Building%20Scientific%20Literacy%20Through%20Inquiry

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Building Scientific Literacy Through Inquiry
Wallingford Public Schools Wallingford,
Connecticut
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ESSENTIAL QUESTIONS

• Why use literature to teach science?
• Why use an inquiry approach?
• How can this approach also help increase literacy
  skills?

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Phase 1
Phase 1
Phase 1
Phase 1
Phase 1
Phase 2
Phase 1
Phase 1
Phase 3
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Phase OneRaising Questions

• Fact, Question, Reaction Strategy
• Purpose This strategy helps readers reflect and
  glean important information and deepen
  understanding through questioning.
• Procedures
• 1. Read an informational text.
• 2. Write down any facts that you learned,
  questions you have, or reactions on a sticky
  note.
• 3. Make a three column chart, labeled Facts,
  Questions, Reaction and put the sticky notes into
  the columns.
• 4. Reflect on the questions. Were some of them
  answered in the text? In your head? Or do you
  need to do further research and/or investigations?

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Fact Question Reaction

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• Our moon looks big and bright because it is so
  close to Earth compared to the faraway stars and
  planets. It is about 238,900 miles away.

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Fact Question Reaction
Our moon looks bright because it is so close to Earth. It is about 238, 900 miles away. Then how close is the sun to Earth? I dont think it is too close because we would be too hot! Wow, that us really far!
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• The moon makes no light of its own to shine. It
  is bright in the night sky because it reflects
  the suns light. It is about one-fourth the size
  of Earth. It is made up of rock and dust. There
  is no air or sign of life.

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Fact Question Reaction
The moon makes no light of its own to shine. The moon is bright in the night sky because it reflects the suns light. There is no air or sign of life. I know sometimes the moon is full and sometimes it is partial. How does the moon reflect the suns light and why does the moon look different on some nights? What would be needed for life to exist on the moon? Gee, I thought it did! I thought I heard something different.
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Phase TwoPlanning and Investigating Questions
Gallery Walk- Have students read through the
questions and chose one that interests them. The
questions may have to be further developed or
sorted to meet your curriculum objectives. Model-
Model for students how to plan an investigation
using literature. You may have to teach lessons
on using key words, table of contents, verifying
with more than one resource or through
investigations, etcetera. Conduct Investigation

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Phase ThreeSharing Results and Processing for
Meaning

• Ways to share
• Orally with posters, diagrams, charts, pictures,
  hands-on demonstrations
• Science notebooks
• Powerpoint presentations
• Small group or pair shares

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ENDURING UNDERSTANDINGS

• Why use literature to teach science?Literature
  can be a vehicle for teaching science in the
  classroom when concepts are too abstract,
  hands-on investigations are not possible to do,
  or when it can be unsafe.
• Literature can enhance inquiry investigations
  and further a students understanding.

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ENDURING UNDERSTANDINGS

• Why use an inquiry approach?
• An literature inquiry approach not only
  motivates students to learn, but promotes a
  deeper understanding of concepts.
• Inquiry allows students to develop process
  skills in the context of an investigation.

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ENDURING UNDERSTANDINGS

• How can this approach also help increase literacy
  skills?
• Science process skills and literacy skills often
  overlap. We need to build a scientifically
  literate society!