1. Key Messages

2. Cultures and Beliefs
Classroom culture sets the tone for learning and shapes what is learned (Making Thinking Visible, Ron Ritchart and David Perkins, 2008)
Teachers are integral in developing classroom environments that support thinking, open- mindedness, curiosity, perseverance and engagement. By making the thinking visible teachers perpetuate the inquiry cycle, turning the classroom in a true laboratory of ideas.

3. What is Inquiry-based learning?
Inquiry is an approach to learning whereby students find and use a variety of sources of information and ideas to increase their understanding of a problem, topic or issue of importance....It espouses investigation, exploration, search, quest, research, pursuit and study. It is enhanced by involvement with a community of learners, each learning from the other in social interaction.
(Kuklthau, Maniotes & Caspari, 2007, p. 2)

4. What is Inquiry-based learning?
Inquiry is about asking questions and expanding understanding...
Inquiry builds on children’s natural curiosity
Inquiry allows students to make decisions about their learning - and to take responsibility for it!
Inquiry leads to the development of higher-order thinking skills
Getting Started with Student Inquiry
Capacity Building Series, 2011

5. Developing Thinking Skills
Observing
Comparing
Classifying
Analyzing
Interpreting
Predicting
Theorizing
Evaluating

7. Getting Started...
Prepare yourself, re-read the curriculum and familiarize yourself with the Science concepts and Big Ideas
Think about materials, outdoor learning environment, science centre, other centres that are ideal for inquiry

8. Amanda’s Before:
“The Voluntelling”

9. Amanda’s Before:
“The Learning Curve”
“The Jumping In”

10. Flash Forward: Why I became a believer...
Amanda’s “After”
Flash Forward: Why I became a believer...

11. What Does it Look Like and Sound Like in the Classroom?

12. Opportunities to Think
Big Ideas
Start with the curriculum, connect the "big ideas" to the questions and interests of your students
Listen
Slow down and listen - give your students time to explore their thinking and wonder with them
Opportunities to Think
Design learning opportunities that encourage students to explore, question, theorize
Inquiry as Integral
Make the inquiry cycle an integral part of your learning environment, this process needs to be experienced
Talk
Talk to students (daily) about what, how and why learning is happening

13. Where we go next... Centres Conversations (listening) Materials
Extending time
Connect to read alouds
Inter-disciplinary planning
Creates culture of learning

14. Features of Inquiry Questions
Generate deep thinking and value multiple perspectives
Are something you are genuinely curious and passionate about
Are worthy and rich enough to study and research
Are open-ended
Lead to action, dialogue, reflection
Incorporate strategies, such as explore, search, observe, question, collaborate
Are realistic in terms of time, effort, resources

15. Planning and Assessing

16. Planning Look at the Overall Expectations in the curriculum
Pull out “big ideas”
Talk to your students and make note of what they are thinking and wondering about
Note common themes and/or misconceptions in student conversations
Offer relevant, exploratory opportunities
Discuss recent learning and observations as a class
Find components of your day where you can incorporate inquiry (e.g., morning meeting, literacy stations, reader’s workshop, science, social studies)

17. Graphic Organizers
When creating (or looking for) a graphic organizer, consider:
Does it include open-ended questions?
Does it offer opportunities for reasoning and explanation?
Does it include writing and drawing components?

18. Graphic Organizers

19. Resources Are you Listening? by Lisa Burman
Creating Classrooms for Aurhors and Inquirers by Kathy G. Short, Jerome C. Harste and Carolyn Burke
Natural Curiosity
Young Investigators: The Project Approach in the Early Years by Judy Harris Helm and Lillian Katz
Tools to Enhance Thinking by Angela K Salmon, Young Children, September 2010
Making Thinking Visible by Ron Ritchart and David Perkins, Educational Leadership, Association for Curriculum Development, February 2008

20. Planning Time
Work with your long range plans, dayplan, inquiry questions, outlines...
What is the one step you will begin with?
How can you tweak your plans to incorporate inquiry?