Inquiry Boards

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Inquiry Boards

• An Introduction

This PowerPoint is based on work by Helen
Buttemer of the University of Washington.  Marj
Hendricks and Bev Mowrer further developed the
materials to simplify the teaching of the
scientific method while using a WASL format.
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Inquiry Boards An Introduction

• What are Inquiry Boards?
• Inquiry Boards are a tool that uses Post-Its and
  a series of poster boards as a planning organizer
  for teaching the process of conducting a
  scientific experiment

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Inquiry Boards An Introduction

• Why use Inquiry Boards?
• Variables can often be confusing for students.
  Inquiry Boards offer a tangible process for
  students to interact with the steps of scientific
  experimentation.
• Students hone their skills in asking an
  investigative question
• Students are provided rehearsal to solidify the
  concept that only one variable may be changed at
  a time
• The Inquiry Board has attended to the vocabulary
  and process assessed by the WASL

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Inquiry Boards An Introduction

• Who might use Inquiry Boards?
• Students at intermediate elementary and above in
  every domain of science will benefit from Inquiry
  Boards. They will have the opportunity to use
  scientific inquiry to
• Ask questions
• Plan and conducting investigations
• Use appropriate tools
• Use techniques such as the use of tables and
  graphs.

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Inquiry Boards An Introduction

• How do you use Inquiry Boards?
• Inquiry Boards work best when the teacher
  already has an experiment in mind.
• Consider using an investigation from your
  existing curriculum. An inquiry investigation
  should not be a stand alone activity.

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Inquiry Boards An Introduction

• Students brainstorm possible things they could
  change in an experiment
• These things are listed on one color of post it
  notes
• They are added to the inquiry board under
  changed/manipulated variables.
• The process is repeated for measured/responding
  variables with another color of post it

The temp.
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Inquiry Boards An Introduction

• Students choose 1 of the changed/manipulated
  variable to test. This post it is moved to the I
  will change area of the Choosing Variables board
• The rest of the post its are moved to the I will
  keep the same area of the Choosing Variables
  board
• Students then choose 1 measured/observed
  variables and move this post it to the I will
  measure/observe area of the Choosing Variables
  board

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Inquiry Boards An Introduction

The same manipulated and responding variable post
its are moved through each of the remaining
boards. This reinforces the idea that these same
variables are kept through the entire inquiry.
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Inquiry Boards An Introduction

• How does this look in my class?
• It is recommended for the first time using the
  boards that the entire class conduct the same
  experiment
• Students can vary the procedure to design their
  own investigations as they become more familiar
  with the process

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Inquiry Boards An Introduction

• Remember that inquiry is most powerful when used
  to help your students develop an understanding of
  the concepts in your existing curriculum.