then to get out and explore first hand the environment we live in, our impact upon it and how we manage those spaces? We set off on our walking excursion, despite the the hot 35 degree Celsius heat, to explore our case study area of Saltwater Creek. We had 5 key locations to investigate and a series of information to gather at each location that utilised a variety of geographical fieldwork techniques. At each location, students were asked to employ the Project Zero thinking routine See Think Wonder to help them make careful observations about the location they were examining and stimulate thoughtful discussion and curiosity amongst the group members. The question prompts were adapted to suit the specific focus required at each location (see below).
Red Cabbage as a Natural ph indicator
Water Testing Using the P G & E RoutineThe level of passion and curiosity about the learning they had undertaken and where we were headed next in our inquiry was just amazing. It is one of those moments as teacher, when learning feels effortless and moves along all by itself without too much intervention from the teacher because the students are so engaged. This is truly what inquiry learning is all about. I believe there is a fine balance between scaffolding experiences to help aid the development of an inquiry and programming a whole unit without making accommodations for the students interests, curiosities and passions.
1 Comment
Vanessa Simpson
7/1/2019 06:27:39 pm
Wonderfully, rich and engaging learning sequence. Brings together so many different aspects of different subjects so they realise that in the real world we use many skills from different areas together, We have to understand the history, geography, science and politics of a place to really understand what is happening. They used numeracy, literacy and drawing skills. Then we use our thinking skills to design solutions to problems.
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AuthorHi, I am Alice. I am a primary teacher and leader in New South Wales, Australia. I have been teaching for the past 14 years in both the Public and Catholic school systems. I am passionate about supporting and mentoring colleagues to think deeply about their efforts to cultivate thinking and learning opportunities for students. Read more Archives
August 2023
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