Great Way to have Students Think Like Scientists

This article is a great read for future educators who are still trying to learn how to create a classroom based on inquiry learning. The students were able to take over the role of a geologi... See More

This article is a great read for future educators who are still trying to learn how to create a classroom based on inquiry learning. The students were able to take over the role of a geologist when presented with a real-life learning experience identifying unknown rocks. Students also are able to think scientifically and practice problem solving which helps with classroom engagement. There are many extensions that can stem from this activity and it is useful when basing a classroom on scientific inquiry.

Inquiry Anyone?

This article discusses a rock investigation that was set up as a problem-based learning mini-unit for the author's seventh grade integrated science students. At the beginning, the author exp... See More

This article discusses a rock investigation that was set up as a problem-based learning mini-unit for the author's seventh grade integrated science students. At the beginning, the author explained to her scholars that NASA sent them a container of rocks that they needed identified. The students assumed the roles of geologists and came up with some ways to classify and identify the rocks. Students were introduced to the problem in the form of a letter which was posted on the school's webpage. This lesson is open inquiry. Students are presented with the letter and told that there were testing materials in the room, but they had to conduct some research to determine what type of tests they could perform with the materials and what they could determine from the tests, before they are permitted to do any testing. Great activity...inquiry at its best!