Free – Inquiry Teaching

The Writing Process

Drew Story — Thu, 04 Feb 2021 19:37:51 +0000

This is a free resource and just a simple listing of “the writing process.” It is useful for introducing and reminding students that when writing, revisions and re-writing are expected and desired outcomes. Striving to have a “perfect” or final written piece is not expected but often what students first think is being asked of them.

We found this handout very useful and think you will, too. The handout is an outline of the writing process to be used with a directed discussion.

Subject Areas: All
Materials Required: Copies of provided handout, or a digital copy displayed
Time Needed: 15 – 20 minutes.

Teaching Guide for Open Ended Discussions

Drew Story — Thu, 31 Aug 2017 03:44:24 +0000

Most teachers are well versed in handling directed discussions where students are asked questions and guided to a particular conclusion. Open ended discussions where there might be no single “right” answer are a very different kind of discussion, and much harder to do well.

Creating a successful open ended discussion takes planning. This free teaching guide will provide you with direction and guidance on how to use this teaching strategy to motivate and stir interest in for any topic in your classes. Open ended discussions are a great way to start a new unit, too, as a means of learning what background knowledge your students may already possess on a given topic.

A few sample lesson ideas are included in this guide in addition to details about how to create your own.

Subject Area: Any
Materials Required: Whiteboard or display
Time Needed: Can be an entire class period or only an introduction item.

Free Guide to Instructional Simulation Games

Drew Story — Mon, 21 Aug 2017 02:55:11 +0000

This free teaching guide provides details about using instructional simulation games. In simulation games, students may role play being legislators, mayors, parents, national leaders, Civil War generals, or even criminals. The designer builds the game so that the player can experience some of the everyday responsibilities, decisions, rewards, and pressures found in a slice of historical or social life, whether it is of the Congress, the family, or a small economy.

This teacher’s guide provides reasons for why you should include simulation games in your curriculum, and details about how best to teach with them. Please feel free to share this guide with others.

We sell several simulations that pair with this free guide. Please be sure to check out the following lessons plans:

Our culminating activities of Atlantis and the Who Killed Caesar? Murder Mystery Party are also hybrids of simulation games.

And coming soon, a Simulation of Congress, and a Simulation of Bunker Hill.

Teaching Guide for Cognitive Moral Dilemmas

Drew Story — Sun, 13 Aug 2017 23:56:57 +0000

FREE! This handout explains the cognitive moral dilemma teaching format in greater detail and should be downloaded and read with any purchase of our other dilemma lessons.

Morality plays a part of everyday life, and yet teachers struggle with how to not inculcate their own moral code upon their students. This teaching strategy will give students the ability to consider all points of view, and articulate their moral choices with one another.

The teaching of cognitive moral dilemmas will provide teachers with the structure needed to allow students to debate and view alternative viewpoints.

This teaching guide provides a detailed description of Lawrence Kohlberg’s theory and definition of cognitive moral development, detailed instructions for using this lesson format, and a guide for constructing your own. It also has a sample moral dilemma you may wish to use with your classes, too.

Subject Areas: Social Sciences, Sciences, Humanities, Government
Materials Required: Whiteboard or display
Time Needed: Typically an entire class period