DLESE description of To Seek or Not to Seek

This activity introduces students to the tools of scientific inquiry as they observe their world, inside and outside of the classroom, looking for changes, perspectives, and patterns. They will begin to use measuring tools as simple as their feet and fists and move on to more complex devices such as microscopes and scales. Students will go outside, observe their environment, gather objects, and return to the classroom to discuss them. They will find out that they observe many patterns that they cannot easily explain. There will be many unanswered questions after this investigation. Beginning the process of experimentation without knowing all of the answers is an important lesson in learning to think as scientists do. Teachers will need to help children consider the difference between cause and effect and correlation in concrete instances.