1. The document outlines a 9th grade inquiry project called "Experts: Problems and Solutions". 2. Students are divided into specialty groups in different subject areas and research real problems scientists are trying to solve. 3. Throughout the term, students become experts in their subject area and help classmates with questions while also presenting weekly on interesting discoveries. 4. The goal is to develop students' inquiry skills and habits by giving them more time for hands-on work analyzing data and complex situations like real scientists.

1. Grade 9s Experts: Problems and Solutions

2. Goal Develop: passions inquiry habits peer mentoring

3. In other words Training students in how to do inquiry by helping them develop “habits of inquiry” as they flow through the grades.

4. COMPONENTS 1. Inquiry project: Title: Experts: Problems and Solutions

5. Divide students into 5 specialty groups, one for each unit on 1 st day of term: Biodiversity, Chemistry, Environmental Chemistry, Space, Electricity

6. Each group comes up with problems they find interesting in their chosen unit that scientists might be trying to solve

7. Then the group researches what solutions have been found or proposed or are being worked on right now!

8. Give “specialty” time each week for this work.

9. Final Presentation: Each group presents the problem(s) they tackled and solutions they found for part of our review for PATs Podcast youtube website trailer etc.

10. Final Presentation: Barry suggested do this by creating an iGoogle page for whole class

11. 2. Group Experts Each group becomes “the unit experts’” for students to go to for help

12. 3. Daily Inquiry: Students use compressed notes/ppt to replace lectures giving students lots more time to tackle wrestling questions and simulations that cover curriculum emphasize complex situations and analyzing data ( department PAT goal) but that is what expert scientists do all day so good choice, and not just teaching to the test!)

13. Ask students to link each day’s curriculum work to their inquiry project

14. 4. Weekly “What’s Cool” Students present cool stuff they have found this week about their specialty. need visual: 5 mins max.

15. To do : Letter to parents looking for mentors for groups

16. To do : Use galileo.org rubrics and checklists to make sure inquiry project is rigorous and to help students assess if they are on track

17. To do : Make list of “habits of mind” to develop in students for successful inquiry

18. To do : Make exemplar of final project and weekly “what’s cool” Compress notes and find simulations and wrestling questions

19. JUMP RIGHT IN ON TUESDAY WITH THIS PROJECT. IT’S A FRESH NEW TERM AND WE ARE GETTING A WHOLE SET OF NEW STUDENTS TO START THIS EXCITING EXPERIMENT WITH!