Focus on Inquiry

We tend to move students through the stages of research in a sequential fashion, providing lessons on each stage, without explicitly providing for the incorporation of a model for recursion. (Stripling, 142). 

It's time to change our way of thinking about teaching and learning. We're teaching students to do research, but are we developing compassionate, deep thinkers? We're differentiating, providing authentic learning experiences, and bringing in real-world examples, but are we giving students ownership of their learning?

As you think about the learning environment, ask yourself:

• What does the standard "really" say?
• Why was this standard chosen?
• What is the purpose of this lesson? 
• What knowledge, skills, and attitudes do my students have about this content?
• Where does this standard fit with the "big picture"?
• How can I give students more ownership?
• How can I help my students develop a passion for learning?

Scaffold Inquiry

Provide scaffolding for students learning.

Start with a shared experience:

• When the Wolves Returned: Restoring Nature's Balance in Yellowstone by Dorothy Hinshaw Patent (Orbis Pictus Award)
• The Wolves Are Back by Jean Craighead George

Resources

• Primary:
• Wolves from Starfall
• Wolves (Google Limited Preview) by Randell, Beverley Randell, Beverley Randell, Catherine Parker, Alan Parker, Randell
• Wolves by Karen Wallace, Jonathan Pointer
• Wolves (Google Limited Preview) by Sara Swan Miller
• Intermediate
  
  • North American Wolves (Google Limited Preview) by Barbara Keevil Parker
  • Wolves (Google Limited Preview) by Karen Dudley, Warren Clark
  • Wolves (Google Limited Preview) by Penny Clarke
  • Wolves (Google Limited Preview) by Anne Welsbacher
  • Wolves (Google Limited Preview) by Mary K. Dornhoffer, Robert F. Scherrer
  • Wolf from National Geographic
  • Identifying Species (PDF)
  • Wild Wolves from NOVA
• Middle School:
  • Living with Wolves (Google Limited Preview) by Jamie Dutcher
  • Wolves (Google Limited Preview) by Chris Whitt
  • Wolf Pack (Google Limited Preview) by Sylvia A. Johnson, Alice Aamodt
  • Canada's Rain Forest Wolves a Link to Past from National Geographic
  • Dog Virus May Be Killing Yellowstone Wolvesfrom National Geographic
  • Hi-Tech Tracking Tool Tested in Wolf Recovery Efforts from National Geographic
  • Yellowstone's Wildlife: Wolf
  • Wolves from Defenders of Wildlife
• High School
  • Of Wolves and Men (Google Limited Preview) by Barry Holstun Lopez, John Bauguess
  • The Wolves of Denali (Google Limited Preview) by L. David Mech, Layne G. Adams, Thomas J. Meier, John W. Burch, Bruce W. Dale
• Teaching Materials
  • National Geographic Geoguide: Wolves
  • Wolves (Google Limited Preview) by Kathleen W. Kranking, Rhonda Lucas Donald
  • Comparing Fiction and Nonfiction with Little Red Riding Hood Text Sets (Language Arts: Grades K-2)
  • Yellowstone Wolves (Science: Grades 6-8)
  • From Wolf to Woof (Social Studies: Grades 6-8)
  • The Big, Bad Wolf...Is This a Fact? (Language Arts: Grades 6-8)
  • Little Red Riding Hood Meets a Golden Retriever? (Social Studies: Grades K-2)
  • Geological Dog Show (Social Studies: Grades 3-5)
  • Jack London's The Call of the Wild: “Nature Faker”? (Language Arts/Social Studies: Grades 6-8)
  • Who's Afraid of the Reintroduced Wolf? (Language Arts/Social Studies: Grades 6-8)
  • Wolves in Fiction and Nonfiction (PDF)
  • The Wolf in Children's Books: Part 1 of 2
  • The Wolf in Children's Books: Part 2 of 2
  • The Big, Bad Wolf...Is This a Fact?
  • WOLVES: Comprehending Informational Texts
• Wolf News
  • Wolf Source blog
• Reference
  • Wolf from Wikipedia
  • Wolves Category from Wikipedia
  • 42xplore: Wolves
• Images
  • NYPL Digital Gallery - 155 wolf images
  • Wolf Images from Wikimedia Commons
  • Wolves - Images from Wikimedia Commons
• Interactive Activities
  • Global Wolf
  • Wolf Quest
• General Wolf Resources
  • International Wolf Center. Analyze a core website related to the topic. Who created this website? How long have they been working in this area? Do they have a particular perspective or bias? What resources are available at the website? Is news and information provided? Are links provided for people who want to learn more about this topic? Is they a section designed for young people?
    • Go to the About Us section to find out the mission of this group.
    • Go to the History section to find out about the history of this group.
    • Go to the News & Events section to find out what's new. Also, find the latest news.
    • Go to Track Wild Wolves to learn about how moves are tracked.
    • Go to the Wild Kids page.
      

Compare fiction with nonfiction.

• Wolf Stalker by Gloria Skurzynski
• Julie of the Wolves by Jean Craighead George
• White Fang/Call of the Wild by Jack London

Model Inquiry

Share the books that you're reading. Connect them to resources that might be of interest to young people.