Ice Inquiry

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

During the winter, prompt student curiousity about ice found on their playground or around school property. Ask several questions about ice including: How is ice made? Why does ice melt?

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

Lead a knowledge building circle to discuss students’ observations from their free exploration as well as their ideas about why ice melts.

Facilitate discussion by asking prompting questions.

Connect this inquiry with curriculum expectations, 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.

What did this class do?