Research - Proximal Goal #1

For the research aspect of my unit planning for my unit, I've been compiling lesson plan ideas and ensuring I have clear intentions for the unit. I've been referring back to the curriculum as I look at different ideas and directions I could take for this unit.

I've come up with a Science unit called "the magic of the seasons".  I want to have the kids look at signs of the change of the season and allow them to explore the world outside and have them ask relevant questions. I know that this is going to take some guidance in being able to use new vocabulary, but my goal is to not have the limited language affect the value of inquiry and the excitement of following our curiosity. I'm going to be covering the Big Idea from the BC curriculum: Plants and animals have observable features. 

My plan is to have us begin outside looking for signs of fall. We will collect some evidence to bring back inside to take a look at. Since the kids are familiar with the concept of "wonders", we will begin by discussing what our wonders are about the season changing. For this part of the inquiry process, I will have the kids ask whatever questions they'd like with any language that comes to them. They are encouraged to use French words that they know, but I won't be correcting them or modelling any language yet. I will also be using an KWL chart to document what we know, want to know, and what we learned after that first trip outside. These were some ideas inspired by an article I've been reading called "Using an Inquiry-Based Approach in Early Childhood French Immersion" (Fortier & Hamon, 2014). 

I realize that I have to be open to what will come from this initial stage of inquiry. I know the kids will go in different directions and I am here to guide them towards meaningful inquiry that follows their sense of wonder. I have some ideas of different discovery centres that the kids can explore, but will have to wait to see what direction we will be going in. A key aspect of inquiry will be documentation. I plan on taking lots of pictures of my students investigating and displaying them throughout our process. The kids will also be keeping a discovery journal to record their observations and discoveries. 


Fortier, P. & Hamon, M. (2014). Using an Inquiry-Based Approach

in Early Childhood French Immersion, Teaching and Learning Research Exchange, McDowell Foundation.