Inquiry Approach to Everyday Native Poems

Before Sharing the Poem

Teacher: Use notebook paper to jot down all you know about Native Americans.
Teacher: Now consider: where did you get most of your information about Native Americans?

Give students time to discuss what they wrote with a partner or small group.

Teacher: We are about to hear/read [poem title] by Victor Charlo

Teacher: Now on the back of your notebook paper, make two columns, one labeled, The Things I Notice and one labeled, The Things I Wonder. Use this chart to record your thinking as you hear/read each poem.

After the poem

Teacher: Share your lists with a partner (or small group). Then choose one of your most compelling thoughts and circle it. 

Ask students to share their most compelling thoughts and create a class chart.
Repeat this activity with other poems, adding to the classroom chart each time. 

Final Exploration

Use the class chart to inspire further exploration. As a class, highlight the questions on the chart that are open ended and most likely to lead to an interesting investigation. Ask students to choose one compelling question to investigate, using the information found in the Everyday Native website including External Sites, Reading & Videos. Encourage students to record new questions as they occur to them. Give students permission to change the course of their investigation if they choose. 

It is not necessary for students to complete a report or project about what they have learned, but it is important for students to have an opportunity to share their discoveries and discuss questions and challenges that arose during their research. 

Lastly, ask students to reflect on their learning, considering:

What surprised you?

In what way has your thinking about Native Americans changed?

What ideas merit further investigation?

What can you do with what you know?