Scientific Inquiry in the Science Classroom

Reference Chapter 4 of Text

Inquiry has two meanings in the classroom

1. What the students should understand about scientific inquiry and the abilities they should develop from their experiences with inquiry.

2. Teaching strategies and the process of learning associated with activities oriented to inquiry.

Scientific Inquiry Abilities

• Originating problems• Formulating hypotheses• Designing investigative approaches• Use technology and mathematics• Formulate and revise scientific explanations and

models using logic and evidence• Recognize and analyze alternative explanations• Communicate and defend a scientific argument

Guided Inquiry: Instructional Strategy

• The development of these inquiry abilities takes time and must be done in steps

• Start with guided inquiry and move to less guided and then to free inquiry.

• This movement from guided to free may take several courses to accomplish.

Activity Examples of Inquiry Types

• Bread Mold 1• Bread mold 2• Black Box• Bird analysis• Science Olympiad competitions• Toothpick Bridges• Science Fair projects