Units of Inquiry
Units of Inquiry How do you know a unit is truly driven by inquiry rather than shaped by a sequence of activities? Units of inquiry can easily become inquiry in name only, through which learners are led through pre-determined activities or unit ‘workbooks’ that resemble topics or themed work. Even when named as engagements, learning experiences and provocations, many are neither informed by nor responsive to the ideas, theories and curiosities of learners themselves. Inquiry celebrates learner agency affirming that children are active contributors to their learning communities and that their ideas matter. For me, inquiry is rooted in questioning. Questioning as a process and a mindset, though not always in the grammatical form of a question. Questioning lives in our actions, expressions and language, and breathes in our wonderings, theories, surprises, doubts and confusion. Regardless of the content, what considerations do you keep in mind to ensure your planning is intent...
