Library Services: Elementary Units
Page Navigation
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Inquiry Units
- Kindergarten - 1st grade Inquiry - Jobs
- Kindergarten Inquiry - Where in the World Are We?
- 1st Grade Inquiry - Colonial Times
- 1st Grade Inquiry - Discovering Where We Live
- 2nd Grade Inquiry - American Symbols
- 2nd Grade Inquiry - Reduce, Reuse, Recycle
- 3rd Grade Inquiry - Rapid Changes to the Earth's Surface
- 3rd Grade Inquiry - Scientific Breakthroughs
- 4th Grade Inquiry - Native Texas
- 4th Grade: Notable Texans
- 4th Grade Inquiry - Slow Changes to Earth's Surface
- 5th Grade Inquiry - Energize
Investigate and Gather- Rapid Changes of the Earth's Surface

Activities
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Identifying Research Questions (30 minutes)
Starter:
Students will review inquiry journals and highlight things they found interesting.
Worktime:
As a whole class, brainstorm possible research questions. Record students' ideas using a SmartNotebook slide, a Google doc, or chart paper.
Reflection:
Debrief the process of formulating research questions.
Guiding Questions
(adapted from Guided Inquiry Design, 2012):- What is most interesting to you?
- What is your assignment? (If product has been predetermined) OR What are your learning goals?
- What information is available?
- How much time do you have to conduct your research and create a product?
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Gather Activity (Multiple Class Periods)
Work Time:
Students studying related topics (e.g., Tornadoes) may be grouped formally or informally to create a support structure for the Gather phase. For information on Inquiry Circles, see Guided Inquiry Design p. 122-123.
Reflection:
The Pair Share Protocol (Guided Inquiry Design, Figure 8.4) offers ideas for prompts to guide the reflection process as students move toward creating a product.

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This phase is intended to:
Allow students to develop question/s of personal interest and have time to gather relevant information to answer the question/s.
Key ideas:
- Encourage authentic questions (connected to real life, real world problems)
- Assist students in refining/revising questions (6th-12th)
- Encourage use of primary and secondary sources
- Note taking
- Cite sources