Materials to Use for Inquiry with Your Students
All Content Areas
Annenberg Learner http://www.learner.org/interactives/
Annenberg Learner Interactives are ready made to use with inquiry in all content areas at all grade levels. Many are self-contained inquiries--you do not have to do anything except direct your students to the one you want them to do.
Social Studies
Why Did Copán Collapse? http://www.learner.org/interactives/collapse/copan/
Through fieldwork and lab work, archaeologists have been piecing together what happened to bring about the collapse of Copán, once a thriving center of Maya civilization. In this activity, you'll be following in the steps of the archaeologists who studied Copán, looking for clues to how it collapsed. You'll be trying to answer two questions: Why did Copán collapse? Was the end a gradual decline or a rapid fall? This is a self-contained inquiry from Annenberg Learner.
Interactive Maps from National Geographic http://education.nationalgeographic.org/mapping/
An interactive mapping experience with rich layers of information on the physical Earth, oceans, culture, and more. Some ideas of what students can explore with MapMaker: where sharks attack, waters of the Titanic, population density, earthquakes, ocean currents.
Math & Science
CASES Online http://www.cse.emory.edu/cases/?showlogin
Developed at Emory University, CASES is a collection of inquiry-based lessons to engage K-12 and undergraduate students in exploring the science behind real-world problems. Through CASES you can transform your students into motivated investigators, self-directed and life-long learners, critical thinkers and keen problem solvers. Student and teacher materials included. Many are set in Georgia.
PhET Interactive Simulations https://phet.colorado.edu
I just discovered this huge set of interactive simulations for math and science, founded in 2002 by Nobel Laureate Carl Wieman. The PhET Interactive Simulations project at the University of Colorado Boulder are based on extensive education research and engage students through an intuitive, game-like environment where students learn through exploration and discovery.
Science
Journey North Monarch Butterfly Migration http://www.learner.org/jnorth/tm/monarch/AboutSpring.html
In a unique partnership, you can join citizen scientists across North America to track the monarch butterfly's spring migration from Mexico. Journey North has been tracking Monarch migration for 20 years, and the have the historical data online.
BirdSleuth K-12 http://www.birdsleuth.org/citizen-science/
“Scientists can’t be everywhere, so kids from all over can record data and send it in.” Heidi, grade 7
Citizen science is important! It’s a partnership between the public and professional scientists that can help answer questions scientists couldn’t answer on their own. Through the Lab of Ornithology’s Citizen-Science Program, people across the continent help scientists by collecting data about their local birds and sending the information to scientists who study bird populations and conservation. We welcome your students to get involved and gather data about the kinds, numbers, and behaviors of birds that they see.
Language Arts
Using Inquiry-based Teaching https://www.teachingchannel.org/videos/inquiry-based-teaching-with-literature
Several videos of inquiry in Language Arts classrooms, with suggestions for the teacher role: Discussing Fiction Texts, Encouraging Student Voice, Supporting Quieter Students, A Teacher's Role.
Annenberg Learner http://www.learner.org/interactives/
Annenberg Learner Interactives are ready made to use with inquiry in all content areas at all grade levels. Many are self-contained inquiries--you do not have to do anything except direct your students to the one you want them to do.
Social Studies
Why Did Copán Collapse? http://www.learner.org/interactives/collapse/copan/
Through fieldwork and lab work, archaeologists have been piecing together what happened to bring about the collapse of Copán, once a thriving center of Maya civilization. In this activity, you'll be following in the steps of the archaeologists who studied Copán, looking for clues to how it collapsed. You'll be trying to answer two questions: Why did Copán collapse? Was the end a gradual decline or a rapid fall? This is a self-contained inquiry from Annenberg Learner.
Interactive Maps from National Geographic http://education.nationalgeographic.org/mapping/
An interactive mapping experience with rich layers of information on the physical Earth, oceans, culture, and more. Some ideas of what students can explore with MapMaker: where sharks attack, waters of the Titanic, population density, earthquakes, ocean currents.
Math & Science
CASES Online http://www.cse.emory.edu/cases/?showlogin
Developed at Emory University, CASES is a collection of inquiry-based lessons to engage K-12 and undergraduate students in exploring the science behind real-world problems. Through CASES you can transform your students into motivated investigators, self-directed and life-long learners, critical thinkers and keen problem solvers. Student and teacher materials included. Many are set in Georgia.
PhET Interactive Simulations https://phet.colorado.edu
I just discovered this huge set of interactive simulations for math and science, founded in 2002 by Nobel Laureate Carl Wieman. The PhET Interactive Simulations project at the University of Colorado Boulder are based on extensive education research and engage students through an intuitive, game-like environment where students learn through exploration and discovery.
Science
Journey North Monarch Butterfly Migration http://www.learner.org/jnorth/tm/monarch/AboutSpring.html
In a unique partnership, you can join citizen scientists across North America to track the monarch butterfly's spring migration from Mexico. Journey North has been tracking Monarch migration for 20 years, and the have the historical data online.
BirdSleuth K-12 http://www.birdsleuth.org/citizen-science/
“Scientists can’t be everywhere, so kids from all over can record data and send it in.” Heidi, grade 7
Citizen science is important! It’s a partnership between the public and professional scientists that can help answer questions scientists couldn’t answer on their own. Through the Lab of Ornithology’s Citizen-Science Program, people across the continent help scientists by collecting data about their local birds and sending the information to scientists who study bird populations and conservation. We welcome your students to get involved and gather data about the kinds, numbers, and behaviors of birds that they see.
Language Arts
Using Inquiry-based Teaching https://www.teachingchannel.org/videos/inquiry-based-teaching-with-literature
Several videos of inquiry in Language Arts classrooms, with suggestions for the teacher role: Discussing Fiction Texts, Encouraging Student Voice, Supporting Quieter Students, A Teacher's Role.