Inquiring Into Literacy
Toyota Tapestry Science Literacy Grant Instruction
August, 2003

Toyota Tapestry Grant Information

Teachers engage in an inquiry activity after listening to a story from a science tradebook that is tied to the activity...

Science inquiry and literacy easily integrate with each other; in the "real world", they do so seamlessly.  Therefore it makes sense to combine them in the classroom and use the strategies common to both.  In the 2003-2004 school year our 5th, 6th and 7th grade teachers and students will be involved in this endeavor as part of the $10,000 Toyota Tapestry Grant they received entitled "Inquiring into Literacy". 

Our project involves  teachers being trained in inquiry-based science techniques while focusing on the use of literacy skills. Through the use of science tradebooks teachers will mesh literacy strategies with inquiry-based science instruction. Our goal is not only to improve reading and writing skills, but to have our students also achieve more successfully in science.

Using schema (background knowledge), drawing inferences, asking questions, determining what is important, synthesizing information, making connections, modeling, guided practice...these are skills used in both inquiry-based science and in reading for comprehension.  Success depends on a gradual release of responsibility to the student.

Teachers at Forks Elementary School and Forks Middle School are involved in ongoing training this coming school year.  On August 18th fourteen teachers came together for specific training on inquiry-based science and literacy strategies.   The trainers were Dave McIrvin, Carrie Peterson, Patti Fouts, and Sherry Schaaf.  Training will be ongoing throughout the year. 

For more information contact Sherry Schaaf at sschaaf@mail.wavcc.org

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Copyright 2003

Carrie shows the exact strategy a teacher can use in the classroom to help students make connections in their reading.

Linda and Tracy use science inquiry skills to learn more about lightsticks

Vertis and Russell use the science process skills to do an activity, practicing  journaling techniques to help them in writing about their activity later.

Dave and Patti read from the book Snowflake Bentley.  The teachers  then practiced literacy strategies using the book The Starry Messenger.  Both books are used to  help students make connections on how each shows people "doing science" in the real world.

Amy and Martha practice literacy strategies while reading The Starry Messenger.