The Hudson River – Journey into Inquiry

Jill Leinung, Library Media SpecialistLinda Kaminski, Gr. 1

Green Meadow Elementary SchoolCastleton, New York

What is Inquiry Learning?• Inquiry learning is based on the scientific inquiry

process scientists use.• Inquiry learning is the use of strategies (i.e.

observing, questioning, collecting information, etc.) to understand our world.

• Inquiry learning fosters curiosity and being open to new ideas.

• Inquiry learning engages students in the exploration of their world as thinking and questioning scientists.

What does it look like?• Teachers are “explorers” who guide

students to think and act like scientists• Students are provided opportunities to

take risks, explore, experiment, develop and share questions and ideas.

• It’s a gradual shift from teacher-directed to a more student-directed approach.

The journey begins…

with an idea,

Our Journey Map

Columbia Co. EducatorsWorkshop

GM 50th Calendar/Historical Archive

THV Archaeology Grant w/Ft. CrailloAnd Albany Visitors Center

THV mid-year @Norrie Point

C. Margolis – TaggingButterflies/Hudson,Mahicans, Dutch

Albany Institute ofHistory and Art

THV Summer InstituteMud CreekEnvironmental LearningCenter

Next ?

Green Meadow HistoryHistory of Green Meadow Elementary School

East Greenbush Central School District

                                     

                                                   www.egcsd.org/greenmeadow/history/index.html

HISTORY

HISTORY HOME

INTRODUCTION

CRQ'S / DBQ'S

PHOTO ARCHIVE

INTERVIEWS

RESOURCES

Teaching the Hudson Valley Archaeology Grant

curriculum,• My Community & Local Region

• Different events, people, problems and ideas make up my community’s history.

• Monuments and important places are located in my neighborhood.

• Communities are connected economically and geographically.

• People exchange elements of their cultures.• We are part of the Hudson River Ecosystem.

student interest,

and colleague(s) to collaborate with on the adventure.

How to Foster Co-explorers• Have students work in cooperative

small groups or pairs• Provide opportunities for groups to

share, review, comment and question.

• Don’t hesitate to let students know that you don’t know all the answers – you’re a co-explorer/learner, too.

Start with a question…

* What do we want our students’ inquiringminds “look like” and what will they be ableto do at the end of the journey? - critical thinkers & problem solvers - higher level questioners - understand concepts and sharpen

reasoning skills

Our students will be able to:• Identify what they already know• Identify questions beginning with 5 Ws and moving

beyond• Understand the use of a variety of sources to find

answers• Choose and use resources independently• Record new learning• Collaborate and work cooperatively• Real world connections• Continue to question beyond the project

Collect a variety of resources including:

• Books• Maps• Posters, photographs• On-line sources• Presenters (school visits, field trips, etc.)• Outside sources (Albany Visitors Center,

Albany Institute of History and Art, Teaching the Hudson Valley Summer Workshops, C-Most, etc.)

River of Dreams The Story of the Hudson River

by Hudson Talbott

Bird, Butterfly, Eelby James Prosek

Snapshots of our Hudson River Journey

Introduce Hudson River:• Hudson River Power Point• New York State map (including satellite

view, i.e. Google Earth)• Hudson River (shower curtain – hands on)• Panorama of the Hudson River 1845

(Albany Institute of History and Art) – upper elementary

Henry Hudson Presentationby Carol Margolis

Albany Visitor’s Center

The Story of the Hudson River

Amsterdam to the Hudson River

Trading with the Mahicans

The Half Moon

Henry Hudson & the Hudson River

• New Learning Facts• If I Were on the Half Moon Inquiry Questions • Half Moon in a Bottle

Exploring the Hudson

• Hands on exploration: Henry Hudson, Wildlife along the Hudson River

• Robert Juet’s Journal – Places the Half Moon anchored

• Trading with the Mahicans

Hudson River Panorama 1845

Monarch Butterfly

Monarch Inquiry Research

To Increase Observation Skills and Generate New Questions

• Provide opportunities for students to observe (i.e. photos, real world examples/items, etc.)

• Have students record observations – move students from the “big” picture to the details (i.e. focus frames, binoculars, etc.) to deepen observations and skills

• Using the observations, have students generate and record “I Wonder” questions (What I Observe/I Wonder T-chart).

Lined Sea Horse

The Beaver

Beaver Poster Reading

Reading Posters and Recording in Student Fact Files

Highlighting Resources for Beaver Fact Finding

Beaver Model & Fact Flip Books

Reading for Information – How to Build a Dam

Beaver Lodge – Team Building

UNDERCONSTRUCTION

CHECK BACK SOON!

Beaver Poetry – Creating Mental Images

The BeaverWood-chopperTree-dropperTail-flopper

Stream-stopper

Mammalabilia by Douglas Florian

Mahicans & Grinding Corn

Three Sister Planting

Inquiry Learning Student Binders

Bird Watching

St. Nicholas Day & the Dutch

• Baker’s Dozen , shoes & cookies• Night Before Christmas

Asking Open-Ended Questions

• Ask questions and foster student generated questions that help move students’ thinking beyond questions with just one right factual answer.

• When posing/sharing questions, allow for “wait” time for student thinking.

• Examples:1. Why do you think that…?2. How was it different than…?3. How will you know if…?4. What reasons did you have…?5. What facts do you have? What did you observe?6. How do you know…?7. How is it the same or different?8. What does it remind you of?

Guided Student Questions

Jan Brett Author Study - Hedgehog

Model to Power Point

Presentation

Hudson River Bird Studies

Winter Bird Feeding

Inquiry Bird Brochure

Student Poetry

Bird Models

Independent Inquiry Investigations

Inquiry Learning Binders and Mystery Seeds

Lined Sea Horse, American Eel & Pumpkinseed Fish (fresh to salt

water)

Salt Front Monitoring onThe Hudson River

Lined Seahorse, American Eel & Pumpkinseed Fish

Cooperative Poster Design

Background Detail

Big Thoughts and…

Beyond!

Mud Creek Classroom Visit

Mud Creek

Wetland Experience

Cooperative Hudson River Quilt Research

Quilt Habitat Border Planning

Quilt Border Design

Quilt Layout Discussion

Finished Quilt

Mud Creek Mystery Wildlife

Inquiry Learning Skills Used• Observation• Description• Questioning• Predicting• Comparing and contrasting• Measuring• Analyzing• Interpreting• Inferring• Connecting to self -> world• Applying understandings• Communicating• Empathy• Synthesis• Evaluation

Hudson River Experience• Where we plan on going from here…

• C-Most• Columbia County Water and Soil

Conservancy – Mud Creek Environmental Learning Center

• Inquiry Learning Cooperating Classroom/School

As with all journeys…there are always surprises so…

• Be ready for the “twists and turns”• Embrace the student generated surprises

– they usually turn out to be the best learning experiences for you, too!

• Be flexible • Keep your eyes open for new ideas,

resources to add to the project• Take a camera to record the “sights”• Have fun!