IB Learner Profile: Inquirer
Wisdom begins with wonder! - Socrates
IB Learner Profile: Inquirer
The IB Learner Profile aims to develop students who are inquirers. Students who are inquirers nurture their curiosity, developing skills for inquiry and research. They know how to learn independently and with others. Inquirers learn with enthusiasm and sustain their love of learning throughout life.
University faculties regularly note IB students’ passion for discovery.
IB trait: Inquirer
How can parents help to develop students who are Inquirers at home?
- Visit places that spark inquiry like a museum, park or nature preserve.
- Explore the areas of your child's interest by visiting the library to borrow books.
- Develop an understanding of the Internet. Work with your son or daughter when the Internet is being used and try to instill the understanding that some internet sites are not reputable.
- Model being an inquirer. Ask questions and wonder!
- Praise your child for asking a question
- Have your child jot down their wonders in a journal. Spend time researching these wonders!
See, Know, Wonder: A Visible Thinking Strategy
The See-Know-Wonder thinking routine encourages children to make careful observations and thoughtful interpretations. It helps stimulate curiosity and sets the stage for inquiry. Encourage your child to engage in inquiry with the three simple prompts below:
What do you see?
Use your observation skills. What do you notice?
What do you know?
Make connections to your personal knowledge and experience. What do you think is going on? What makes you say that?
What do you wonder?
Keep following your curiosity. What questions do you have? How will you find your answer?
The IB Learner Profile
Story Time
Prompts for Inquiry Focused Read-Alouds
- What does it mean to be an inquirer?
- Did [character] have any good inquiry skills you can use?
- How do you know [character] was being an inquirer?
- How did the inquiry process help [character]?
- How do you know the [character] was going through an inquiry process?
- Were any of the [character’s] curious? How do you know?
- Describe how a character used their curiosity/inquiry process to solve a mystery. Could they have done anything differently?
Snowflake Bentley
What Do You Do With An Idea Read Along
Additional Sites to Promote Inquiry:
Here are three sites that make screen time a learning time:
- The Tinkering Studio: Experiments with science, art, technology, and other delightful ideas.
- How Stuff Works: Articles broken down by subject areas to answer those difficult questions
- The Old Farmer's Almanac for Kids: Features riddles, puzzles, a question of the day, a timeline of interesting history facts, sky events and weather conditions to track at home with your children
10 Inquiry-Based Learning Science Activities for Kids
It's learning with a twist. The Old Farmer's Almanac for Kids features riddles, puzzles, a question of the day, a timeline of interesting history facts, sky events and weather conditions to track at home with your children
Sesame Street: I Wonder
Stanley Makowski ECC #99- An IB World School
Email: nmarciano@buffaloschools.org
Website: https://www.buffaloschools.org/PS99
Location: 1095 Jefferson Avenue, Buffalo, NY, USA
Phone: (716) 816-4180
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/MakowskiIBWorldschool/