teacher Education Courses (My first experience with inquiry)

-Teacher courses at the Zoo or Aquarium (Good for background information useful in teaching science inquiry and their website may also have inquiry activities!)

Web Resources

http://www.nationalgeographic.com/

-The National Geographic website is one of my favorites! It has videos, pictures, and current research info.

Teaching Inquiry:

http://www.lesliepreddy.com/Inquiry/inquiry%20index.HTM

-Good website explaining inquiry process and assessment ideas

Inquiry Activities:

http://www.science-house.org/learn/index.html

-The Science House associated with NC State University and full activities for all grade levels that are interactive and fun

http://www.nsf.gov/news/classroom/

-The National Science Foundation has a resource page of links relating science concepts and education, also the Home website has funding information that may help you with funding your inquiry

http://www.ciblearning.org/teacherresources-exercises.php

-Center for Inquiry Based Learning has some good ideas and activities

Other

http://www.nsta.org/about/positions/laboratory.aspx?lid=hs

-NSTA (National Science Teachers Association) Great article that points out the benefits of teaching science through inquiry and could be useful for supporting this program in your school

http://www.exploravision.org/teacher-resources/

-Toshiba ExploraVision program is a competition where students work in teams to write and solve a problem

Ideas for teaching the appreciation of nature

How do you teach an appreciation for nature? For most, an appreciation for nature comes from having experiences with animals and plants in the wild or at zoos. This can be difficult to "teach". In addition, it can be tough to find the time to inspire students with the amazement of nature when you have curriculum to cover and tests to prepare for?

When I taught Kindergarten, we spent a half hour outside in the morning and a half hour in the afternoon on our playground. Though the playground was covered in fake grass, there was a border of dirt and mulch with a few small trees outlining the area. I wanted to design an activity that was interactive with nature and learning. So, one day when we were lining up at the end of recess, we walked around the outlining area and I asked my students to observe natural things around them. Several students were interested in the large amount of pinecones that accumulated, so we decided to take some with us and try to identify the tree they belonged to. We all really enjoyed the activity and my students learned how to stop and observe and about local flora. What I didn’t expect was how they would continue this activity throughout the year! As winter faded, my students constantly pointed out natural life that they observed when we went out to recess. They found ants marching one behind the other. They watched digger bees fly in and out of their ground nests, and follow their travels to different flowers. This activity showed me that I didn’t need to design some elaborate lesson plan to share the wonder of nature with my young students, and I am hoping that they carry this experience with them!

What activities have you done with your students to inspire an awe of nature?