Day 1: Introduction to Being a Scientist

Mini-Lesson
OVERVIEW
Teacher instructions are provided for each day’s mini-lesson. These instructions consist of declarative knowledge (statement of what children will do or learn), conditional knowledge (context or background related to what children will learn), and procedural knowledge (explicit instruction and practice).
Today’s mini-lesson will simply explain what the children will be doing throughout the unit. The teacher will need to print out and post the “Inquiry Toolbox” and “Team Roles” anchor charts to use in the discussion.
PROCEDURE
Each italicized statement below contains suggested wording the teacher may choose to use for the lesson; additional teacher actions and considerations are in parentheses.
Before Inquiry Circles
- Today during our inquiry circles, each team will pick an animal to research together.
- As a team, you will choose which animal you find most interesting from the list of animals I have written on the white board.
- After you pick your animal, you will find an exploratory to read about it. (Teacher may point out selected texts that have been preselected for them.)
During Inquiry Circles (20 minutes)
- One member of your team can read it out loud for your team, or team members can take turns reading out loud. While you’re reading, I will be walking around to assist you as needed. (Allow class time to read while you facilitate when necessary.
- Later, when all teams are finished reading their texts, you will summarize and share what you have read with the class.
After Inquiry Circles (10 minutes)
- The Data Scientists from each team will now share what their team has learned about its animal. (Allow enough time for each team to share.)
- (After all teams have shared, thank them for their hard work, and point out any excellent behaviors that you observed. If you noticed any problems in the teams during the lessons, take a moment to point them out, and explain your expectations for all future inquiry circles.)