IES Inquiry: Preparing Students to be Critical Thinkers and Science Literate Citizens

1. IES Inquiry: Preparing Students to be Critical Thinkers and Science Literate Citizens

2. AGI’s Middle School Curriculum IES: Investigating Earth Systems grades 5-8

3. Meeting New Standards • Promote inquiry-based instruction • Inquiry is an instructional outcome • Equitable • Developmentally appropriate • Interesting and relevant to students • Inquiry in professional development

4. Our View of Inquiry • Learners ENGAGE in scientifically oriented questions. • Learners give priority to EVIDENCE in responding to questions. • Learners formulate EXPLANATIONS from evidence. • Learners connect explanations to scientific KNOWLEDGE. • Learners COMMUNICATE and JUSTIFY explanations.

5. ENGAGE in Scientifically Oriented Questions What causes ocean currents?

6. EVIDENCE in Responding to Questions • Students investigate the following: • Salinity and its effect on density • Temperature and its effects on density

7. EXPLANATIONS from Evidence • Students use the maps to answer the following: • Patterns between surface currents and wind direction • Form a hypothesis to explain the relationship between wind direction and surface currents • Relationship between the source of a current and the temperature of the water in the current

8. Connect Explanations to Scientific KNOWLEDGE • Students connect the following: • The movement of heat from low latitudes to high latitudes • Relationship between wind direction a surface ocean current direction • Effects of temperature and salinity on ocean circulation

9. COMMUNICATE and JUSTIFY Explanations • Students consider on the following: • What evidence explains ocean currents? • How realistic is the model you created for deep ocean circulation?

10. Student Outcomes • Know and understand scientific ideas • Understand how scientists study the natural world • Critical thinking and problem-solving skills