Student Center | Instructor Center | Information Center | Home

Teaching Children Science: A Project-Based Approach, 2/e

Joe Krajcik, University of Michigan - Ann Arbor
Charlene Czerniak, University of Toledo
Carl Berger, University of Michigan - Ann Arbor

How Are Scientific Investigations Developed?

GOING ON A STREAM WALK

Materials Needed:

Writing materials
Walking shoes

Where do questions come from? Questions often arise from exploring our environment. Take a thirty-minute walk around a stream or pond. As you walk, examine the bank. Look closely at the water. What do you see? You might dip a bucket into the water and draw a water sample so that you can make more thorough observations.

As you walk and observe your stream or pond, take notes of your observations. What do you find interesting? What catches your eye?

Also note any questions that come to mind. What would you like to find out more about?

When you have completed your walk, record your observations and questions on a chart like the following:

Observations	Questions
_____________	_________________________
_____________	_________________________
_____________	_________________________
_____________	_________________________
_____________	_________________________

What other questions come to mind now? You might decide to order your questions from most to least -interesting.

Compare your observations with those of other students in your class.

File your completed chart in your portfolio.

2003 McGraw-Hill Higher Education
Any use is subject to the Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.
McGraw-Hill Higher Education is one of the many fine businesses of The McGraw-Hill Companies.