Inquiry Task Cards: Improving Higher-Level Thinking

I created 5 station cards using leveled questions to encourage higher-level thinking and creativity through the use of technology, inquiry, and collaboration.

One thing that I realized when teaching inquiry is that is exactly what I've been doing. I've been writing out the leveled questions and everything has been teacher-led, until I realized that inquiry needs to be student-led. Students need to be creating and answering their own leveled questions if we are ever going to build their thinking.

These stations last me all year because the students are adding to the stations and creating something new every time.

These station cards can be used for mini-lessons, small group lessons, individual work, or partner work.

Here is a list of what is included...

Book Creator Research - Using the Internet, students write questions using the question stems I provided and then research their answers. They add their information into Book Creator, creating an E-Book, to make it look like an expository text. I included a page for students to keep track of their citations. I promise you that your students will absolutely love Book Creator. It is an amazing app and if you use it on the computer, it's FREE.

Photo Inquiry - Students analyze a photo while creating questions, using the question stems I provided, and write leveled questions on a sticky note. This not only allows for higher-level thinking, but the students will collaborate and then rate their leveled questions. These photos with stickies can be hung on the walls which will allow for future gallery walk where other students can answer the leveled questions created by their peers.

Inquisitive Letter Writing - Students choose their favorite product and use the writing paper I included to write a letter to the company of the product. I also included questions to help them think of what to say in the letter as well as a letter to ask parent's permission before mailing off letters. I have even gotten back a response or two after my students have written these letters.

Wheel of Inquiry - Using the wheel that I created, a pencil, and a paperclip, students "spin the wheel" while trying to guess what leveled question their partner wrote on his/her dry erase board. Students collaborate on the level of the question and I included question stems. Check out the preview.

Leveled Question BINGO - Using the BINGO board I created, students draw a card out of the bag that says "Level 1, 2, or 3". He/she finds a leveled question in the correct category and answers it. I created a blank BINGO board and an editable board. Check out the preview. This BINGO board is so much fun!

I hope you find all of these resources helpful. These are activities that I have used for the past several years and the students love these activities.

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Feel free to message me with questions. ~ Whitney