Open Stage

The learning team's role:

• model an inquisitive, open mind

• listen for student connections and misunderstandings

• encourage curiosity, questioning, and unbiased thinking

Inquiry Tools--

• Inquiry Journal--Set up the journal in the way that works best for your students: binder, a composition notebook, a Google doc, etc.

• Inquiry Circle--Organize students into flexible groups of 4-5

Activities--

Activity 1--Students listen to the blabber and complete a "quiz" on Google forms. The quiz highlights how little Americans knew about the Louisiana Territory. Students are given ten "facts" from the time that were published in books owned by President Jefferson; they mark if these facts are actually true or false. At the end of the test, the students realize all ten facts are false. This activity is from Edsitement!.

Activity 2--In their inquiry circles, students compare and contrast a modern physical features map to one from 1803. They will realize west of the Mississippi River on 1803 map is largely blank. Make sure to have enough atlases for each circle. Students may need instruction on reading a map and using an atlas.

Activity 3--View National Geographic's Lewis and Clark: Great Journey West. Show students where the Tags are located. This will aid them now and in the future.

Journal Entry 1--Students imagine being chosen for space exploration. Some time later, a class discussion highlighting that the Lewis and Clark expedition has many similarities as going in space based on the commonality of traveling to the unknown. But it’s also very different; for example, Apollo 11 was in constant contact with NASA, whereas Lewis and Clark were completely on their own. The concept for this journal comes from the Lewis and Clark PBS documentary.

Explore Stage

The learning team's role:

• be calm and reflective; encourage students to be this way, too

• create a comfortable space

• teach research skills

  • how to use Google, data bases, AEA Online Resources

  • the difference between primary and secondary sources:

    • https://teenhealthandwellness.com/article/470/3/primary-sources

    • https://teenhealthandwellness.com/article/470/5/secondary-sources

• teach reading strategies for browsing, finding main ideas, and raising questions

• be aware of students who may feel overwhelmed and address their concerns

• assess student progress

Inquiry Tools--

• Inquiry logs--students keep track of useful and potentially useful, quality sources

  • Kuhlthau's Inquiry Log

• Inquiry journals--students keep track of interesting facts and arising questions

  • Kuhlthau's Stop & Jot is a good tool

• Inquiry Circle--schedule regular meeting times; students share their journals

  • Kuhlthau's Pair Share Protocol

Activities--

• Begin the Explore stage with students reflecting, discussing, and writing about their findings during the Immerse Stage

• Look Around--this webpage contains many buttons to sources for student exploration.