Examples of Inquiry Based Lessons

How do you use Inquiry Based Learning in your classroom? Feel free to leave examples of lessons that went well, not so well, or even those you haven't tried yet that are based on student inquiry.

Tags: examples, inquirybasedlearning, lessonplans, lessons, plans

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Permalink Reply by Julia Alsirt on July 26, 2010 at 8:45am

Inquiry Based Learning and Educational Standards
When planning lessons for classroom use it is important to keep in mind that Inquiry Based Learning is not a substitute for standards based instruction. It is an educational approach designed to elicit in depth learning in a highly motivating and engaging environment. Building on an academic core of knowledge based on reading, writing and arithmetic, Inquiry Based Learning also promotes the 21st Century Learning Standards: critical thinking and problem solving, communication, collaboration and creativity and innovation. Together these are the skills students will need to succeed in work and in life.

Permalink Reply by Heidi Siwak on February 8, 2011 at 9:39am

Well put.

Permalink Reply by Kathleen on July 26, 2010 at 9:52am

Gold Rush

Essential Questions: Why does a society need rules?

Task: You are a member of a gold panning community in 1849. The group is starting to get very unruly. Something needs to be done. Research some of the problems that were causing conflict in the boom towns and create rules. Now, choose one of the following ways to get those rules out there:

* Write a script for a speech that you would give to your neighbors. Using Blabberize.com record your speech.
* Use Glogster.edu to design a poster that would outline all of your rules for the community.
* write song lyrics about the rules in the community and record them a song in garage band.

Permalink Reply by Stephanie Wubbena on July 28, 2010 at 10:55am

The following is a lesson plan for general music or instrumental music at the middle school level. Based on the essential question: "How does music reflect the culture of the time?" The attached lesson plan explores this question at length with ideas for students projects and allows students to choose what time period or even what specific culture they would like to explore.

Attachments:

Wubbena_lesson_plan.docx, 44 KB

Permalink Reply by Julia Alsirt on July 29, 2010 at 9:08am

Awesome....imagine if we merged your Music & Culture with my Food & Culture projects! Then....we conquer we world!!!

Permalink Reply by Sherry Sejnost on July 28, 2010 at 10:58am

Industrial Revolution

Essential Question: How did the inventions from the Industrial Revolution affect everyday life at the time, and what are its long-term effects on manufacturing then and now?

Students will develop a flow chart in Inspiration to show how inventions from the Industrial Revolution affected everyday life at the time, its long-term effects on manufacturing and how it relates to present day industry.

Permalink Reply by Alice Hartel on July 28, 2010 at 4:51pm

Smart Decisions

Essential Question - Can a healthy meal be consumed at a fast food restaurant?

After collecting the data for a menu of the selected meal at the Fast Food restaurant, the students will develop spreadsheets and graphs to tabulate the date and compare the meals. Pictorial representations through graphs of the meals will provide the students with easy ways to compare the data and make assessments about the nutritional value of the meals. The final project will include a wiki developed for the entire class where the students can present their results and make comparisons to other students meals. The wiki will have a page for each fast food restaurant so that the meals for that particular restaurant will be grouped together. Students will evaluate their meals and suggest ways in which the meal could have been changed to better follow a healthy lifestyle. As a final task, the students will collaborate and peer review their classmates meals and suggest ways in which to make the meals more healthy. All tasks will be evaluated using a rubric similar to one included in the resources.

Permalink Reply by Julia Alsirt on July 29, 2010 at 6:55am

FOOD & CULTURE PROJECT
This lesson plan was developed for 8th Grade Family and Consumer Science students enrolled in "Foods" class.
It is based on the following: Enjoying a wide variety of foods is part of our culture in the United States. These foods are the contributions of many different cultures and represent a wealth of ethnic diversity.

ESSENTIAL UNDERSTANDING:
Awareness of cultural and regional food habits is essential in a global society.

ESSENTIAL QUESTIONS:
• What cultural factors are influencing your family’s food culture? (Discuss this question with family members. Create a system for organizing your data and use it to list as many factors as possible.)
• In what way does your family culture contribute to the ethnic diversity of foods in the United States? (Compare and contrast foods traditionally used by your family with those in the U.S.)
• How can you determine what cultural factors are influencing your family’s food culture? (Identify a resource that can help you to judge which aspects of your family’s culture have an impact on the foods you eat.)

ESSENTIAL STRATEGIES:
Demonstrate an understanding of the link between cultural heritage and your family’s food customs.

(Contact me for detailed lesson plan including project instructions, assessment rubrics, learning standards, and additional resources.)

Permalink Reply by Helen on August 6, 2010 at 10:01pm

Love your food and culture project... would be grateful for lesson plans, rubrics etc.
Many thanks
Helen

Permalink Reply by Julia Alsirt on August 7, 2010 at 9:01am

If you are interested in the topic of Food and Culture, I would suggest you check out a collaboration project that I recently joined. Food and Culture The project is just getting started and I believe it promises to be an amazing experience. Check it out! http://globalfoodandculture.wetpaint.com/

Permalink Reply by Julia Alsirt on August 7, 2010 at 9:08am

Attached is the preliminary copy of this lesson. Rubrics are still a work in progress, as is a glogster that I am creating to give the project a web presence. I am also sending you a TPACK diagram that I used to help myself visualize the Technology+Pedagogy+Content equation in my planning. I will post updates as I add to my work.

Attachments: