When students make initial predictions – about tulip blooming dates, migration routes, arrival dates, and so on – and explain the thinking behind them, they reveal what they’ve gleaned from past experiences. (They’re also motivated to see whether they are “right”!) As new data and information comes to light during a Journey North study, routinely ask students to revisit and, if necessary, revise their predictions. This enables you and them to see progress in their ability to make sense of data and to develop an important scientific “habit of mind”: being willing to revise ideas in light of new information.

The Inquiry Strategies section on Making and Refining Predictions offers guidance and sample questions. Also see the sample Rubric, Making Predictions Using Data.