Bouncing Raisin Activity for Questioning Strategies

Overview

An activity to practice questioning strategies to facilitate students construction of an explanation for what happens in this activity. Science process skills that are very helpful for this activity are using observations to make inferences and using observations and inferences to create explanations. Observation - the raisins are on the bottom. The raisins are floating to the top. The raisins have bubbles on them. Inference - The bubbles are making the raisins float.

Materials

Procedure

Set up for the - Bouncing Raisin Activity

Procedure for instruction

Let learners observe the Bouncing Raisins.

Possible questions:

Desperate questions:

Have students summarize what they believe happened.

Moving from summary of observations to an explanation.

After an explanation move to expansion.

Processing your questioning strategies

Listen to your recording and collect the data needed to complete the following.

1. Write two of the most open ended (divergent) questions you asked.

 

 

 

2. Time the total number of seconds for your number one wait-times (after you asked a question). Record the information below.

Number one wait times for each question

                   
                   
                   

Average number one wait-times

 

3. Time the total number of seconds for your number two wait-times (after a student responded and before you responded or asked a question). Record the information below.

Number two wait times for each question

                   
                   
                   

Average number two wait-time.

 

 

4. If you slipped and told the students some information what did you tell?

 

 

5. How many times did you repeat student’s answers?

 

 

6. If you used a student’s idea, write it.

 

 

7. Summarize what you learned.

 

 

8. What goals do you have for your questioning strategies and why?

 

 

Dr. Robert Sweetland's notes
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