Implementing Inquiry & Critical

Thinking
for High Schools in Large Urban Districts

Jill Brownlee - High School science administrator

Christy Compton - High School science resource teacher
 Focus Question
How can we get all students to
think critically about
evidence and scientific
explanations?
 History of Inquiry - San
Diego
1. M.S. & H.S. Science Fair
2. Voluntary Inquiry Units
3. Inquiry-Based Curriculum
 7th-8th: Life Science & Physical Science
 9th-11th: Physics, Chemistry & Biology
 History of Inquiry - San
Diego
1. M.S. & H.S. Science Fair
2. Voluntary Inquiry Units
3. Inquiry-Based Curriculum
 7th-8th: Life Science & Physical Science
 9th-11th: Physics, Chemistry & Biology
 Inquiry Activity #1
Introductory activity for an inquiry
unit
Focus on inquiry skills; science
content secondary
 Focus Question #1
Why does the water level rise?
 I.T.O.
 Inquiry Thought Organizer

Purpose Question:
What I think …
Evidence Collected:
What I think now …
Why … (Don’t forget to include the specific evidence
that led to the change!)
Inquiry Umbrella

Student-Centered
Community

Safety Collaborat
e
Management e
Communicate
 Critical Elements for
Inquiry
Management
 Time; Routines; Materials; Facilitating; Planning

Communicating
 Writing; Reflection; Questions; Feedback

Collaboration
 Groupwork; Accountability; Constructing knowledge

Safety
 Classroom climate; Laboratory investigations
 History of Inquiry - San
Diego
1. M.S. & H.S. Science Fair
2. Voluntary Inquiry Units
3. Inquiry-Based Curriculum
 7th-8th: Life Science & Physical Science
 9th-11th: Physics, Chemistry & Biology
 Inquiry Activity #2
DNA Modeling activity from
inquiry-based Biology curriculum
Focus on science content; inquiry
skills secondary
 Focus Question #2
How can a model show that DNA
can store and transmit
information?
 I.T.O.
 Inquiry Thought Organizer

Purpose Question:
What I think …
Evidence Collected:
What I think now …
Why … (Don’t forget to include the specific evidence
that led to the change!)
Inquiry Umbrella

Student-Centered
Community

Safety Collaborat
e
Management e
Communicate
 Critical Elements for
Inquiry
Management
 Time; Routines; Materials; Facilitating; Planning

Communicating
 Writing; Reflection; Questions; Feedback

Collaboration
 Groupwork; Accountability; Constructing knowledge

Safety
 Classroom climate; Laboratory investigations
 Classroom Inquiry
Variations
More-------------------------Teacher Direction -------------------------Less
1. Learner engages in A) Learner engages in B) Learner sharpens or C) Learner selects D) Learner poses a
scientifically oriented question provided by clarifies question among questions, posesquestion
questions teacher, materials or provided by teacher, new questions
other source materials, or other
source

2. Learner gives A) Learner is given data B) Learner given data C) Learner directed to D) Learner determines
priority to evidence in and told how to analyze and asked to analyze collect certain data what constitutes
responding to evidence and collects it
questions

3. Learner formulates A) Learner provided B) Learner given C) Learner guided in D) Learner formulates
explanations from with evidence possible ways to use process of formulating explanation after
evidence evidence to formulate explanations from summarizing evidence
evidence

4. Learner connects A) Learner given all B) Learner given C) Learner directed D) Learner
explanations to connections possible connections toward areas and independently examines
scientific knowledge sources of scientific other resources and
knowledge forms links to
explanations

5. Learner A) Learner given steps B) Learner provided C) Learner coached in D) Learner forms
communicates and and procedures for broad guidelines to use development of reasonable and logical
justifies explanations communication to sharpen communication argument to
communication communicate
explanations
 Discussion Prompt
What might be some of the
challenges of implementing inquiry
in your school or district?
 Exit Slip
From your experiences today, how has
your understanding of inquiry changed?

What did you learn today that could

help you implement inquiry in your
school or district?