Step 3: What are we Wondering?

Learning Fact: Asking questions ....

You are going to have an opportunity to investigate the questions that you are most curious about.

First, take out your wonder books and jot down any questions that come to mind.

Second, turn to your a/b partner and share your questions. Feel free to add any of your partner's questions that interest you.

Third, lets go for a walk along the trail that circles the marsh. Bring along your wonder books, a clipboard, and a pencil. You may use your wonder books to record images, thoughts and new questions.

Fourth, lets share and record as a class all the questions we have. As our classmates share their questions aloud, lets put questions that are similar or about the same things close to one another.

Be sure to post the question that are most interested in answering in the "Post a Comment" box.

Step 2: Let's Gain Background Knowledge

Learning Fact: Did you know that gaining background knowledge (what you know about something ...)

First, take some time to look through the books, magazines and articles placed in the center of each of the tables. You can use the postnotes to "track you thinking".

NL = this is new learning
? = I have a question
C = this reminds me of somthing

Second, share with your a/b parnter some of the things you put post it notes beside

Third, lets go to the computer lab and investigate some sites on line that may add to your background knowledge.

Let's begin by checking out these sites.

Ponds and Lakes

(learn how a pond becomes a marsh)

Pond Life Animal Printouts

(think critically, which of these animals live in our marsh?)

Plant Life

(photos of many of the plants found growing in and around ponds)

Ponds and Streams

(notice what ponds thousands of miles away have in common with ours)

(If you discover new sites that you think your classmates will enjoy and learn from, copy the url and add it to the "Post a Comment" feature. I'll make sure I add it to this blog.

Step 1: Let's Begin by Thinking About What we Already Know About our Marsh

We know that accessing and building our background knowledge is one of the most important things we can do improve learning. By connecting what we already know with new learning allows us to create new meaning.

First, by yourself, fill in your four quadrants page to record what you already know about the marsh behind our school.

Second, turn and talk to your a/b partner. Add any new thinking to your four quadrant page.

Third, get up and walk to a new partner. Share your top two ideas from each of the quadrants. Add any new thinking to your four quadrant page.

Click here to download a copy of the four quadrants

"What We Already Know About Our Marsh"

Using the "POST A COMMENT" feature at the bottom of the page ... share one or two things that you think are really important about our marsh. Parents and teachers, please feel free to comment as well! (To ensure the integrity of our site, all comments are sent to Mrs. Reynolds first and then posted).