Do NOW: List the letters A-D on your paper. Read each statement below. If you think the statement is true, write a T next to the letter. If you think it’s false, write an F. To conduct a scientific inquiry, you need a science lab with precise equipment, including microscopes, Bunsen burners, test tubes, and proper chemicals.  A question you ask in an inquiry must allow you to end up with a clear-cut answer.  People can conduct a scientific inquiry into just about anything.  You need to know something about the topic you're investigating before beginning an inquiry. 

Scientific Inquiry What is it anyway?

What we think about inquiry To conduct a scientific inquiry, you need a science lab with precise equipment, including microscopes, Bunsen burners, test tubes, and proper chemicals.  A question you ask in an inquiry must allow you to end up with a clear-cut answer.  People can conduct a scientific inquiry into just about anything.  You need to know something about the topic you're investigating before beginning an inquiry.  A. (False—Any time you have an interest in something and decide to pursue it by developing a question, testing the question, making and noting your observations, thinking about the results, and reporting your findings, you are involved in a scientific inquiry). B. (False—In fact, very often scientists decide that they need to do more inquiries in order to try and arrive at a clear conclusion Often a clear answer is never found to the question asked—only limited information that might apply in certain circumstances. This is how the field of science continues to grow and expand). C.  (True, if the resources, time, and opportunities to do so are available). D.  (True, you must be able to connect your understanding of the topic you are investigating to the inquiry process. It would be hard for example, to test the effects of a change in diet on your pet dog's weight unless you know something about his diet to begin with).

Max’s Inquiry I am a scientist, but most people think I am just a dog. They see me at the pond and throw sticks in the water for me to fetch. I am curious about how many sticks get thrown on the pond during the year. So the topic of my inquiry is investigating how many sticks people throw in the pond. I wrote one sentence in the form of a question to help me focus on my inquiry. It is: How many fetching sticks do people throw on the pond?

Max’s Inquiry I needed to make observations and record how, what, when, and how often I made them. I also needed to record other information that might have been important. I counted the number of fetching sticks on my favorite pond. That's the what and how of my observations. Every afternoon for a week, I counted the sticks on the pond – that's when and how often of my observations.

Max’s Inquiry I also needed to know the weather conditions in the park on the days I counted sticks on the pond. This is the other information that could be helpful part of my observations. I made a chart that organized and recorded all my data. Each column on my chart has a label, they are: Day, Time, How Many Sticks, and Weather Condition. Here's an example of one entry: Day Time Number of Sticks Weather 3/18/06 3:30 16 sunny

Max’s Inquiry I studied all my entries and noticed a pattern. On days when the weather was warm and sunny, there were more sticks on my pond. This is the conclusions part of my inquiry. Now I'm wondering whether the warmer weather brings out more people to play fetch with their dogs on these days, and if that's why there are more sticks on sunny days. This is the now I need to do another inquiry part of my inquiry. These inquiries can go on forever!

Think, Pair, Share Time Frame: 10 minutes Turn to a partner and share any questions you have about today's activities. (2 min) One partner shares a question that came up for him or her, then both should discuss what they believe to be a possible answer (or answers). One partner will share their question and possible answer with the whole class. Everyone will add their ideas/possible answers.

Guided Practice Think of something you are curious about. Write one sentence in the form of a question about your idea, like Max did. Brainstorm a list of what observations you need make to answer it, where, when, and how often you would collect it.

Exit Ticket Based on today’s activity, give a synonym for the word “inquiry”.