The Hudson River – Journey into Inquiry

Jill Leinung, Library Media SpecialistLinda Kaminski, Gr. 1

Green Meadow Elementary SchoolCastleton, New York

The journey begins…

with an idea,

curriculum,

• My Community & Local Region

• Different events, people, problems and ideas make up my community’s history.

• Monuments and important places are located in my neighborhood.

• Communities are connected economically and geographically.

• People exchange elements of their cultures.

student interest,

and colleague(s) to collaborate with on the adventure.

Start with a question…

* What do we want our students’ inquiring

minds “look like” and what will they be able

to do at the end of the journey?

- critical thinkers & problem solvers

- higher level questioners

Our students will be able to:

• Identify what they already know• Identify questions beginning with 5 Ws and moving

beyond• Understand the use of a variety of sources to find

answers• Choose and use resources independently• Record new learning• Collaborate and work cooperatively• Real world connections• Continue to question beyond the project

Collect a variety of resources including:

• Books• Maps• Posters, photographs• On-line sources• Presenters (school visits, field trips, etc.)• Outside sources (Albany Visitors Center,

Albany Institute of History and Art, Teaching the Hudson Valley Summer Workshops, C-Most, etc.)

River of Dreams The Story of the Hudson River

by Hudson Talbott

Bird, Butterfly, Eelby James Prosek

Snapshots of our Hudson River Journey

Introduce Hudson River:

• Hudson River Power Point

• New York State map (including satellite view, i.e. Google Earth)

• Hudson River (shower curtain – hands on)

The Story of the Hudson River

Trading with the Mahicans

Henry Hudson & the Hudson River

• New Learning Facts

• If I Were on the Half Moon

Inquiry Questions

• Half Moon in a Bottle

Exploring the Hudson

• Hands on exploration: Henry Hudson, Wildlife along the Hudson River

• Robert Juet’s Journal – Places the Half Moon anchored

• Trading with the Mahicans

Monarch Inquiry Research

Mahicans & Grinding Corn

Three Sister Planting

Beaver Poster Reading

Reading Posters and Recording in Student Fact Files

Highlighting Resources for Beaver Fact Finding

Beaver Model & Fact Flip Books

St. Nicholas Day & the Dutch

• Baker’s Dozen , shoes & cookies

• Night Before Christmas

Guided Student Questions

Hudson River Bird Studies

Winter Bird Feeding

Hudson River WildlifeIndependent Inquiry Investigations

Inquiry Learning Binders and Mystery Seeds

Lined Sea Horse

Hudson River Experience

• Where we plan on going from here…

• C-Most

• Norrie Point

• Columbia County Water and Soil Conservancy

As with all journeys…there are always surprises so…

• Be ready for the “twists and turns”• Embrace the student generated surprises

– they usually turn out to be the best learning experiences for you, too!

• Be flexible • Keep your eyes open for new ideas,

resources to add to the project• Take a camera to record the “sights”• Have fun!