Destination 6: The Inquiry Method

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Welcome to Destination 6: THE INQUIRY METHOD!**Please refer to post 3 to see the four methods of teaching explained in depth!**


Today we taught our second-whole class lesson using the inquiry method. We chose to open the lesson with review of the terms the students learned last session that will be critical to their activity this session. The words include: community, citizens, rural, urban, suburban, and global community.

After the review, we introduced the Inquiry method.

The problem we identified was that Mr. President's maps got lost and the detectives (the students) had to help piece them back together.

Each of the four groups received a bag with clues inside. Some of these clues related to the type of community that the  group had, while others were to throw the detectives off. The detectives were to pull 3 clues from the bag to form a hypothesis  as a group. Throughout this inquiry activity, the students recorded their hypothesis, data and conclusion in their investigation packet

The detectives were to then pull out the clues (the data) and begin to sort through them all and see what belongs and what does not.  The detectives were to record this data on their investigation packet. Once they were sure, they could begin glueing the correct clues onto the map.

Lastly, the detectives had to decide as a group what community they had (rural, urban, suburban, or global) and discuss why in their conclusion.
The detectives shared their finished maps with the class. Once presentations were done, they were instructed to write a letter to the MSMC President telling him what type of community they live in and its characteristics.

Here is a link to the presentation for those interested. 

At times, it got a little wild, but overall I believe the lesson was a success. Stay tuned for Destination 7: Cooperative learning!!

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