Inquiry using digital images

This lesson begins a unit of study to create the atmosphere of questioning and knowledge grounding. Digital images are given to students. Students investigate the images for information.

A lesson plan for grade 4 Science

By Darlene Ryan1

Learn more

• World Wildlife Foundation
• San Diego Zoo
• North Carolina Zoo
• National Wildlife Federation
• Sea World, Inc.

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Related topics

• Learn more about science.

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Learning outcomes

Students will develop cooperative learning strategies.

Teacher planning

Time required for lesson

45–60 minutes

Materials/resources

• digital images: calendar, magazine or other media photos
• paper
• markers

Technology resources

• digital camera to take photos
• internet access to select images from websites
• computer and printer for printing of photos

Activities

1. Place photos, paper, and markers on desk.
2. Group students into convenient viewing sizes (dependent on number of photos).
3. Tell students “View images and write down everything you observe from the images.” Also, students list questions they still have about the subject.
4. Have student groups report their findings to the class.
5. Teacher monitors the discussion and notes common themes on a chart.
6. Common themes/acquired knowledge are recorded for classroom on a chart.
7. Questions are recorded for future study. (These are to be researched or investigated in future lessons. Teacher will plan unit with these in mind.)

Assessment

Student findings are posted in the classroom with the common themes (processed thoughts). Students and teacher have reached consensus for the common themes and acquired knowledge.

Questions to be researched are also recorded and monitored for answers that are found through continuing study. An extended assessment could be a writing assignment that asks the students to use the information gathered from the images: poem, story, or journal.

Supplemental information

Comments

This lesson can be used at any grade level for any topic. Animal growth and adaptation was selected as there are so many images available to document the application.

Many writing activities can be derived from the lesson. Students could be asked to journal the characteristics they viewed in the image or write a poem or creative story using the emotions from the image. Coordination with the Language Arts curriculum is easily made with such inquiry lessons.