Keystone Science Network Convocation

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Encounters with Inquiry: A Convocation for Teachers
July 15-16, 2003
Continued

Susie, one of the Inquiry Committee members, leads a session based on her electricity unit she organizes in her fifth grade class. She has created an inquiry-themed activity that does not require the use of kit. Teachers use batteries and wire to try to get light bulbs to light.

Some of the teachers participate in a chemistry activity exploring pH through the properties of acids, bases, and neutrals. Teachers use samples of dishwashing soap, lemon juice, vinegar, water, and other substances to attempt to clean dirty pennies, and determine which among them were the best cleaners.


Meanwhile, in an adjacent classroom, middle school teachers are investigating a simulation of an oil spill. Using vegetable oil floating atop a small pool of water, teachers select from many types of substances and tools (including cotton balls, styrofoam peanuts, straws, etc.) to try to clean the oil from the water.

In another classroom, lower grade teachers are investigating balance through creating mobiles.

To conclude the hands-on activities, participants study the properties of absorption though observation.

The culminating activity of the two-day event featured a question-and-answer session with the Inquiry Committee members, who have been practitioners of inquiry—with and without kits—for several years. They spoke about introducing the inquiry method in their schools, addressed how long it can sometimes take to become comfortable with inquiry, offered assessment methods that work for them, and shared anecdotes about some of their classroom practices.

Participants responded warmly, and many said they felt energized to incorporate the experiences at the Convocation into their teaching methods.

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The Franklin Institute gratefully acknowledges the generous support of the National Science Foundation and Unisys Corporation.

The Franklin Institute is the Demonstration Site for the Eisenhower Mid-Atlantic Consortium, providing science and math resources for teachers.

This material is based upon work supported by the National Science Foundation under Grant No. 9819641.
Any opinions, findings, and conclusions or recommendations expressed in this material are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views of the National Science Foundation.

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