Thursday, 5 February 2015

Snow Inquiry in JK

In January we asked our students what they were interested in learning about during a KBC.  The children decided they were interested in knowing more about planting and snow.  As we talked about planting, the children decided that the winter might not be the best time to explore growing things.  However, they were quite interested in snow, how to make snowballs and where snow comes from.  A few days later we went for a walk around the school yard and then did another KBC.  The discussions centered around what they thought they knew about snow, what they noticed when we were outside and what they still wondered about snow.  Although we have integrated snow into our Water Table, Science Center & Craft Center we are looking to expand the learning of our students in other ways.  We would love some suggestions!
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5 comments:

  1. Anonymous6 February 2015 at 07:57

    Kara, I was looking for creative ways to extend our students' curiosity about snow. This URL link made me wonder if you'd be interested. http://myclassroomtransformation.blogspot.ca/2013/02/we-love-to-share-our-thinking.html

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  2. Unknown10 February 2015 at 16:58

    Our class also showed an interest in snow. We went through many experiments with melting and freezing. That then led us to floating and sinking. We headed outside and caught snowflakes on black construction paper and then we inquired how snowflakes were formed.

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    Replies
    1. Unknown17 February 2015 at 06:42

      Thanks Joanne. We will have to try catching snowflakes on black construction paper, since we have been talking about how all snowflakes are different. Hopefully the weather cooperates!

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  3. Good Climate Team16 February 2015 at 10:43

    Great move -bring the outside in when it is too cold to go outside.

    We can always be looking for and creating provocations to spark "I wonder " statements. These will come from what the kids do outside school, the news, a schoolyard field trip or them referring to a picture in a book.

    Sometimes it works to just ask what they want to learn about and do with snow.

    Keep listening to individuals,small groups which often provides directions for learning. You may have to evolve that initial question from an area that is not testable to one that is. Remember the gravity video where the teacher took a student question on gravity and evolved it to designing ways to slow something when dropped.

    Provide alternative perspectives -stories on indigenous experience relevant to snow would be good reading at this time.

    Testing things -which kind of mittens are the best to keep us warm and/or dry?

    What are other people doing out there using snow as a theme for student learning and inquiry? Got any photos of student learning to share so we can see?

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