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INQUIRY BASED SCIENCE What Does It Look Like?  What Does It Sound Like? By: Maureene Matthews   (click on name to e-mail)       Students View Themselves as Scientists. * They look forward to doing science. * They demonstrate a desire to learn more. * They seek to collaborate and work cooperatively with their peers. * They are confident in doing science; they demonstrate a willingness to modify ideas, take risks, and display healthy skepticism.   Students Accept an "Invitation to Learn". * Children exhibit curiosity and ponder observations. * They move around selecting and using the materials they need. * They take the opportunity and the time to "try out" their own ideas. Students Plan and Carry Out Investigations. * Children design a way to carry out their ideas, not expecting to be told what to do. * They plan ways to verify, extend or discard ideas. * They carry out investigations by: handling materials, observing, measuring, and recording data.   Students Communicate Using a Variety of Methods. * Children express ideas in a variety of ways: journals, reporting out, graphing, charting, etc. * They listen, speak, and write about science with parents, teachers, and peers. * They use the language of the processes of science. * They communicate their level of understanding of concepts that they have developed to date. Students Propose Explanations and Solutions and Build a Store of Concepts. * Children offer explanations from a "store" of previous knowledge. * They use investigations to satisfy their own questions. * They sort out information and decide what is important. * They are willing to revise explanations as they gain new knowledge.   Students Raise Questions. * Children ask questions. * They use questions to lead them to investigations that generate further questions or ideas. * Children value and enjoy asking questions as an important part of science. Students Use Observation. * Children observe, as opposed to just looking. * They see details, they detect sequences and events; they notice change, similarities and differences, etc. * They make connections to previously held ideas. Students Critique Their Science Practices. * They use indicators to assess their own work. * They report their strengths and weaknesses. * They reflect with their peers.

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