How to recognise and use spontaneous inquiry in the classroom.

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2.  Introduction
 What is ‘Spontaneous Inquiry’ ?
 How do we handle such inquiries ?
 Practical application scenario
 Reflection & conclusion
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3.  Inquiries?Questions?
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4.  According to Lindfors (1999), spontaneous inquiry
involves
 ‘They (teachers) do not plan the exact direction of
their lessons in advance, and allow it to develop in
response to students' interests’ (Postman and
Weingartner 1969).
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5. Spontaneous Inquiry in Action Like this?
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6.  Central idea-
sound is a form of
energy that humans
can give meaning to.
 Lines of Inquiry
1. How meanings are
conveyed through
sound.
2. How sound is created
& heard.
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7.  Numeracy: measurement & estimate
 Literacy: story writing; writing to instruct
 Science & technology : why does sound come
out of the trumpet? (pitch, vibrations).
 Music: created beats
 Visual Arts: decorating trumpet
 PYP Learner Profiles: risk takers,
knowledgeable, communicators
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8. Central Idea:
Our values and perspectives can be expressed or explored through storytelling
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9.  This morning before class, Indira brings in some
artifact(s) from her holidays. You notice that other
students are engaged, and inquiring about
different aspects of her artifact(s). You witness
various acts of inquiry and wonder how you can
relate this natural curiosity to your unit, lines of
inquiry, central idea/topic.
 See handout for task
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10. ◦ How did your group make a connection to the given
central idea/topic?
◦THANK YOU!
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11.  Bennett, N., Wood, L., Rogers, S., (2001) Teaching Through
Play: Teachers’ thinking and classroom practice Open University
Press, Buckingham, UK
 Lindfors, JW. (1999) Children’s Inquiry: Using Language to make
sense of the World Teachers College Press, Columbia
University, New York, NY
 Murdoch, K. and Hornsby, D. (2007) Planning Curriculum
Connections: Whole-School Planning for Integrated Curriculum.
Eleanor Curtin Publishing, Victoria Australia
 Postman, Neil, and Weingartner, Charles (1969), Teaching as a
Subversive Activity, Dell, New York, NY.
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