Concrete Inquiry: An introduction to materials science

Journal Article | August 2001

Students walk to school on concrete sidewalks every day. Yet how many of them understand how concrete is made, how it can be strengthened, or the difference between cement and concrete? In this materials science unit,…

Using Inquiry to Break the Language Barrier

Journal Article | October 2011

One way for ELL students to engage in inquiry is through a school science fair project or other independent research endeavor. Teachers can make simple modifications to the traditional science fair to help ELLs achieve…

Multiple Modes of Inquiry in Earth Science

Journal Article | December 2007

To help teachers enrich their students’ understanding of inquiry in Earth science, this article describes six modes of inquiry used by practicing geoscientists (Earth scientists). Each mode of inquiry is illustrated by…

The Prepared Practitioner: Making Inquiry Successful

Journal Article | November 2008

In general, moving from structured to guided to open inquiry means increasing student thinking and responsibility—at the highest level, students come up with questions to investigate, figure out how to answer those…

Epidemiology, Science as Inquiry, and Scientific Literacy

Journal Article | October 2003

Explore a Standards-based curriculum called Detectives in the Classroom that teaches the science of epidemiology for middle-level students.

Editor's Note: Moving Toward Inquiry

Journal Article | February 2011

Science and Children’s editor shares thoughts regarding the current issue.

Idea Bank: Climate Change Inquiries

Journal Article | January 2010

How can students engage in authentic inquiry on global climate change if they are not able to do the actual experiments? Many questions about climate change emerge over large areas and long periods of time. The good…

Teaching Teachers: Standardizing the Language of Inquiry

Journal Article | January 2001

Using the precise language of science can help teachers develop students' science-process skills. Inquiry goes far beyond simply asking questions. Inquiry combines the use of science processes with knowledge of science…

Folding Inquiry Into Cookbook Lab Activities

Journal Article | March 2012

Learn how to convert teacher-directed, highly structured lessons into more open-ended inquiry experiences that allow for student input, wonder, and individual exploration.

An Activity Model for Scientific Inquiry: A new inquiry model offers a successful guide to how science is really done

Journal Article | December 2003

A new activity model for scientific inquiry is presented here with the overall intent of providing students and teachers with a deeper understanding of how science is really done. With this model students learn that the…

Digging Into Inquiry-based Earth Science Research

Journal Article | November 2008

To help eighth-grade students experience the excitement of Earth science research, the authors developed an inquiry-based project in which students evaluated and cataloged their campus geology and soils. Following class…

An Integrated Instructional Approach to Facilitate Inquiry in the Classroom

Journal Article | March 2012

In this article we provide an approach that integrates the Know-Learn-Evidcence-Wonder (KLEW) instructional teaching strategy within the 7E learning-cycle model to help teachers immerse students in a range of inquiry-…

Idea Bank: Adding Inquiry to Cookbook Labs

Journal Article | August 2012

The Idea Bank provides tips and techniques for creative teaching, in about 1,000 words. This month’s Idea Bank presents a new approach to add inquiry to two common biology labs: Environmental Effects on Catalase…

Directed Student Inquiry: Modeling in Roborovsky Hamsters

Journal Article | March 2007

In this inquiry-based activity, Roborovsky hamsters are used to provide students with an opportunity to develop their skills of analysis, inquiry, and design. These hamsters are easy to maintain, yet offer students a…