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I don't teach Science, but these look interesting to me. Science trivia?

Check out the great, simple graphic outlining the inquiry process . It presents clear steps of a true inquiry-based project.

Lisa - This might be a good chart to use if students create proposals for their own interest based learning topics like we read about from Birmingham Covington School's Thinkering classes.

This is a great starting point to help frame your project ideas around a question or problem.

If you haven't already joined BIE, I suggest you do it now. (Free, of course.) Download this article as a PDF to your iBooks. It is straightforward and clear. It will help you upgrade your practice from "doing projects" to engaging students in designing and creating meaningful projects to address real questions, issues and problems.

I've been using their resources this year in my 7/8 classroom. I've found them really helpful!

Thanks Lisa.

...makes me think of Kathleen's third grade colonial artifacts project. In this article, check out the learner-generated questions. I like that the activity revolves around three basic steps. Observe -- Think -- Question.

When I read this post, at first I thought,"Is that it?" Then, I realized something ... I had to think, apply and construct my own meaning and connections. I wonder if that was the intent. If so, it's very clever.

Scroll down to the second image. I like the way the apps are arranged to interface with the phases of inquiry from the teacher's and student's points of view.

Very cool and something I'm sure we can develop for ourselves in due course.

I would suggest picking one or two in each category - it is not about using all the different apps, but in finding the ones that work for you for your purpose.

I usually don't lean toward "negative" or reverse thinking like this, but the 12 points are thought-provoking and good for individual reflection. Go ahead, ask yourself the hard questions about your classroom. We are an independent Lower School. We have the freedom. Are you making the most of it?

It's rare to find a video specific to PBL in K-2. It goes along with the book PBL in the Elementary Grades. Lindsay and I currently have copies of the book if you want to borrow it.

... Another lens through which we can view our Fridays.

Very similar to mini-internships with access to community experts like the teacher had for the video project. It would be great to have access to a parent database of experts who could act as advisors. The students could use the parents or their friends as resources

I love the format of these 16 Habits of Mind. Each one has a graphic and brief answers to these questions: What does it mean? Why does it matter? When should you use it? Then, each is followed by an engaging example e.g. a movie clip. The information is clear and concise and it dovetails with Visible Thinking.

Tagxedo, edistorm, kerpoof, and more. Check out Dipity for creating timelines. Fun, creative websites we could be using. Think about using the websites both on the iPad, but also in the computer labs.

It took a little scrolling and clicking, but I found some great resources for activities on this website. Definitely worh a look!

Pam, did you see the Exploratorium website? Cool!

There is something simple yet profound in the "You, Ya'll, We" that we can implement across subjects. Jugyokenkyu, as described, is a lot like the Tuning Protocol we will all engage in with our CFG's this year.

Too often teachers are not supported, given time or training when implementing new programs and methods. Without teacher understanding, student understanding and performance won't improve. As we reflect on some of the curricular changes we have made in the last few years, math being perhaps the most significant, we should note the time and training we've had to support us as we improve instruction.

Lisa Keeler shared this. If you have a moment, read this brief blog post and watch his video. It is simple, yet very telling. What a great introductory activity! It also mirrors what we are seeing and hearing in our classrooms. It would be great to follow him as he introduces 20% time and we introduce our Fridays.

Clever formative assessment ideas for a one-to-one classroom

There might be ways to use Kidblog for this also. I love exit cards and am always glad when I use them, but haven't made it a regular practice. I imagine many of our colleagues have great ideas for using them- digital or not. Voice recording apps might also work for this...