Third Grade Inquiry Lessons
Inquiry-based instruction is a teaching method that promotes inquisitive responses from pupils. In a bit of a role reversal, this method engages the children to ask questions rather than the teacher doing all the asking. Several learning activities can help teachers engage their pupils. Third-grade teachers, for instance, can use an abundance of resources to engage their pupils in inquiry-based instruction in science and other subjects.
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A Child's Developing Inquisitiveness
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Children begin to draw conclusions about various things in the world at an early age. Without proper instruction, sometimes these conclusion can be false. A good way to get them to re-examine their conceptions is to have them ask themselves questions.
Importance of Engagement
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The essential ingredient of inquiry-based learning is to engage the pupils. Whether you have them observe rocks or farm animals or a film, get the pupils talking about their opinions and conclusions. A good way to get started with this is to ask the pupils questions about what they already know about the given subject. Make sure that the children reach their own conclusions and solve the problem themselves through critical thinking.
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A Study of Rocks
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Take the children outside to the playground and have them collect rocks. Tell them to look for ones with different sizes, shapes, colors and texture. Once each child has at least three rocks picked out, bring them back inside. After everyone has sat down, have them examine each rock individually, then have them compare all three of their rocks. Ask the children to say aloud what they have observed about the rocks. You could even have them record their findings in a notebook.
Asking Questions
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Have the children share their observation with the class. Then have the pupils ask each other questions about their observations. This will help them engage one another and think about their own findings. The children will not only be picking up observational and cognitive skills, they will also be learning how to collaborate and think critically.
Conclusions
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Go around the class and ask the pupils what new conclusions they have to come to after hearing everyone else speak on their own observations. Then, after such a lengthy class of critical thinking and collaboration, end with something purely for fun. You could have the children paint their rocks, for example. Or, to enhance the observations they have made, have the children make drawings of their rocks with critical notes on the back of the paper.
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