Outdoor Inquiries: Taking Science Investigations Outside the Classroom

by Patricia McGlashan

Outdoor Inquiries offers approaches to help students become skilled at asking their own questions, gathering their own data and analyzing it for themselves-to become real inquirers. We recommend it to all of our teachers. -Lynn Rankin Director, Institute for Inquiry, Exploratorium The book is a great treasure for all science educators. -Hubert Dyasi City College of New York Here'ssome advice for teachers looking for science instruction to supplement their science textbooks and Take it outside! Conducting science investigations beyond the four walls of the classroom is one of the best ways for young people to develop scientific thinking and to practice gathering and analyzing their own data. Outdoor Inquiries is the clear, concise handbook that shows you how. Outdoor Inquiries takes you step by step through guiding intermediate and middle level students to new and deeper understandings of scientific content, thinking, and procedures. From smart, pragmatic advice-including how to select an appropriate site for investigation, what to bring with you, and how to ensure student safety-to powerful, detailed lesson plans, suggestions for cross-curricular integration, and useful ideas for assessment, Outdoor Inquiries offers everything you need to get started. It outlines five interrelated strategies to use with students as they investigate their local In addition, detailed classroom vignettes from a variety of settings demonstrate how each inquiry strategy helps your students meet several recommendations of the National Science Education Standards by engaging them Step outside the usual kit-based science instruction. Nurture the inquiries of your science learners by helping them apply critical thinking skills to the real world as they make meaningful connections to their natural, dynamic local environment. Use Outdoor Inquiries and discover that when it comes to teaching science, the natural world can be your most effective instructional tool.

Genres: Nonfiction, Science

136 pages, Paperback

First published March 21, 2007

Reviews

[Lorraine · Rating 5 out of 5]

An excellent, practical book on outdoor inquiry. The book is straightforward and gives sound explanations as to the whys and hows, without going overboard into theory and history of the pedagogy. The chapters are ordered in a logical progression to take a teacher through the initial stages of establishing the inquiry with the students progressing to more complex stages. The process could be carried out over a whole school year and wonderfully integrates a host of curriculum links as well as establishes the scientific inquiry process with students. While the book is aimed at junior or middle school students, I think the concepts as a whole could be used with upper level students, or even primary students.

I also appreciate the "extras" at the end of each chapter -- a short essay from a teacher sharing their classroom experience with the method and a short essay from an "expert" sharing how they use the method in "real life science." (These essays are good examples of essays, too, for use in a literature class.)

A book I'd love to own.