An inquiry question is a properly formulated question that focuses on a researchable issue where the answer takes on the form of a claim which needs to be supported by evidence, information, and reasoning. If the question doesn't support evidence, information, and reasoning then it's not a true inquiry question.
For those not familiar with this, I'll pop some examples below.
In any educational setting, regardless of the type of curricula you use, the inquiry question is the most useful type of question you can use to teach your kids. In my opinion, homeschooling families have always been at the forefront of education and I believe it's due to the use of inquiry questions within our curriculum. Often we use these questions without realising we do so.
Let's take a look at this Science example... teaching Year 1 and Year 2 kids about WATER.
There are four main stages in the water cycle. In this unit you'll need to teach that they are evaporation, condensation, precipitation and collection.
You can make this simple 8 unit lesson plan yourself and have it pre-printed and ready to go.
Lesson 1... there are 2 questions:
What is water used for?
What is water NOT used for?
For fast finishers you can create another worksheet. See example above.
The next lesson teaches kids to label diagrams, or better known to the kids as a picture they drew.
Again, for fast finishers you can create another worksheet. See example above.
Precipitation is our next lesson, teaching kids where water comes from and the water cycle.
For fast finishers you can create another worksheet. See example above.
Your next step within the inquiry question process is to teach 'collection' where does water come from.
Teach where water comes from and how it is collected and stored.
Evaporation is your next lesson. We can collect water, store it, use it but what is evaporation?
Kids can incorporate writing skills with artistic skills and draw upon learned knowledge.
Condensation is your next step within the inquiry question process. Take a look at the example worksheet above.
Reinforce their knowledge and again they can incorporate writing skills with artistic skills.
There are four main stages in the water cycle. Continue to teach that they are evaporation, condensation, precipitation and collection.
Conserving water is your final inquiry question and should be taught and reinforced regularly to remind kids how precious good, clean water is.
I hope this example is helpful for some of you to teach your kids about anything really. If you use inquiry questioning about any topic, any age group, kids can learn fast and develop active learning, not passive learning. You want active learning where kids are engaged and put their thinking skills into practice and develop their opinions, ideas and innovative ways to the best of their ability.
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