|
Cultivating
Keen Observers
Teaching
with Journey North Photos, Video Clips, the Natural World
|
|
|
|
What
kinds of student questions might this photo inspire? |
Observation — the
Heart of inquiry
Observation is the first step in the scientific process. To
extend your students' "backyard" observations, Journey North
features a wealth of stunning photos and video clips. You can use them
to engage students, build observation skills, inspire scientific thinking,
and create fertile ground for discussions and new questions!
Teaching
Materials: Use These Again and Again!
- Questions
to Inspire Close Observation: Draw from this list to build
students' observation and thinking skills. Questions >>
- Student
Handout Gallery: You can use this collection of observation
handouts for many purposes. Print and pass
out copies to guide observations of Journey North photos, video
clips, and the natural world. Gallery >>
Handout
Examples
Assessing
Student Observations
You can use the question list and observation handouts to assess your students'
thinking and growth. Ask yourself these types of questions as you review their
responses:
- Are students’ responses
increasingly detailed?
- Can students
increasingly distinguish between observations and inferences?
- Do they
increasingly use visual evidence (along with past knowledge) to support
their explanations?
|