Causing Inquiry
with Science!
Within Structured Inquiry...
people are provided with the question and procedure, however the task is to generate an explanation that is supported by the evidence collected in the procedure.
Within Guided Inquiry...
people are provided with only the research question. The task is to design the procedure and test the question. Since this kind of inquiry is more open than a structured inquiry, it is most successful when people have had numerous opportunities to learn and practice different ways to plan experiments and record data.
Within Student-initiated Inquiry...
Example Experiments to Trigger Inquiry
Density
or mass per volume of a liquid is an important scientific concept that can be viewed with the naked eye. We see it all the time with oil and water. Oil has a different density than water so the two liquids do not mix. In this liquid density experiment the student will look at a number of liquids with different densities and compare them all to water. They’ll build their science skills and learn a fundamental scientific concept from the inquiry of how it works while performing the experiment.
Why the Leaves Change
The annual changing of leaves from green to different shades of yellow, orange, and red is perhaps an important scientific processes at work. With this hands-on activity using coffee paper, leaves, and rubbing alcohol it will trigger the curiosity. The alcohol will travel up the paper, bringing the colors with it. After 30-90 minutes the colors will travel different distances up the paper as the alcohol evaporates. The student should be able to see different shades of green, and possibly some yellow, orange or red, depending on the type of leaf. You'll show how those colors stay hidden in the leaf all year long. They can then research why it happens this way.
Why it Sinks
Ever wondered how a submarine can control when it rises and sinks in the water? Build a Cartesian diver to show your students and spark the inquiry. Discuss what happened to the soy sauce packet. Using a soy sauce with the sauce packet being the "diver" drop in into a bottle of water and close the lid. It has a small air bubble inside it that causes it to float in water. When you squeeze the bottle, however, pressure inside the bottle increases, compressing the air bubble inside the packet and causing the packet to sink.
To enhance these science activites I would, of course, add technology! By doing the project hands on and having the students video it they will be able to replay each reaction while researching and problem solving why it happened and how to recreate it.
ENHANCE IT!
To enhance these science activites...add technology! By doing the project hands on and having the students video, they will be able to replay each reaction while researching and problem solving why it happened and how to recreate it.