Inquiry Initiated by Young Learners
In collaborative inquiry learning environments, communication is being used as a means to support deep understanding. In the fourth unit of inquiry, “The Art of Construction”, students initiated an inquiry of a new learning experience. Starting from their personal identities, forming concrete and meaningful insights was inspired. Students decided on the next step in the inquiry and gained deeper understanding, below the surface of the Construction Iceberg. By exchanging ideas, students planned and designed an investigation, using critical thinking and reasoning skills to solve a scientific, real life problem. They decided to make a tour around the school’s playground in order to collect different building materials and construct a shape. They drew conclusions, using problem-solving skills, when they spread in the playground, pouring water on the sand, combining sticks using glue, and piling rocks. They deduced how difficult it is to construct a model since they need to inquire deeper about the properties of matter. In this way, they were responsible for their own learning and evaluated the outcome of their initiated inquiry to develop a new one.

Yasmine Zaatari
Grade 2B Homeroom Teacher