Inquiry Lessons 2021-2022

Each grade level with participate in one focused inquiry unit of study at the library.  Other lessons and inquiry skills will be taught throughout the school year.  

Kindergarten- Bears  Students will use non-fiction books and our district resource called Pebble Go to learn about bears. Together students will use sketch-note-taking skills to draw/write information they learn about bears.  Students will also view live zoo cams and national park cameras to see real bears in action.  Students will compare and contrast differences between Panda, Polar, Grizzly and Black bears. They will learn about each bear's diet, habitat, appearance, life cycles and other interesting facts.

First grade- This year first grade will do a monthly mini lesson based on different themes that their teachers have chosen to focus on.  For example, in the month of October students will focus on bats and we will use non-fiction text and digital resources to learn more about bats.

Second grade- Insects- In early spring 2nd graders will focus on Insects. Each student will have chosen or assigned an insect to focus on. Students will use both non-fiction text and digital resources to help them with note taking skills. Students will use this information to create a writing piece and a model insect (an at home project) that will be displayed in the library for our insect museum. 

Third grade- Biographies- This year in February, 3rd graders will be able to choose to research a person using both print biographies and digital resources.  The person chosen must have influenced and contributed to our world such as an athelete, actor, president, inventor, artist, etc.

Third graders will take notes using resources and they will be able to then make a speech or script as if they themselves were that person.  Students also create "bottle people" at home to represent the person that they have researched.  Students use the ChatterKid app. to take a picture of their bottle person and make it "speak" using their script.

We make QR codes for each of these speaches and have an interactive biography museum for all 3rd graders to enjoy!

Fourth grade- TBD.  4th graders usually study Native Texans or Famous Texans as a focus unit.

Fifth grade- Biographies- Students in 5th grade revisit biographies with a focus on famous Americans that they have learned about within thier social studies and history curriculum from the year.  This in depth research project requires students to use many different kinds of resources and the knowledge that they have accumulated through out the year.  Each student uses their notes to write a speech that they will present as their person  for our Living History Museum in late May.