Our kindergarteners have been pretty busy over the past couple of weeks as they inquired about a variety of animals and habitats through inquiry circles - and they loved it! When I asked what they enjoyed about inquiry circles, they told me for example that
they enjoyed learning about their respective topic because "we learn things we never knew", "our learning is important and important is fun";
they enjoyed the way they learned because "we got to draw and use our words", "I like this kind of learning and writing down the thinking";
they enjoyed sharing their learning because "we made a book", "we made a show".
One student summed it up by saying, "I liked everything!"
So what exactly did these inquiry circles look like in kindergarten? Here is a brief overview.
they enjoyed learning about their respective topic because "we learn things we never knew", "our learning is important and important is fun";
they enjoyed the way they learned because "we got to draw and use our words", "I like this kind of learning and writing down the thinking";
they enjoyed sharing their learning because "we made a book", "we made a show".
One student summed it up by saying, "I liked everything!"
So what exactly did these inquiry circles look like in kindergarten? Here is a brief overview.
TUNING IN - Our kindergarteners have been inquiring about habitats under the transdisciplinary theme Sharing the Planet. Through fieldtrips and learning engagements in class, they began to share their questions and wonderings. We grouped them according to their interests, each group facilitated by one of us teachers and librarians. In our groups, we brainstormed what we thought we already knew about our topics, to then further tweak our questions and adding on more wonderings. We also brainstormed ways we might be able to find answers to our questions.
FINDING OUT - Next, we began to look for information on our respective topics. We explored books and online resources (in particular the PebbleGo Animals database), recording what we were finding out.
SORTING OUT & GOING FURTHER - We matched the information with the relevant questions, checking which of our questions were answered. We talked to an expert (Critterman from Texas) via Skype to gain additional answers. At the same time, new questions emerged and we tried to find answers to these as well.
DRAWING CONCLUSIONS & preparing to share -We looked for the big ideas in our learning and talked about how we might want to share this with the other groups. We prepared for our presentations.
ACTING & REFLECTING - Some of our groups were ready this week to share their learning with their classmates and teachers. The choice of how to do that was theirs. So we had groups using technology, presenting their learning in the form of a video created with the How to Explain Everything app; another groups showed us pages from the nonfiction book they are working on; and there was a skit showing a special edition of National Geographic with a group of scientists being interviewed about animals that live in the cold. We look forward to seeing the remaining groups share their learning next week, to then reflect on the entire process.
Updated December 8: Below are some photos from the other groups who have shared their learning this week.
One of our kindergarten teachers already shared her thoughts about inquiry circles, saying "they are like a tiny fire starter that lights a big bonfire of learning. We kindle their ideas and rub their 'stick ideas' together and the fire burns, slowly at first and then makes a massive bright fire of information. The kids are empowered and excited in the process." Indeed, seeing the students' excitement and engagement in learning about topics they are curious about is always the best part of it - and we adults who are not just facilitators but also co-learners, learn so much along the way as well.
If you would like to find out more about inquiry circles and what they might look in other grades, have a look at this G1 post and this G2 post. You will notice that the process remains the same; what varies is the level of independence with which our students participate in inquiry circles.
A special THANK YOU to our wonderful expert from Texas, Critterman, and his friend Rosie.
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