Inquiry is my favorite topic to write about. Not only is inquiry the best method for teaching science, it is the best method of teaching – period. Inquiry is more than pedagogy, though.
Inquiry is freedom. Inquiry is curiosity. Inquiry is democracy. Inquiry is creativity.
Here are several of my posts on inquiry:
- Don’t Do Inquiry – a list of reasons not to do inquiry
- How do I DO inquiry? – an answer to the question, “but how do I actually DO inquiry?”
- Fear and Loathing in Inquiry – why many teachers avoid true inquiry
- Igniting inquiry – ways to start and inquiry cycle with a bang!
- Play with a purpose – give kids a chance to play and discover at the beginning of an inquiry cycle
- Modeling Instruction and Whiteboard Sessions – a way to structure discussions and instruction in your classroom that can foster inquiry
- Chemistry, Condoms, and the Colosseum – the importance of saying, “yes” to your students’ creative ideas
- Socratic Seminars in Science Class – why and how to do socratic seminars in science class; a great way to spark or culminate inquiry
- From A to purple – the importance of genuine choice in the classroom
- On bunny trails and the need to know – letting go of control and going where the kids want to go
- I hate science fair – why I hate science fair
- A safe place to fail – why your classroom must be a safe place to fail if you want to foster true inquiry
- Project Based Learning – a great model for an inquiry based science classroom
Inquiry resources
This is a LiveBinder of resources I gathered for inquiry professional development:
