- Emily J.
- Thursday, February 18, 2021
While this standard can easily be incorporated into thematic units, it can also be weaved into everyday experiences. Anytime your child asks, “why does,” or “what is” is an opportunity to explore a topic in books. Books plus experience are the perfect recipe for growing a reader, learner, and thinker.
How will I know my kindergartener has met this reading standard:
- My child can develop and begin to talk about the “I wonders” on topics of interest
- With help from the teacher, my child can collect information from many sources.
- With help from the teacher, my child can select the appropriate information and report the discoveries.
- With help from the teacher, my child can look for patterns and relationships.
- With help from the teacher, my child can reflect on the thinking process.
Below is an example of how we investigated a topic together. The whole process unfolded naturally and started with a question my son asked while playing in the yard. Our investigation took two nonconsective hours from start to finish--fifteen minutes here and there. Some investigations may take hours or just a few mintues, but the most important thing is that your child is thinking through the process by asking questions and seeking answers.
1. I wonder…
While playing in the yard, my son discovered little holes in the grass. He stopped and asked me who (or what) had been digging in the yard. He plopped down in the grass and examined the hole closely and discovered a hickory nutshell.
He began to ask more questions that would guide our investigation. I wonder statements encourage curiosity and promote active thinking, and they also serve as a guide for research.
2. Investigation
After careful thought, he determined that squirrels were the culprit for burying nuts in the grass. But why?
We look to good books for answers. We paused throughout the book when we found information to answer our question, “I wonder why squirrels bury nuts.” We let the book help guide our conversation. I would pause and elaborate on a good point in the book to help model how to reflect on information. I noticed that my son quickly joined in by stopping me while I was reading to point out an interesting fact. Because he is still learning, he sometimes stopped at every page to make a point. He was practicing asking questions and prompting conversation.
Media that Supports Learning
3. Recognize patterns
When studying this topic, he became more curious about related topics. “How do other animals get their food in winter?” and “Why do snakes need the sun to move?” I wrote down the questions to explore later.
Good stories often prompt more questions and more to investigate. This picture here helped us see squirrels in action, but also, see other animals winter behavior.
4. Report the discoveries
My son’s project was a creation of his own. He drew a hickory nut tree in the middle of summer with green leafs and branches full of nuts. He selected the pictures of the squirrels to reflect what he learned. He carefully explained his poster to us.
He discovered that squirrels bury nuts in preparation for the winter months when the tree loses its leaves and nuts. He learned that squirrels use their sense of smell to find nuts they have buried. Some animals, like snakes, sleep all winter long, so they do not need to hide food.
5. Reflect on the thinking process.
The process of asking a question and seeking an answer teaches children to think critically. Conversations and open ended questions encourage children to come to their own conclusions.
Let us help you with your next inquiry. We can find books on any topic. Try Richland Library’s Get Personalized and get recommendations from the Children’s Room.
Below is a list of books with projects based on inquiry and investigation.