"Watching" involves observing the world around me. From this, I brainstormed a list of possible topics to investigate. In brainstorming, I took the traditional approach...write down everything that comes to mind, even if you know you will eliminate it later.
I must confess, having been so focused on work, college, and family time, I really hadn't thought about what topics interest me. I used suggested areas (hobbies, school subjects, current issues) from Lamb's Latitudes to jump-start my brainstorming. When I started working on my Other list, I browsed Grolier's Great America cards I had purchased a few years ago. That really got a few interesting topics.
Hobbies: quilting, gardening, cooking, baking, reading, canning, cross-stitch, singing
Subjects: band, English, science (some parts)
Current Issues: recession, health care reform, RttT initiative
Other: Air Force; pirates (old school); learn how to knit/crochet; butterfly garden; milking goats/making goat cheese/other goat's milk products; alternative energy; raising cattle, pigs, etc.; recycling & sewing; remodeling our house; potty training; geocache-ing; nutrition & exercise; crafts for toddlers; homemade toys/books; maintaining/expanding an orchard; nutrition & recipes; converse shoes; history of sewing machine/I.M. SInger/Elias Howe.
Reviewing my list, I can see where my interest in expanding our farm is a theme. We already have goats, but I don't know much about milking and other goat's milk products. We've also talked about expanding our farm to include other animals.
Having a toddler inspired some of my topics as well. Most of those topics would not lend themselves to this inquiry, so they are eliminated.
The topics that pop out to me are learning to knit/crochet; butterfly garden; candy experiments; Converse shoes; and history of sewing machine.
The candy experiments is an idea from a parenting magazine...but I am not too fond of creating messes that may have to sit for a while.
Converse shoes comes from a childhood curiosity...why do we call them Chuck Taylor's? Is there really a connection or did I errantly connect the two?
I've attempted to learn how to knit and crochet before...only ending in my mom and I laughing so hard we were crying because we couldn't figure out what I had done wrong!
I've narrowed it down to butterfly gardens and history of sewing machines. I want to think about these topics some more before making a decision. I want to create a butterfly garden at my house. I have what I believe to be the perfect spot, but am unsure about the plants and features needed to be a successful garden. I am also intrigued by the Singer vs. Howe case and Singer sewing machines in general. I have two singer sewing machines, one with a treddle and an electric one from the 1960s. I also remember using my grandmother's small machine that clamps to a tabletop.
I am going to ponder both butterfly gardening and sewing machines a while. I need to spend some time "wondering" about each before making my final decision.
Lamb, Annette. "Life-long learning: Lamb's Latitudes." Information Age Inquiry. 16 Jan 2010.
Lamb, Annette. "8Ws of Information Inquiry." Information Age Inquiry. 16 Jan 2010.
Thoughts on your journey:
ReplyDeleteSeveral of your interests are also interests of mine. I have especially been interested in creating a butterfly garden of my own, but I have never been settled anywhere long enough with enough time to give it proper attention. I would love to know what you discover on the topic. However, if you choose to learn about sewing machines, I am quite familiar with a place in Bedford where you could observe several different kinds of machines in action. :)
J-
ReplyDeleteThanks for the offer concerning sewing machines. I trust that even though I decided not to go that route with my current inquiry, I might still be able to plan a trip with you to Bedford to see the machines and meet the seamstress!
Continue following my blog to see where butterfly gardens take me! I am sure some of the information will be applicable no matter where you live, although plant selection may vary depending upon your seasons and local species.
You're doing an outstanding job so far. Keep up the great work!
ReplyDeleteAnnette :-)
Looking back, I am glad I had suggested areas/categories to brainstorm. Students appreciate this as well. I think my favorite discovery so far has been "The Freedom to Choose" inquiry example for seventh grade(http://www.virtualinquiry.com/exploratorium/inquiry8.htm). Within this inquiry great pre-search activities are used, including giving students areas to brainstorm, having them review their brainstorming for areas of interest, and even list related terms that will help them in their searching! I think if I had discovered this sooner, I would have worked my way through this inquiry model, or at least the pre-search.
ReplyDeleteI feel I can relate well to a student at this stage; all the possibilities and needed to narrow them down can be overwhelming, but in the end the extra work up front will result in a better inquiry experience.