Icicles Inquiry

One day a few weeks ago, we went outside the day after it had rained. The weather had turned very cold again and the students noticed the icicles that were hanging. We began to look more closely and saw icicles hanging from the roof, from the ledge and even under the cars!













As usually happens when we are outside, students started to ask "I wonder" questions. A common question that arose was, "I wonder how icicles are made?"

Students also started comparing icicles, "I wonder why this one is big and that one is small?" - F. A.

Students then began developing theories about how icicles are made:

 

"When the snowflake falls then it hang and then it freezes." - A. P.

 

 "The icicle maker, he make the icicles and hang it." - G. F.

 

 "I know how icicle is made. I can see some snow inside. When the snow gets over there then it freezes. Then it makes an icicle. With the snow we make icicle when it freezes." - F.A.

 

 "Somebody take the ice, they put water and they hang it."- A. H.

 

 "When snow and rain mixes together it makes icicle." - R. R.

 

As students develop their theories about how icicles are made, as an inquiry group we decided that we wanted to create our own icicles.

Collaborative Art

We have discovered the wonderful use of water colour crayons in our classroom, thanks to a teaching partner at our school.

We decided to explore a collaborative painting that could link with our Sunflower Inquiry.

The children each took turns, contributing to the painting at every stage.

 

Shell Inquiry

One day we had water colours at our art studio in our classroom. Many children created paintings of flowers, their families or their friends. However, one student decided to paint the rocks she'd seen at the beach. (We had rocks and shells at our Discovery Table) The children at the art studio began to talk excitedly about their own beach experiences and also began to draw about the beach and the shore.

We brought the materials (shells and rocks) that had been interesting the children to the carpet for a discussion. The children began by stating what they knew about the shells. Eventually, theories and 'I wonder' statements emerged from the children.

A Moment at the Light Table

Today two children in our classroom were working together with such focus and attention. I watched and wondered what they were creating. They came running over when they were ready to share (before they had told me it was a surprise!) and told me they had made a zoo for all the animals.

The green mat is a large piece of felt. (Felt does wonders for our light table exploration...)