What Are Investigative Skills?

As the authors point out, for a skill to be investigative students much be learned in context to a concept, be purposeful, and employed to obtain data or information. These authors provide ... See More

As the authors point out, for a skill to be investigative students much be learned in context to a concept, be purposeful, and employed to obtain data or information. These authors provide a road map to how they developed a plan around a big idea. This planned activities lead to authentic assessment and providing of deeper connections for students than just a bunch of related activities.

From Ink Rubbings to Big Ideas in Science

Children love making rubbings from various items or looking at patterns left behind by blow-painting or even finger painting. This article motivates the teacher to use activities of this ilk... See More

Children love making rubbings from various items or looking at patterns left behind by blow-painting or even finger painting. This article motivates the teacher to use activities of this ilk to develop investigative skills in the involved students by linking the designs and their process to larger themes in science. This is a great way to integrate art and science and to link them together to the larger picture by having students write about their observations and the questions generated by their observations to build the infrastructure of a big or significant idea in science. Not every science concept may lend itself to this type of investigation and infrastructure building, but the authors make suggestions for some sequencing of activities and once the process is noted, teachers will be able to create interesting lessons involving rubbings to tie in with specific content areas in life sciences. It is worth a look and a consideration. Think fingerprints and CSI! Or you might even tie rubbings into a look at Asian cultures and temple rubbings.