What you will be able to do
ask a focused question; choose useful sources; record clues and explain an answer
Planning a Simple Inquiry
How can a plan help us answer a social studies question?
Activate what you know
Think of a question you have asked about your school or community. You may say it aloud, write it, or draw what made you curious
- inquirya careful search for an answer to a question
- questionsomething we want to understand or find out
- sourcesomething that gives information, such as a map, photograph, object, book, or interview
- evidenceinformation from a source that helps answer a question
- recordto write, draw, or tell what you noticed
- conclusionan answer reached after looking at evidence
1
Start with a Question You Can Investigate
An inquiry begins with a question about people, places, choices, or the past. A focused question is small enough to investigate. Instead of asking, “What is everything about parks?” we might ask, “How do people use our community park?” Next, make a plan. Choose sources that could actually help: a park map can show locations, photographs can show features, and a short interview can tell how one person uses the park. A source is useful when it connects to the question
2
Record Clues and Build an Answer
As you investigate, keep the source and the clue together. You can use words, labels, tally marks, or a careful drawing. Do not change a clue to make it fit your first guess; an inquiry may lead to a different answer than you expected. Before you conclude, look for more than one useful clue when possible. Then make a simple claim and point to the evidence: “People can reach the playground from the library because the map shows a connecting path.” That sentence tells both the answer and the reason
Question First
Write or say the question before collecting information. Then choose each source because it can help answer that question
Use a Planning Frame
Say: My question is ____. I will look at ____. One clue I found is ____. I think ____ because ____
Collecting Is Not Yet Investigating
A pile of facts is not automatically an inquiry. The facts must come from sources and help answer the focused question
Plan a Desk Inquiry
Ask, “How does our classroom help people learn?” Choose two safe sources, such as a room sketch and a class schedule. Tell what clue you would seek in each one
A simple inquiry has a focused question, a source plan, recorded evidence, and a conclusion that explains what the evidence shows
Practice and answer guide
Work through all 8 questions. Open an answer only after you have written or explained your response.
- 1. Which question is focused enough for a short inquiry? A. What is everything about communities? B. How do people use the library after school? C. Why is the whole world interesting?
Check answer
How do people use the library after school? It names a specific place and activity that sources could help investigate
- 2. Choose the best source for finding where streets and parks are located. A. a community map B. a song about friendship C. a lunch menu
Check answer
A community map, because maps show the locations of streets, parks, and other features
- 3. Put these inquiry steps in order: draw a conclusion; ask a question; record evidence; choose sources
Check answer
Ask a question; choose sources; record evidence; draw a conclusion
- 4. Draw or write one focused question about your school
Check answer
Answers vary. A focused example is, “How do students use the reading corner?” A labeled drawing that clearly shows the question is acceptable
- 5. For your question, name one useful source and explain why it would help
Check answer
Answers vary. For example: Source–a classroom map; Why it helps–it shows where learning areas are located
- 6. A park map shows a garden beside a walking path. Write one accurate clue from the map
Check answer
The garden is beside the walking path. Do not add a claim the map does not show
- 7. Why should an investigator keep the source name beside each clue?
Check answer
It lets a reader know where the information came from and makes the clue easier to check
- 8. Complete the conclusion: I think the park is easy to reach from the library because ____
Check answer
A correct completion uses the taught evidence, such as: the map shows a path connecting the park and library