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Shine a bright light onto the sheet and encourage your child to create a story using the
thinking routine and present the story with his/hers puppets.
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Wheel of Wonder: Use this Thinking Routine to introduce the concept of the scientific
method and help your child discover transparent and opaque materials. Ask your child to
gather several objects around the house. Using a flashlight encourage your child to
examine if the light is able to shine through the objects (transparent object) or not
(opaque objects). While you are exploring with your child use the 6 steps of the Thinking
Routine. I wonder
I think
I try
I observe (look for changes)
I record
I
discover
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Creative Questions: A Thinking Routine for creating thought-provoking questions. On a
sunny day go outside with your child and encourage him/her to look where the sun shines
for and look for interesting shadows. Allow enough time for the child to wonder. Using
questions such as: Why? What if? How would it be different if? What is the purpose?
What would change if? challenge your child’s thinking. Be observant of the many
languages your child uses. Review his/her answers and reflect on his/her new ideas.
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Generate, Sort, Connect, Elaborate: A routine for organizing your child’s understanding
of a topic through concept mapping. Encourage your child to generate a list of ideas and
initial thoughts that come to mind when he/she thinks about light and shadows. Sort
his/her ideas according to how central or tangential they are and place central ideas near
the center and tangential ideas towards outside the page. Connect his/her ideas by
drawing lines between ideas that have something in common. Encourage them to
elaborate on any ideas or thoughts by adding new ideas on your initial thoughts.
This month I spy Inquiry
This themed unit undoubtedly serves as a great provoker for children’s curiosity, inquiry,
interest, awareness and attentive. It offers hands on activities that will help children to actively