We are taking Inquiry Based Learning very seriously at the school where I teach. Is is in fact our mid year exam for our Gr 4-9s.
This means a whole lot of planning and putting our heads together, because we need to take the project apart to find all the subjects in it.
We are trying to break the mold while following the conventional rules. This is no easy task.
This year’s project was to design a bird and insect friendly garden for our school grounds. The garden had to be in the shape of a regular hexagon, with each side being 10 m long.
This is how we spread the project among the subjects:
Mathematics:
1. They had to explore different ways of dividing a hexagon, using a triangular grid.
2. They had to recreate the life size hexagon and the sections on the soccer field using nails and wool. This they then used to calculate the circumference of the hexagon as well as the area of the various sections within their hexagon.
3. After they have researched a variety of indigenous plants (more about this under Natural Sciences) , they had to calculate how many of their chosen plants would fit into the section they have allocated for it.
Natural Sciences
1. They were given two South African plant websites; one with a list of indigenous plants and another where they had to find the information about the plants from the first site.
2. Students had to summarise the i formation they have in tables.
3. They then had to describe some of the biodiversity that they were hoping to attract.
History
1. They were tasked with researching how industrialization has impacted soil quality and biodiversity
Geography
1. They had to create plan views of all their gardens.
First additional languages (Zulu/Aftikaans)
1. They had to find the common names in the additional language and write a short paragraph on how these plants were used traditionally by these language speakers.
English
1. They had to write short daily reflections.
2. They had to create a PowerPoint and present their garden designs to the school’s landscaping team.
They completed their project in six days and presented it on the seventh day to the whole school and the head of the landscaping team.
The students were working in groups of five which consisted of either Gr 4s and 5s or Gr 6s and 7s. The group work with students they did not know was quite a challenge for some, but overall they have drastically increased their awareness of their environment and created some very interesting garden designs, which the two best groups will see come to life in two months time.
Mom&Teacher Thoughts 