So we have a real question, my students are excited to get started, what is next?
Find out what your students already KNOW and what they WONDER about your topic!
Here is why....
Your students will likely know something about your real question. They will benefit from making a connection early in the inquiry process.
Here is how...
Brainstorm: In a way that is accessible and meaningful for your class, record what every one of your students already knows about your real question. Write down all their ideas, thoughts, questions and connections. having trouble generating participation? As students how they FEEL about the question.
Record it all: Along the way students may offer something they “know” that doesn’t seem quite right. That’s ok! Record it! It will lead to critical thinking and authentic fact checking during the inquiry process.
Reflect & Refine: Before moving on, together look at all that you know and wonder. Are there themes emerging that you could consider refining your real question? Is there a new or unexpected direction that you could go to boost engagement based on what your students know or wonder?
Here is an example...
From a Grade 9 inquiry rooted in the Science curriculum...
Your initial real question: Do solar panels have a negative environmental effect?
Using a digital collaborative document, such as padlet, have students work in pairs to post what they know and wonder about your real question. To generate more thinking, ideas, questions and connections during this brainstorm, you may ask your students how they feel about the use of solar panels.
As a class, review the posts on the document and record any new connection, ideas, thoughts or questions.
You may notice many students wonder how a solar panel works. Time to refine and maximize learning! Refined real question: How do solar panels work and do they have negative environmental effects? Knowing your curriculum, you see the authentic opportunity to embed a mini inquiry in here for your students to explore electric currents – one of the Gr 9 science big ideas!
A student noticed that three peers commented on the water cycle depending on solar power and they wonder if there is a “enough sunshine to go around”. Bingo! Your teacher heart is singing knowing you can work towards your big idea of interconnected spheres and energy flow!
Great ways to record what your students KNOW and WONDER:
Pen & Paper
Chart Paper or class whiteboard and coloured markers
Student individual inquiry notebook
Students in pairs with a clipboard
Digital
Padlet, Wakelet, Flipgrid
Collaborative Powerpoint or Word document