Our First Inquiry

Students in the Full Day Kindergarten are encouraged to ask questions, investigate topics, examine and explore the world around them with an inquisitive sense.  As educators, we try to listen to their "wonderings" and provide materials and resources to aid the students to find the answers to their questions in a collaborative manner.  When collecting crickets last week, one boy noticed them chirping and asked how the crickets made the sound.  So began our first inquiry!  By researching on the internet, we found out that crickets rub one wing on another.  One wing has small ridges.  In doing so, it makes the high pitched chirping sound.  We tried to find a way to make a similar sound within the classroom.  We used a variety of musical instruments as well as basic plastic combs.  We discovered that by rubbing the ridged object, on various surfaces, it could make a sound that was similar to a cricket.  Many students agreed that the combs made a chirping sound most like the cricket.