Ice Inquiry

Learning Goals: STEM, Scientific Process, Inquiry, Mutually-Directed Play

During the winter, the students were curious about the ice they found on their playground. They started to ask several questions about ice including: How is ice made? Why does ice melt?

In response, the educator then launched an inquiry about ice.

First, the educator supported children’s exploration by setting out ice, string, salt/sand/sugar, and various containers for students to freely explore.

Next, the educator led a knowledge building circle to discuss students’ observations from their free exploration as well as their ideas about why ice melts. The educator facilitated discussion by asking prompting questions.

The educator also connected this inquiry with academic tasks, such as introducing standard and non-standard measurements to determine the size of ice pieces.
Ice

String

Salt/sugar/sand

Containers

Books on ice/states of matter
The students were originally curious about ice while playing outside and had many questions.

The educator then used children’s questions to guide an inquiry about ice. In doing so, the educator introduced the idea of the scientific process and modelled how to ask questions, make a hypothesis, test questions, and determine a conclusion.

While the activity originated from students’ interests, the educator guided learning towards specific goals by providing provocations that focused on academic expectations.

STEM

What did this class do?