MCPS 3rd Grade Inquiry Project

 

Driving Question: What is the relationship between human wants, needs, and the development of technologies?

The purpose of the Humans and Technology inquiry is for students to learn and apply thinking and academic success skills in the context of an interdisciplinary project. During this marking period, students explore the concept of how people improve technologies to meet their wants and needs. They learn about the relationship between humans and the development of technology by researching a specific technology. In science, students discuss and develop a broad understanding of the changes that occur in technologies by observing and analyzing their physical properties. They learn how technology changes over time by examining historical photographs. During the guided inquiry, students self-select a technology topic, record facts, definitions, and information as evidence of how the technology has improved over time. The research is used for both informative and opinion writing. Student groups work together to perform and videotape skits about their technologies.

Thinking and Academic Success Skills

 

In developing the critical thinking skill of evaluation and the academic success skill of metacognition, students use a variety of strategies and criteria to evaluate and select strategies and resources in order to read, listen, observe, view, and discuss how people improve technologies to meet their wants and needs. Students are provided multiple opportunities to reflect on their thinking during the inquiry process. Students evaluate and reflect on their recorded facts, definitions, and information to develop ideas for an extended informative writing piece as well as a shorter opinion piece. They reflect on their production of a videotaped skit that incorporates content learned across the inquiry.