Comparing and Contrasting, Using Oral Language, and Writing to Learn

September 10, 2013

Today, the first graders at Van Arsdale continued their exploration of the characteristics of living things by thinking about how animal offspring have characteristics that are similar to but not exactly like their parents' characteristics.

Leslie and DeAnna structured this activity to follow student-created prediction and a plan in their science notebooks. The first graders use a science notebook that is created by their teachers.  It includes scaffolds for students, including sentence stems and blank data tables.  The teachers staple one together for every student.

First Grader's prediction in their science notebook

The learning task students completed today included using photographs of animal parents and their offspring to look for similarities and differences between physical characteristics.

The first graders in this clip noticed how the tusks of the elephant were different sizes. They used language to process the photo evidence and to help others understand their thinking.

The teachers then used additional photos in small groups to help students connect with human parents and offspring as well.

Here you will see Leslie Spencer bringing the whole class together to build a common vocabulary around "characteristics." This helps them categorize the words they've been using.

After the verbal processing, students were ready to utilize Writing to Learn. Leslie modeled how to create a T-Chart for students to record how they saw animal parents and offspring were alike and different. Students created a similar table in their science notebooks.

Thanks to the teachers at Van Arsdale for creating this rich learning experience for students!

Van Arsdale: Who are we? Where are we starting?

Welcome to the beginning of our Inquiry Notebooking project.  Since teachers from Van Arsdale and Hutchinson will be working on this project and sharing ideas throughout the year, it makes sense that you should know each other and each other's work.

Van Arsdale 1st Grade Team
Leslie Spencer (left)
DeAnna Nunley (right)

 The first grade team at Van Arsdale have used notebooking in science and explored using them in social studies as well.  They are more comfortable with using an inquiry-based approach in science. 

At this time, this is their schedule:

9-10:30- Reading Workshop

10:30-10:45- Recess

10:45-11:35- Sci. /SS

11:35-12:15- Lunch/Recess

12:15-12:50- Read aloud/intervention

12:50-1:35- Specials/Planning

1:35-2:35- Math

2:35-3:30- Writers’ Workshop

Focus for Inquiry Cycle One

The first grade team wants to think about using inquiry-based questioning to help students go deeper in their learning.  Also, how can the notebooks be used for the benefit of students?